Should security deposits vary by rental duration?

Usually not by duration directly -- deposit size should track replacement risk and damage exposure, which doesn't scale linearly with rental length the way daily rate does.

Is it better to collect the deposit as cash or a card hold?

A card pre-authorization hold is generally preferable for higher-value items since it doesn't require the customer to pay upfront and it releases automatically on a clean return, while cash deposits are more common for lower-value categories where the operator wants funds in hand.

How to Price Damage Deposits and Security Holds

A practical framework for setting damage deposit amounts by equipment value and risk category, and when to use a pre-authorization hold instead of collecting cash upfront.