Get your money’s worth when you buy commercial janitorial equipment that keeps going long after the competition fizzles out.
Professional products in any industry are designed to work hard. They might not be pretty, and they may not have flashy marketing campaigns, but they get the job done day after day. Commercial janitorial equipment is no exception.
Your equipment works in hot and cold environments. It creates steam and friction. You use it for hours at a time. It works on rough surfaces, wet floors, and it gets jostled around as you move it from one location to the next.
Your equipment is also intricately tied to your income. If it’s not working, neither are you. Good maintenance practices will help keep everything in top shape, but when you buy commercial janitorial equipment, you want something that will last. Here’s what to look for.
Keep track of inventory, work orders, and more with Janitorial Manager. Learn more today with a free discovery call!
How to buy commercial janitorial equipment that will make your work easier
Let’s start with a few general tips on purchasing equipment, because the ultimate goal here is to save money and reduce overall waste.
1. Determine where you’re going to buy your equipment. There’s no correct answer here. In fact, you could source your commercial janitorial equipment and supplies from a local distributor, an online shop, or multiple providers. Be aware, however, that you may be able to get wholesale deals by sticking to one provider. Some distributors may also provide training or include maintenance, so take some time and look closely at your options.
2. Figure in shipping costs. If you’re ordering equipment online, you may find that the shipping costs outweigh any lower price, so be sure to consider that – especially with larger equipment like a carpet extractor.
3. Don’t buy what you don’t need. It’s hard not to get a little excited at the prospect of a snazzy ride-on floor scrubber. But when you start getting into equipment that costs as much as a new economy-sized car, it’s best to step back and look closely at the benefits. Sure, there’s every possibility that commercial janitorial equipment like this is just what you need to move your business to the next level. Just be sure you’re making smart purchases.
4. Check your bank account. Do you have the money to pay for new equipment? This is a good question to ask before any large purchase. Buying equipment with cash frees you from the worries of finance charges, late fees, and adding more debt to your business. However, there are times when using a credit card or taking out a loan to buy commercial janitorial equipment is okay. Sometimes it’s even necessary. But, again, be aware of how much your equipment will cost once you add in all those extras that come with buying on credit.
5. Consider equipment rental. One last general tip for large purchases is to consider not buying at all. Equipment rental may offer you a more economical way to get what you need without taking on the financial weight of a big purchase. Renting can also be a great way to check out different manufacturers and their products.
Now let’s get into some tips more specifically suited to finding commercial janitorial equipment that will last you.
6. Don’t price shop. Yes, you will eventually need to look at the price, but begin by focusing on what you need your equipment to do. A bargain is no bargain if you end up with equipment that doesn’t serve your purposes. For example, you may find a great price on a small, low-powered floor scrubber. That’s great if your clients don’t have a lot of floor space. But if your typical client has a heavily-trafficked area with extensive square footage, that bargain may end up costing you way more in the extra time you’ll need to get the job done.
7. Look at warranties. This is pretty straightforward. Make sure your equipment comes with a good warranty. And also, make sure it’s a warranty that you can use if you need to. For example, if the warranty requires your equipment to be serviced by a particular dealer or distributor, make sure you can get to them easily. You don’t want to get stuck paying to ship your equipment somewhere for repairs, because, let’s be honest, that’s probably not going to happen.
8. Ask around. Online reviews can be helpful, but they’re no substitute for talking to someone you know and trust about new equipment. Find out what they do and don’t like about the equipment you’re considering. For that matter, you might even be able to try out a particular brand or model that one of your colleagues owns.
9. Look at the ease of maintenance. If you want your commercial janitorial equipment to last, you’ll need to do regular maintenance. You may eventually need to do some repairs, too. The more complicated these tasks are, the more likely they’ll get overlooked or put off. While you’re at it, make sure that spare parts are easy to get.
10. Buy for the future. When you buy commercial janitorial equipment, there’s something to be said for purchasing the equipment your business will need in the future. That’s not always possible, of course. But if you’re in the market for larger contracts, or soon will be, it could be in your best interest to spend a little more now, so you don’t end up repeating the process in six months or a year.
When the time comes to get new commercial janitorial equipment, take your time and make a choice that will help your business succeed now and into the future.
Increase your team’s efficiency, reduce your costs, and improve results. With Janitorial Manager, all this and more isn’t just a dream; it’s your new reality. Contact us for a free consultation right now and see how it works!