by Haris Quintana
A good business needs good equipment. Whether you’re just opening your first brick-and-mortar store and require new Slatwall Fixtures to display your products or are an experienced entrepreneur looking to upgrade your existing computers or heavy plant, here are a few tips that can help you to make the best purchase.
Don’t assume expensive is better
Expensive equipment isn’t always the best option. It’s possible that this equipment may have more features than you need. For instance, you probably don’t need a heavy-duty industrial printer if you’re not going to be printing off hundreds of documents per day. Assess your needs so that you’re not wasting money on overly flashy tech.
Prioritise health and safety
Equipment needs to be safe to use, which involves meeting health and safety laws. If you’re looking for manufacturing machinery, this could involve having emergency stop buttons and fingerguards to prevent human contact with moving parts. Health and safety laws vary by country and are constantly changing over time, which could be something to consider when sourcing old, used machinery. Health and safety is especially important if your business operates in a dangerous industry. For instance, if your company specializes in marine construction, having the best commercial diving equipment is critical for the protection of divers in potentially hazardous underwater environments.
Go green
It’s also worth considering whether a piece of equipment is eco-friendly. With machinery such as computers and kitchen machinery, it could be worth looking into the energy rating – a machine with a better energy rating could mean lower energy bills. Green equipment could also be good for your company’s brand image. Newer machinery tends to be more eco-friendly than older machinery.
Keep training in mind
Certain equipment may require training to use. Consider the cost of this when choosing such equipment. With certain niche equipment that you may not need to use regularly, you may find that it’s better to simply outsource another company to operate this machinery when necessary – this could save you having to invest in training.
Read reviews
Reviews are useful for getting unbiased information on equipment. You’ll find plenty of review sites online such as this construction equipment review site. On top of user reviews, you may be able to find professional reviews on some equipment, which may be able to give you a more in-depth understanding of a tool’s pros and cons.
Shop at specialist sellers
General business equipment suppliers may not always have the best selection when it comes to certain types of equipment. Going through a specialist seller could allow you access to a greater range of products, as well as being able to ask advice from staff with specialised knowledge. For instance, if you’re looking equipment for a fishing trawler, you’re much better trying a marine supply store than a general all-purpose business supplier. You can usually find these specialist sellers online.
Make sure the seller is trusted
It’s also important the seller has a good reputation. This could involve positive reviews or a strong social media following. Buying equipment from a private seller could be riskier as you’re less likely to be able to gage how trustworthy they are (if possible, try to always meet up in person before buying equipment rather than buying from a stranger online without meeting).
Get help from advisors
You may be able to hire advisors to help you choose the best equipment. Such advisors may be able to also help with financing and insurance on top of sourcing equipment from the right sellers. When considering this option, expect to pay some commission towards these advisors – it may only be worthwhile when sourcing expensive equipment.
Consider hiring/leasing
Buying equipment can be expensive and may not always be necessary. Hiring and leasing equipment could be more affordable and more suitable in certain situations. It’s worth checking out a site like https://nationwidediggerhire.co.uk/, for example, if you need a digger for a one-off construction job. There's no point in buying a digger if you only need it for one day – hiring one will save you a lot of money and could even allow you to shop around for a digger that is better quality than you would be able to buy.