StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article | 7 Ways To Save Money On Equipment For Your Business | business equipment | entrepreneurship

7 Ways To Save Money On Equipment For Your Business

StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article | 7 Ways To Save Money On Equipment For Your Business | business equipment | entrepreneurshipLots of companies can end up overspending on equipment. Whether you’re buying office furniture or industrial machinery, here are seven tips to keep the costs down.

Shop second hand

Used equipment is always cheaper than brand new equipment. You do however need to be wary of the condition. Older equipment that has been well used may be more likely to break. For this reason, you should always inspect such equipment in person before buying.

If you’re buying used equipment online, make sure that a description of the condition and photos are provided. It could also be worth buying from a reputable seller – read reviews to see what other customers have to say.

When it comes to general equipment, it could be worth looking out for company closures in your area. Many companies will be selling equipment for cheap simply to get rid of it – some of it may be in very good condition.

Look out for sales and coupons

Dealers of both new and used commercial equipment may have sales throughout the year. A popular time to hold a sale is in January, whilst the Black Friday weekend is another popular sales period. Also look out for off season sales on seasonal equipment – commercial mowers may be cheaper to buy in winter when there’s less demand for gardening equipment. You can also check some great suggestions here for a professional mower.

You may also be able to grab discounts by using coupons. These can be found on coupon sites or by signing up to commercial equipment retailer mailing lists.

Avoid splurging on gimmicks

It’s important that any equipment you buy is appropriate for your needs. Try to avoid splashing out on equipment that’s more complex than necessary. If you’re only looking to do some basic printing, you don’t need a heavy-duty industrial printer capable of printing 60 sheets of paper per minute – a basic commercial printer will do the job and will save you money. Only high end niche businesses are likely to need the most complex equipment available – if you’re starting a printing company, a heavy duty printer might be more suitable.

Hire single use equipment

A popular mistake made by many companies is buying equipment that will only ever get used once or twice. By hiring this equipment, you could save a lot of money.

Hiring equipment can also be sensible if you don’t have the storage space for such as equipment. For instance, a construction company may hire a crane rather than buying one. This could save money having to create extra warehouse space.

By shopping around, you can find the best equipment hire prices. Make sure that the company has a good online reputation so that you know you’re hiring good quality equipment. A good company will keep all equipment well maintained – although you may still be liable for any damage you cause.

Consider energy efficiency

Energy-efficiency is an important factor to consider when it comes to buying machinery. A machine that consumes a lot of energy will cost you more in energy bills. Older equipment is likely to be less energy efficient than modern equipment, which is something to consider when buying used equipment. You may be able to find information on the energy efficiency online, as is the case with these energy efficient desktop computers.

Know when to repair, when to replace

You can also save costs by knowing when to repair and when to replace equipment.

Choosing to repair equipment could save you money in many instances. You can find all kinds of niche parts online from a wafer ring/frame to a new monitor screen – if you feel up to the challenge, you could do your own repairs. Alternatively, you could hire a repair technician to do repairs for you – this may still be cheaper than replacing with certain equipment.

You may want to consider replacing equipment if it is old or has broken numerous times in the past. It’s possible you may be able to sell old broken machinery for parts – this could help give you some money to put towards a replacement.

Warranties or contents insurance may be able to cover the cost of repairing or replacing machinery in some cases. This is worth looking into before you make any decisions.

Maintain your equipment

You may be able to stop equipment breaking in the first place by keeping it well maintained. Certain maintenance may be able to be carried out by your employees, whilst more complex equipment may need to regularly serviced by a professional technician (such as construction vehicles or medical machinery).

Cleaning is often one of the most important maintenance tasks – this is not just a matter of health and safety but also a way of keeping machinery working properly. Dust build-ups can affect many types of machinery and are a common cause of computers failing. If there’s a lot of dust in the air, you may be able to install an extractor fan or use an air purifier to keep it clean.

You should also be careful of environmental factors like cold and humidity. Certain machinery may break if it is stored somewhere that is too hot or too cold. Agricultural machinery for instance may need to be kept indoors when not in use and covered up to prevent damage from rust.

11 replies
  1. Adam Golightly
    Adam Golightly says:

    It was interesting to learn about how a good online reputation can be an indicator if one should borrow or ent equipment for them because they will keep the equipment well maintained. I can imagine that it could be really useful for a business to ensure that they can be safe and can work more efficiently on a project with the right equipment. Renting the equipment from a professional could be really useful and allow them to spend time more wisely.

    Reply
  2. Megan Alder
    Megan Alder says:

    My husband has been thinking about buying some industrial equipment for his business idea, and we’re looking for advice to buy the best. I like that you said one of the ways of saving money when buying your industrial equipment, isn’t only when about finding the cheapest products, instead equipment that is energy-efficient, that will allow you to save money in the long term. I will definitely let him know what you said about energy-efficient equipment.

    Reply
  3. Eli Richardson
    Eli Richardson says:

    It’s great that you mentioned how important it is to maintain your business’s equipment and how you’ll avoid a costly repair by doing so. In my opinion, it’s better to prevent than to fix something. And so, when you’re looking to purchase equipment for your company, you need to know about its maintenance and its proper use. I think you did a great job explaining how to reduce money while buying equipment for your business.

    Reply
  4. Eli Richardson
    Eli Richardson says:

    It’s great that you talked about how it’s important to know when your equipment needs repair or to be replaced. One of my uncles is thinking about investing in some claw-machines, but he’s not sure about how to get the best deal. After reading your piece, I think my uncle could benefit from reading how to save some money when purchasing equipment, so I’ll be sure to share it with him. Thanks for the tips about how to make the best out of your equipment investment.

    Reply
  5. Alex
    Alex says:

    I wish to show thanks to you just for bailing me out of this particular trouble.As a result of checking through the net and meeting techniques that were not productive, I thought my life was done.

    Reply
  6. Charlotte Fleet
    Charlotte Fleet says:

    Thank you very much for all of your tips about saving money on equipment for your business. I love how you said that buying the equipment used is always more affordable than buying new. I think it would be essential to find a supplier of used equipment that has a great reputation so that you can trust their products.

    Reply
  7. Max Jones
    Max Jones says:

    Thanks for the tips on how to save money on equipment. I think renting equipment would be a good idea. I’ll make sure to rent a crane for when I start construction on a home.

    Reply
  8. Henry Killingsworth
    Henry Killingsworth says:

    You made an interesting point when you mentioned that January is a popular time for sales and coupons that can be used to purchase industrial equipment. My brother is wanting to get some new industrial equipment so that he can expand his business. I will have to tell my brother that it might be a good idea for him to wait until January so that he can save some money.

    Reply
  9. Iris Smith
    Iris Smith says:

    Thank you for mentioning that you should avoid spending money on equipment that is more complicated than necessary. My sister is seeking large equipment, such as a cement maker, to help her build a house. I’ll inform her that instead of buying, she should use a heavy machine rental business to acquire the correct machine and save money.

    Reply

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