As an owner of a warehouse filled with goods, business growth is something that comes sooner or later. Growth, of course, directly translates into more goods to move around. The more you move, the more personal you’ll need to take care of the merchandise. Thus, at some point in your career, you’ll have to wonder: should I get a forklift by now?
Well, there are two alternatives you can go for: renting a forklift or purchasing one right away. Of course, each alternative has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it’s up to you to decide which one suits you the best.
Of course, in this article, I’m going to talk about the benefits of each option, as well as how different factors can alter the definitive price of these options.
When You Should Rent
Overall, forklift rentals are often profitable only when the necessity is easy to deal with, and you will require a short period of time. This entails situations where you need to move merchandise composed of a few items, or you require forklifts for a couple of days, or even for a couple of months.
Of course, there are some things you need to consider. One of them is having someone who’s actually capable of driving it since you require a special type of license to move these around. You also want to make sure that the lifting truck is being manipulated by someone who’s capable since accidents that might lead to repairs will definitely hit hard on your wallet.
Also, another reason why you might want to rent instead of purchasing is to try whether productivity and efficiency are improved thanks to it. A lifting truck is something that can become a really good investment if purchased under the right circumstances, so there’s nothing wrong with testing the waters before diving.
Thankfully, there are some trade companies that provide rent-to-purchase plans which might be exactly what some business owners are looking for. Of course, you should ask questions regarding this matter before renting, to be sure if you are going to enjoy its benefits.
When You Should Purchase
Now, let’s say you’ve suddenly found yourself, and your business, becoming pretty popular, and utterly successful. Of course, the more money a business generates, the more money it’ll cost to maintain a good service. This often needs more personal, more appliances, and of course, more investment.
And, if your company is product-oriented, you probably own a warehouse. A warehouse that will need to become larger, thus, hold more products, more merchandise. More merchandise means that there you’ll need something to relocated said merchandise in a more efficient way.
If that’s the situation you are going through, or you think you’ll go through, maybe purchasing is the best option.
This, in the long-term run, will end up being a better investment, and you will also keep, or even improve, your quality of service and productivity. Of course, purchasing one means that you’ll require prepared people able to deal with it, as well as money to perform repairs and maintenance.
But, as long as you pick the right forklift, you’ll end up recovering that investment. This might be easier said than done, considering there are different types of forklifts, each one suited for different situations, and also, there’s an option that doesn’t require a license known as the pedestrian forklift.
Different Options to Pick From
As mentioned in this article, there are different types of forklifts, each one having its advantages and disadvantages. For example, wheel counterbalance is the most common one, having an electric variation that is better for close spaces.
Depending on the one you decide to purchase, it might be cheaper, or more expensive, but always take into consideration what you need to deal with, how often the forklift will be used, and wheter it can be used by people trained through a regular lfiting truck program, or if it requires a more specialiced training program.
You should also look for brands and online recommendations. If the truck fulfills these qualities, and you have the budget, make a list with multiple options and narrow down the one that fits your needs the most.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
