Instead of buying or leasing, renting floor care equipment can often prove to be a good option for their building service contractor (BSCs), in-house service providers and suppliers.
Case in point: A 24-hour gym in the Chicago, IL, area had an in-house staff to perform routine cleaning but hired a BSC to perform the more heavy-duty maintenance work—specifically scrubbing and refinishing hard surface floors as well as tile and grout cleaning.
The problem the BSC encountered is that because the gym was open 24 hours a day, there was a limited window of time in which to perform the work. The crew could start around midnight but were expected to have the job done and be out the door no later than 4:30 a.m. With setup time, dry time, and actual work time—plus the fact that the gym had three full floors—this simply was not enough time for a standard-size crew to complete the job.
About the only option for the BSC was to bring in several extra workers to perform the work. However, to have “all hands on deck” required more floor care equipment. The contractor was reluctant to purchase more machines due to cost factors and because they would most likely be used for only this one client. The gym owners were also reluctant to cover the costs for extra machines, believing this was the contractor’s responsibility.
The resolution to the problem: The BSC decided to rent the floor care equipment on an as-needed basis. Along with the large machines, the BSC also rented wet/dry vacuum cleaners, air movers so the floors would dry faster, and even buckets. The renting option has worked out well, and the savings have been considerable,
Why Rent?
This scenario demonstrates just one of several reasons why a BSC or in-house staff might decide to rent floor care and related cleaning equipment, large equipment, such as automatic scrubbers, rather than purchase these machines. Other reasons include:
Test-drive. The ability to take equipment for a test-drive. A piece of floor care equipment is typically a large investment, and, just as with a car, many users want to experience the performance firsthand before making a selection. Renting allows users to better understand how the equipment works, maneuverability, what it can and cannot do, its operational and maintenance needs, whether it meets specific cleaning needs, and whether they actually like the machine.
Infrequent cleaning tasks. When it comes to floor machines that might be used only a couple of times per year, it often is simply not cost effective to buy.
Tax savings and clarity. Buying costlier floor care equipment, can raise tax issues. For instance, is it better to deduct the entire cost of the equipment in one year or depreciate it over several years? If the purchase price is high but use is infrequent, is this an “allowable” expense? The charges for renting a floor machine are typically totally deductible, raising no tax issues.
An extra hand. As in the gym example, bringing in extra workers can get major cleaning jobs like floor care done faster and often more effectively and renting extra equipment can help expedite the process.
New-construction cleanup. Purchasing an expensive floor care machine to perform one task—possibly only one time—such as new construction clean up can make renting the preferable option.
Storage. A large, expensive floor care machine requires storage, even if none is available. Renting eliminates this need,
Emergencies. Equipment used solely for emergency situations, such as water damage, can make renting the more cost-effective choice.
The Equipment Advantage
While cleaning professionals may know what type of equipment is needed to handle a specific cleaning task, they might not know how to use the equipment properly, especially since, as we discussed, rental equipment is often used for tasks that are performed infrequently—or for the first time. Obviously, distributors and reps do not want to spend as much time educating a renter as they would a buyer or should they?
Suppliers should expect to provide their renting customers with some education on how to safely use the machines and perform the particular cleaning tasks. Does this mean providing onsite training for renters? Probably not.
However, as mentioned earlier, one of the reasons floor care equipment is rented is to test-drive it. There may also be cases where the rented machines turn out to be needed more frequently than planned, which could make purchasing the more cost-effective option. Further most well-known floor care manufacturers are now attuned to the needs of cleaning professionals. Over the years, these manufacturers have made several advancements in floor care equipment, such as making them more ergonomic, and easier to use and maneuver; installing easy-access, user-friendly controls; developing quieter operation to help reduce worker fatigue and potential hearing problems; and introducing a variety of safety features. These advancements are a benefit to users—and can greatly add to the appeal of users looking to purchase a machine. For these reasons, smart suppliers will treat every renter as a potential buyer.
Profit Potential
When it comes to floor care equipment rental, the best option for both distributors and facility service providers is to select machines with favorable upkeep and maintenance records from well-known, reputable manufacturers. After all, if the rented machine fails, the down time means lost profits. Additionally, the more dependable the machine, the longer it lasts, and the more of a moneymaker it can prove to be.
Equipment selection also can impact profits. For distributors, the focus should be on what types of cleaning tools will most likely be needed and rented. Often, more unusual, special-need, or multi-purpose equipment, such as wide-area vacuum cleaners or multi-purpose machines that can clean both carpets and hard surface floors, are profitable. However, in most cases, there will be far more requests for smaller machines, such as buffers, burnishers, and multipurpose machines. Select accordingly and consider the rental market a viable opportunity for your business. As a BSCs or in house cleaning provider, I recommend assessing and discussing your organization’s potential floor care rental needs with your distributor(s) to assure they have what you are looking to rent when you need it.
