Owning a concrete pump can go a long way in growing your business and making it profitable. However, new pumps are often unaffordable for small business owners. Buying used concrete pumps makes sense financially. There are a few things to keep in mind before you start shopping, though. Here are five of them.
Whether you are just getting started in the business or you are a veteran working for others, there comes a time when you want to purchase a concrete pump. You may start browsing for Schwing concrete pumps for sale or start dreaming of getting up early and driving to your next pump site. If you’ve made up your mind that you want to go for a used pump, keep these things in mind before you invest.
What Kind Of Pump?
Do you want to go for a boom pump or trailer/line pump? This will depend on the kind of jobs you are looking at and the maturity of the market you are targeting. Boom pumps are used on large construction sites as they can pump high volumes of concrete. Line pumps don’t have that kind of capacity and can be used on smaller sites. The good part about line pumps is that you can operate them on your own with some effort and minimum skills.
Does It Fit Your Budget?
Take a hard look at what kind of money you have saved up. Are you able to borrow from friends, family, or financial institutions? Good-quality used Schwing concrete pumps for sale are available for $90,000 and upwards. It may take some time and lots of effort for this kind of investment to give returns. You need your family’s support because the going is tough in the beginning.
What Is Your Market?
Research your competitors in the area and the potential collaborators. Choose a 100-mile radius and see what you have to contend with in this region. Do you already have contacts in the construction and building industry that you can leverage? Do you already have customers you have brought with you? Is there someone you can work with? You may have to think of advertising through word-of-mouth, yellow pages, online, and through leaflets. The more you push to make yourself and your business visible, the more business you are going to get.
Get Into The Little Stuff
Get answers to questions like the age of the pump you are considering, the last boom inspection in case it is a boom pump, last oil change, state of the differential cylinders, service records, involvement in an accident. Any query you have, feel free to ask, it is the seller’s duty to clarify all your doubts and present proofs.
Get A Good Brand
You absolutely cannot scrimp on quality and trustworthiness, else you may regret your investment for a long time. Ask around and see what players in the field are already using. Do your research online too. Buy a pump from a well-known and established brand. You will not go wrong with used Schwing concrete pumps for sale as long as you take care of the other four points mentioned above.
To Conclude
Buying a concrete pump is a big step which involves plenty of thought, research, effort, and investment. If you take care of the preliminaries listed here and are willing to give it all you have got, you should be well on your way to building a successful business.