Access Hire start up

[Key79]

Hello,
I currently own a tree surgery business which i have ran for several years, and in doing so i own a couple of cherry pickers and a specialised tracked access platform. I am considering buying another one and scaffold towers ect.. and moving into the access hire industry. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Mark T Jones]

What kind of advice are you looking for?

I used to deal extensively with this sector - albeit some years ago, so have some insight

Consider joining the CPA.

 

[AllUpHere]

First thing to do is to work out how you can find an advantage over your local competition. You need to do this before you do absolutely anything else (and most importantly, before you buy any more equipment).

 

[Key79]

Thanks Mark,
Sorry for being stupid but is that the Construction Products Association?

 

[Mark T Jones]

Thanks Mark,
Sorry for being stupid but is that the Construction Products Association?

https://www.cpa.uk.net/

 

[Key79]

Thank you all up here,
I would be doing my research first and trying to undercut the rivals whilst maintaining the equipment to the correct standard and complying to all legal and HSE requirements, off which we currently do anyway. But there would obviously have to be money within this to make it successful and to update equipment, and i appreciate margins might be close as access equipment is very expensive. I currently hire my tracked MEWP out a fair bit to the contractor i sub contract too, and there is more scope to do this as they are a big company who hire 26mtr tracked MEWPS regularly, but i would like to hear about pros and cons off going into access hire. I need to diversify my business which is successful and has a good reputation within the sector i work in, but for the last few years i haven't been happy doing what i do as its getting harder and harder to do what we do, staying compliant and trying to keep staff, as no one seems to want to work in this sector because off the ever changing requirements which i cannot blame them for, but i would like to diversify if possible!

 

[DavidWH]

Speak to local signage companies.

We have two subbie's we use who have their own cherry pickers.

1) They're rather un-reliable
2) They're rather expensive (£300+ a day that's them installing it)

Your niche could be providing the access equipment and assisting their own fitters as a pair of hands. They provide the tools, fixings etc

Sign maker makes extra money, you make a difficult job easier and safer, and the spare pair of hands helps them too.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Please don’t pitch in as being the cheapest. It’s nearly always a flawed plan

Will you be going wet or dry hire?

Will you be offering c & d or expecting customers to collect and return

Make sure you get a watertight contract

Look closely at credit policy - especially if you target the construction trade.

 

[Key79]

Thanks David WH,

That makes perfect sense to me as while we are there with the cherry picker we might as well help. I have hired plenty of access platforms before where they just drop them off and that's it, they either fall asleep or just disappear for a few hours then pick them up. If you hire an operator what happens if you both get stuck up in the air!!, surely an operator needs to stay on the ground to assist if all things go wrong in the air!, anyway i am side tracking!. Is it a viable option going into access hire as hse combined with hierarchy at working at height is so important, and where i live we have the usual hire companys but theres nothing wrong with a bit of competition!!

 

[Key79]

Sorry Mark

Your right, i will be making sure its profitable otherwise i wouldn't bother. i would be operating a collection and delivery service as i currently make money on this now, and its more enviable from the hirers perspective. I'm currently insured with NFU for my tree surgery business but they were very reluctant to insure my tracked access platform, firstly because off the cost then they said i couldn't hire it out to anyone else unless we were operating it. I do like the NFU as they have been good to me over the years but i need to find an insurer who will allow for hired out plant. I currently pay over £14,000 for my combined insurances a year, and i only employ 5 people, so maybe its time to change?..

 

[AllUpHere]

Your industry is literally full of potential advantages you can use. The very worst one would be to try to be cheap.

 

[McDade1]

I have worked in plant/access hire for around 8 years. If your looking for any advice or for a general run through of regulations, insurance, kit or anything please feel free to get in touch if I can be of any help.

 

[Key79]

Thank you ever so much McDade1, I will take you up on that as firstly I want to be totally compliant, and insurance providers to the hire trade seem to be hard to find, and anything to watch out for etc.. would be good to know