Short term forklift hire vs long term forklift hire: what’s best for my business?
Forklifts perform vital roles for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Choosing the perfect forklift plan, however, can create a dilemma; should you hire short-term, hire long-term or purchase outright? The truth is, the answer varies depending on the business. To help you and your business make the best decision, we’ve written this guide on the advantages of short-term and long-term forklift hire.
Advantages Of Short-Term Forklift Hire
Flexibility
When considering short-term forklift hire one huge advantage is flexibility. If you only need a forklift for a week or so, you don’t want to have to shell out money to buy or hire long term. With short-term hire, you can choose exactly which forklifts you need for the job without any long term obligation. This is especially crucial for small businesses, who may not have the cash flow for lengthy hire agreements.
A good way to try before you buy
If you are unsure about operating a particular make or model of forklift and its suitability to your business, then short-term hire is advantageous as it is a great way to try before you buy, Hawthorne Fork Truck Services offer a “no obligation” site survey to access your requirements. Short-term hire also gives you the flexibility to try out different types of forklift, to either hire for the long-term or with the aim of buying.
No upfront costs
Opting for short-term forklift hire means that there are no upfront costs. You are given a set cost and the date, or dates, which payments need to be made. This allows you to easily budget for short-term hire costs and at a price that suits your needs.
Quick turnaround when you need it
Another huge benefit of the short-term hire is that you can get your hands on your chosen forklift as and when you need it. This will help with the smooth running of your business resulting in continued productivity. The other good news is that once you receive your forklift, it is ready to use as it has been fully checked and serviced.
Comes with parts and maintenance
When you go down the short-term hire route, then you can rest assured that your chosen forklift comes with full maintenance and parts cover. This in itself will save you a lot of money, as when you own a forklift you need to pay for regular maintenance checks and for replacement parts. As with any piece of machinery, the forklift will need regular maintenance and things may go wrong, but at least you won’t be responsible for these costs when you hire a short-term forklift.
Choice of forklifts
When you opt for short-term forklift hire, you’ll be surprised at the range of forklifts you can choose from. This is a bonus if you need to use a selection of different machinery to get your jobs done. Short-term hire means that you don’t have to restrict yourself to the one type of machine, and very often you’ll be given access to the very latest models.
A Safe option
When you choose to use a short-term hire service, you’ll have great peace of mind in knowing that your forklift is safe to use. All forklifts supplied by us meet health and safety requirements and with all forklifts having been thoroughly examined, serviced and checked.
Short-term forklift hire options
When considering short-term forklift hire Hawthorne FTS should be your number one choice. We ensure that every single forklift has a Thorough Examination Certificate giving you peace of mind in knowing that your chosen forklift is safe to operate.
We provide narrow aisle forklifts, counterbalance forklifts and reach trucks, which are powered by diesel, gas and electric.
Narrow aisle forklifts are the ideal solution when space is limited. Even though these forklifts are small, they can be incredibly powerful and handle heavy loads.
Counterbalance forklifts are the most common type of forklift and are mainly used indoors in the warehouse environment. Dual forks located at the front of the machine easily lift and carry loads.
4 Directional trucks are the perfect forklift for when you need to lift and transfer long loads such as PVC extensions and timber.
To find out more about our short-term forklift hire services and the trucks that we have on offer, then please fill out our online form or give us a call today.
Advantages Of Long Term Forklift Hire
For a lot of business owners, this is the most financially viable solution. Not everyone can afford the significant outlays that are required to purchase a machine outright. Therefore, it becomes much more manageable to hire a machine and pay for it on a monthly basis. You know exactly what you are going to be spending per month, and this makes it much easier for you to manage.
This is not the only way that long term forklift hire will save you money. If you were to purchase a machine outright, you would have to take care of all of the maintenance and repairs that are required. You don’t need to worry about this with long term forklift hire as this is the responsibility of the hiring company. Not only does this enhance convenience and minimise the possibility of any financial problems, but it also reduces surprise costs and uncertainty, as you know you won’t have to deal with such expenses. You also won’t have to deal with a halt in productivity while you wait for your forklift to be repaired. This allows for efficient operations at all times, which is a necessity in today’s fast-paced business world,
Make your budget go further
Long term forklift hire also gives businesses the opportunity to use machines that they wouldn’t be able to if they had to purchase outright. By opting to hire the machine from us, your budget can get you a better make, model and essentially a better level of quality. This can enhance the efficiency of your operations in the process.
Customise your hire service to suit your level of demand
You can also take on jobs that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to as well. You can use long term forklift hire to ensure you cater to periods of peak demand. If a customer asks you to take on a huge job, the last thing you want to do is turn them away because you don’t have the machinery required. Instead, you can hire extra forklifts if needed for the period required from us. This can be extremely beneficial for smaller businesses and start-ups, as it gives them the opportunity to compete with larger firms that have the in-house capacity to take on these sorts of jobs.
In addition to the points that have already been mentioned, another key advantage is the convenience that is associated with long term forklift hire. When you require a machine, whether it is a 4 directional machine or forklift, we will arrange the delivery and collection of it. This ensures minimal disruption to your business.
A selection of our hire trucks that are ready for immediate delivery
Long-term forklift hire with Hawthorne FTS
Now you know all of the benefits that are associated with long term forklift hire. If you want to take advantage of this service, all you need to do is make sure you find a quality company. You need a business that has a considerable amount of experience in the industry, and you also need a company with a forklift selection that is extensive, so that they have the capability to handle your requirements.
This is exactly what you have with Hawthorne FTS. We have a great selection of forklift trucks, catering to all requirements, If you need long term forklift hire, we can deliver.
Our range includes three-wheel electric trucks, four-wheel electric trucks, counterbalance forklifts, diesel forklifts, gas forklifts, reach forklifts, very narrow aisle forklifts, and much more.