5 considerations when buying a business van

If your business needs a van, you need to make sure you’re making the right purchase. Not only should it stay within your business budget, it should be everything your business needs.

In most cases, you’ll want to use it everyday so it should be reliable. Plus, you may even want to advertise your business using the van, especially if you drive many hours and want to spread the word of your business to as many people as possible.

Read on for a few ways to purchase the perfect van for your business.

Consider different vans available to your business

Consider the sort of job you’ll be doing and what you need the van to do for you. A small van may be enough if you are simply travelling around your local area, however, if you are cleaning windows or fixing toilets you’re going to need a big enough van for all of your equipment.

At this stage, you may also consider the sort of impression your chosen van will make on your customers. Not necessarily the branding, but whether the vehicle is electric, hybrid, or traditional. If you claim to be an eco friendly company but fail to buy an environmentally friendly van, people will think it is strange.

Reliability

You need your van to be reliable. Your business relies on your van getting you and your tools to your customers, and it could be devastating for your business if it were to break down.

Regular servicing is something you should look for, and any major work done to the van may signal a vehicle you should avoid. Choose a van with a good reliability track record if you want to make sure it’s going to do its job.

Working out your costs

You not only need to consider how much the van will cost you to buy, but how much it is going to cost you to run. This goes for fuel as well as maintenance costs. Do your research on just about any vehicle you are considering, and ask the people who own it now, if applicable. Comparison websites could be a big help to you at this time.

New vs. used

A brand new van will be more expensive, but it’ll likely be more reliable and come with a warranty. The depreciation is a downside you should consider before purchasing new, however. Selecting a second hand van will be kinder to your budget and you won’t have depreciation to think about as much. You can look at sites like https://www.southerncommercialsales.co.uk/ to get an idea of the secondhand vans available to you.

Beware of anything that looks like too much of a bargain – if you can, have it looked over by a mechanic before you buy.

Easy handling

Vans come in all shapes and sizes, so consider usability for your business. Are the mirrors suitable? Is it easy to get in and out of? It may not bother you much on the test drive but it’ll bother you if it’s something you have to deal with every day.

** This is a collaborative post