Masonry Magazine June 2012 Page. 21
According to the most recent data from the American Rental Association (ARA), the construction equipment rental industry's forecasted revenue growth for 2012 is expected to increase by more than 6 percent, which is three-times the growth forecasted for US GDP in 2012. The equipment rental industry obviously is playing an important part in the recovering economy, but when does it really make sense for contractors to rent equipment, as opposed to owning it? With the economy now making its way toward recovery, contractors here in the United States have some big decisions to make, and those decisions will have real consequences for their bottom lines.
What are the considerations when making the choice to rent or buy? How are these factors evaluated to get a clear picture, and make the most profitable decision for their business?
Key decision factors
In order to fully understand the decision to rent or own, first consider the cost of ownership of a given piece of equipment. In addition to the initial cash outlay to buy or finance a piece of equipment, cost of ownership also includes general operating costs like maintenance, repairs, inspections, transportation, storage, etc. over time. It also is important to consider factors such as interest, depreciation, taxes, insurance, fuel and energy consumption. Most of these costs increase over time, and can have a significant effect on a contractor's bottom line if not properly managed.
Another key factor to understand is the rate of utilization. This can be estimated on a monthly basis by looking at the past year's seasonal contracts, forecasted projects, and potential prospects. In order to determine an expected utilization rate for a particular piece of equipment, take the number of days the equipment will be used in a month-long period, and divide it among the average amount of working days in a month, which is 22. This will give a contractor an approximate utilization rate percentage.
It stands to reason that numbers anywhere in and around 50 percent could potentially present an investment risk, as the profits made through utilizing the equipment may or may not outweigh the cost of ownership (depreciation, maintenance, insurance, etc.). So, a piece of equipment with a projected utilization rate well above that would likely be most profitable if owned, and any piece of equipment well below that midpoint, would likely be most profitable to rent.
Benefits of renting
There are many benefits to renting for contractors in this economy, as rental is a relatively flexible and risk-free option for contractors who are either unwilling or unable to handle the large cash outlay that ownership often requires. Also, rental hous-
It is important to consider factors such as interest, depreciation, taxes, insurance, fuel and energy consumption.