There is nothing worse than buying a piece of equipment to quickly realize that you should have gone with another option. It can be especially frustrating (and expensive) when it applies to buying a power trowel.  With so many different brands, options and technologies out there, where should you start? You need to identify what you actually need from your machines in order to make an informed decision.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you choose a power trowel for your business:

1) How often will this trowel be used?

If you plan on using it almost everyday of the week, you will want to look at something that is built to last. Your profits will go down the drain very fast if you are spending time and money on repairs that could've been avoided with choosing something better suited to your needs.

In the industry there are some walk-behinds that are built for everyday use, and there are some that are not. This doesn’t mean that the lower quality machines are bad, but it does mean they will be more susceptible to wear issues when used often.

2) How long do I want to keep this machine running?

Depending on your business, you could want something that will last 2 years or 10 years. Rental businesses, for example, usually don’t want to keep stock for more than a couple years because as new technology comes out, they want to be able to offer these new options to their customers.

On the other hand, contractors normally aim for longevity. They get very comfortable with their machine over many jobs and don’t want to fix what isn’t broken.

Warranty

You want to pay special attention to warranty! Most manufacturers offer a 1 year warranty, but a select few offer up to a 3 year warranty. If you are planning on keeping your purchase for over 1-2 years, you may want to go with the longer warranty. This has the potential to save you money and keep your profits where they belong.

Want more?

These questions are part of an eBook we wrote called How to Increase ROI with Power Trowels.  If you want to get some more fantastic advice, consider downloading the eBook and learning more.  We are sure that regardless of whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, there's something in there for you.