Rent office equipment or buy?
If you have ever faced purchasing office equipment or needed to replace the old one, you are aware that it is not cheap to do so. That is why renting office equipment is sometimes more reasonable and cheaper than owning it. Owning office equipment is also a worthy idea, so you need to determine which would work best for you and your business. Many people haven't even heard of the option of renting office equipment and often use the same old chairs and desks for ages, putting off buying new ones for as long as possible. Any business which is successful or wishes to be needs quality equipment. Nowadays people are too image-obsessed to accept old, worn out things and take you seriously. Your office has to be appealing to others and if you can't afford new equipment you can research the options for renting. Deciding which option is the best for you is fairly easy - if you need equipment for a short period (for a seminar or a course) it is smarter and economical to just rent those pieces of furniture. Another reason is when you have to move to a smaller place and you can only have a few pieces of furniture - research what available sizes are there and rent the ones which will match the look of your place. If you need equipment for a longer time and you are planning to use it for years, it is smarter to buy it. It may look like a big investment at the time, but it is a worthy investment nonetheless. If you decide to rent, take the time to read carefully the agreements before signing. The prices of renting can exceed the actual purchase price of the items and in case of any damage you will be responsible for it. There can be additional prices, so be aware of the details in the contract before deciding. One of the benefits of owning the office equipment is that you can make changes to it, which is usually not allowed when renting. One of the reasons people choose to rent is that they can't make up their mind on what kind of furniture they want to commit to. If you decide to rent because of more flexibility, be aware of any cancellation fees. Changing month to month can cause lots of distraction and added stress to your team, so it is better to stick to the equipment and make everyone feel cozy and secure at their workplace. Renting different equipment allows you to try different brands and models which is helpful when you finally decide to buy. If you are only starting your business it is better to rent first and save some money until you can afford buying quality equipment. If you are convinced in your business' success make people see that by committing to a place. If you want to stay on the market you have to show that by being stable. Don't show clients and potential business partners that you are only testing the place, the equipment or the team. This shows lack of professionalism. Everything surrounding your business needs to be immaculate and presentable - if you can't afford to buy when you want to, make sure you know what to get when you can. Renting equipment is an easy move but hides many risks - if you don't want to pay for using, damaging and changing equipment, invest in your own - after all, you can only benefit from that.