How will buying a shipping container benefit your business? Shipping containers are durable and low-maintenance, meaning that all containers you purchase will last for years to come. Owning one or more shipping containers provides you with the convenience of moving containers when you need them moved, rather than scheduling a relocation with the container owner. You also have the benefit of flexibility, with the freedom to modify or customize your containers to suit your exact needs. The last, and most important benefit of buying a shipping container is the cost savings you’ll experience when compared with the costs of renting and relocation fees. However, there are some things you need to know before buying a shipping container.
Before you buy a shipping container
It is important to know what the local laws are concerning container ownership and placement. Some locales may ban containers outright, while others may allow them, as long as certain rules are followed. Once you have determined that you can legally have a container at your locations, make sure you have enough room for a container to be delivered.
Location
To get the most use out of your new container, be sure to place it on solid, level ground that has good drainage. If the container is set where the ground is uneven, you may have difficulty getting the doors to close properly. It may be a good idea to prepare a level area for the container, using gravel that has been spread and leveled to provide good drainage underneath.
Delivery of the container
Once you have made sure that you can store the container on your property, it’s time to determine where it will be set upon delivery. A good rule of thumb to is allow a space that is twice the length of the container plus 3 meters in a straight line to ensure there is enough room for the truck to drop it off. For example, if you’re having a 6 meter (20ft) container delivered, you will need at least 15 meters total length for the truck. If you’re having a 12 meter (40ft) container delivered, you will need a minimum of 27 meters in a straight line to accommodate delivery.
Container Construction
All shipping containers are made with a steel alloy specially formulated to be corrosion resistant, in order to provide years of reliable service onboard seagoing ships. The paint used on them is also designed to withstand the harsh conditions of intermodal transportation.
Durability
Made from various steel alloys and welded construction, shipping containers are strong and durable. Designed to withstand the stresses and pressures of seagoing passage, shipping containers will last many years under normal use.
Low Maintenance
Shipping containers, by their design, are low-maintenance. At most, you may need to replace the door gaskets every few years. This means routine maintenance costs will be virtually zero.
Convenience
When you need to move your containers often, you may experience frustration with getting the shipping container owner to move them when you need. Owning your own shipping containers eliminates this problem by putting you in control. If you have the equipment, you can move your containers as many times a day as you need, without paying extra for that service. When you buy your own shipping containers, you gain optimal convenience, saving both time and money. Their convenience extends to their ease of transportation, too. You can load and secure a shipping container on the same trailers you move heavy equipment and machinery on, securing them like according to established container securement guidelines.
Flexibility
When you hire or rent shipping containers, there may be restrictions on what you can use the containers for. This can make it difficult to rent containers for your needs. This can lead to returning containers that the owner determines are not in the same condition as when they were first rented to you. The container owner may bill you for the costs incurred restoring each container to its pre-rental condition. Buying outright eliminates the restrictions a container rental company may place on the container when you rent it, leaving you free to use it as you see fit. Owning containers and using them the way you need can save you lots of money in rental repair and cleanup fees.
Buying a shipping container saves money
You have been dreaming of a real vacation for years, but couldn’t afford it. When you stop renting shipping containers, and buy them instead, you just might save enough money to make that dream vacation possible. Shipping containers are a low-cost asset that will save you a lot of money.
- Eliminate hiring and rental fees. When you own the shipping containers, you no longer have to rent them. The amount of money saved from this alone is worth more than the purchase cost of a shipping container.
- Eliminate relocation fees. By owning your own containers, you save money on relocation fees. This leads to substantial savings when you have to move shipping containers often.
- If you hire a single or semi to move your container, you will get a much cheaper rate than through a company that rents shipping containers. This will save money, too.
- If your have your own singles or semis, you can save even more by transporting the containers yourself.
- The nominal increase you may see in taxable assets is small when compared to the amount of money you save by buying a shipping container instead of hiring it.
The bottom line
For business owners, buying a shipping container saves you money by eliminating costs associated with hiring, rental, and relocation fees. When you buy a shipping container, you are investing in a low-cost, durable, easy to maintain asset. You benefit from the convenience of owning your own shipping containers and the flexibility that comes with outright ownership of the containers. Add to this list of benefits the savings you’ll see, and it becomes clear why buying a shipping container is a sound, low-cost investment.
