Line striping plays an important role in everything from parking lot safety to sports performance. Whether you’re creating the outlines of a football or soccer field, lining travel lanes and parking spaces, or something else, you’ll need the right equipment. However, if you’re considering a striping equipment rental, you might be surprised to learn that buying a striping machine is the better option. In this post, we’ll explore why buying could be better than renting.
What is Striping Equipment?
Before we get into the pros and cons of a striping equipment rental vs. purchasing a machine outright, let’s define what we’re talking about. What is striping equipment? Line striping machines come in all shapes and forms, from compact models like the PowrLiner 850, designed for pavement and turf, to the TITAN PowrLiner 8955 Ultimate Striper. Line stripers are used to paint lines on:
- Parking lots
- Roads and streets
- Runways
- Paths
- Sports fields and courts
Check out our full range of line striping equipment to find the perfect option for your needs.
Now that you know a bit more about what line striping equipment is and what it does, let’s get to the heart of the subject. Should you invest in a striping equipment rental? Or should you buy your equipment outright?
Advantages of Renting Striping Equipment
Let’s start with the advantages of a striping equipment rental:
- Lower upfront costs: Renting is a cheaper initial investment.
- Flexibility for occasional use: Ideal for businesses that only need striping a handful of times a year.
- Access to high-quality, professional machines: Renters can try out different models without committing to a purchase.
Disadvantages of Renting Striping Equipment
Now let’s look at the drawbacks of a striping equipment rental:
- Time restrictions: You need to complete the job within the rental period, which can lead to rushed work. If you’re late returning the equipment, you’ll face additional fees.
- Repeat costs: Renting frequently will add up over time, making it less cost-effective. Rental rates also increase pretty regularly, so even if you don’t need to rent often, you may end up paying more over time.
- Limited flexibility: Inconvenient if you need to stripe unexpectedly or adjust your schedule. If there’s significant demand in your area and limited access to striping equipment rentals, you may need to wait days or even weeks to start your project.
As you can see, a striping equipment rental does offer some benefits, but the drawbacks might outweigh those. Now let’s look at the benefits of buying your striping equipment outright instead of renting it.
Related Blog: How to Grow Your Line Striping Business
Advantages of Purchasing Striping Equipment
- No time restrictions: Work at your own pace and schedule, without the pressure of returning rented equipment. That also means improved accuracy, since you’re not rushing to meet an arbitrary deadline and return your striping equipment rental.
- Cost-effective in the long run: If you stripe regularly, buying saves money over time. Depending on the duration of each rental and the size of your project, even striping just a few times per year might be more affordable with owned equipment.
- Potential to earn extra income: You can rent the equipment to fellow business owners, organizations, or sports teams, generating passive income. That helps you pay off the purchase even faster and generates income over time.
- Support your community: Use your line striper to give back by helping local schools, churches, or community organizations with their striping needs.
- Convenience and availability: With purchased equipment, you always have the striper on hand, ready for any project. That means less time spent on each project because there’s no need to drive to the rental office, pick up the striper, return to your location, and then do it all again in reverse.
Why Purchasing a Line Striper Might Be the Best Option
Not sure if a striping equipment rental is the right option for you? On the fence about buying your striper outright? Here are a few signs that purchasing a striper is the better choice.
- You spend a lot of time hauling rental equipment to and from the rental company, eating up your time, gas, and money.
- You need a striper several times per year, or you need it for extended periods to handle large projects.
- You want to save money over the long term and avoid the increasing costs of rentals.
- You want to support others in your area, build goodwill, and/or be a valuable part of the community by providing access to striping equipment.
Ready to Own? Asphalt Kingdom Can Help
Line striping is important. It plays a role in everything from travel safety to youth sports. Thankfully, line striping equipment is readily available to help ensure that you’re able to handle whatever might come your way. However, a line striping equipment rental might not be the best solution. Explore your options for purchasing your own equipment with Asphalt Kingdom’s striping machines.
