A spray rig is more than a tool of the trade: It is probably the single biggest driver of a lawn care provider’s success. A rig’s capacity, capabilities and quality affect your top and bottom lines, and these factors should be front and center when deciding on a rig.
Maybe you noticed that I didn’t include cost. It goes without saying that cost is a very important consideration. However, being overly cost-conscious can lead folks to opt for a rig that doesn’t support longer-term growth and profitability. In short, it can undermine your ability to make a good living. When you focus on affordability and revenue potential rather than cost, you’re in a much better position to make a purchase that serves your business well.
Here are some suggestions that can help guide lawn care pros when the time comes to purchase a new spray rig.
Go big or go home
For lawn care operators who are just starting out, a pickup truck and spray unit could be the right choice. It’s a great entry-level rig for doing weed control and lawn fertilization on smaller properties. But to grow the business and increase revenue, you’ll need to buy another larger rig in the not-too-distant future or risk losing new accounts to competitors.
That’s why it makes good business sense to buy the largest rig you can afford, ideally one that meets your current needs while allowing your business to grow. In most cases, this means getting a rig that can accommodate more customers and services.
Aim for ‘one and done’
The more services you can deliver in a single trip, the happier you and your customers will be. Unlike a pickup rig, the right large lawn rig can enable lawn care providers to handle warm- and cool-season grasses, tree and shrub care, perimeter pest control — even mowing — in just one route trip.
This kind of efficiency is a powerful driver of revenue … and profits. In fact, a full-size rig with multiple tanks and dual pumping stations can generate $500,000 to $700,000 in revenue per year.
Fit your rig to your business plan
Even a good quality, larger lawn rig can fall short if it’s not designed and equipped to perform the way your particular business needs it to. So, it’s important to work with an equipment provider who takes the time to understand what services you want to offer and how you want to deliver them before providing a price quote. What’s more, they should be able to suggest custom features and designs that not only align with your goals but make your work more efficient.
Services matter
A spray rig of any size is a significant investment, and there’s no overstating the importance of getting high-quality equipment. But it’s just as important to work with a spray equipment provider whose services are geared toward their customers getting the most from that investment.
Along with quality equipment and customization, buyers should look for a provider who offers:
- Technical support for maintenance, troubleshooting and repairs.
- Ready availability of repair kits and replacement parts.
- Reasonable financing and delivery options.
- Refurbishing options.
These types of services can help keep a top-quality rig out in the field and generating revenue for 20 or even 30 years, and that adds up to a healthy bottom line.
