If you’re an attorney, you’ll know you’ve made it when you buy your first cruiser sports boat. If you’re a real estate agent, you’ll know you’ve made it when you drive your brand new “beemer” home. And, when you’re a contract cleaner, you’ll know you’ve made it when you buy your first automatic scrubber. Or will you?
While these are all signs of accomplishment, unfortunately buyers will likely keep paying for them over and over again as long as they own these items. This is referred to as total cost of ownership (TCO). These are the hidden costs to own the boat, the beemer, or the scrubber.
For instance, while that beemer may cost US$50,000 out the door, every time it needs servicing, be prepared to fork up another $500 bucks here and another $500 bucks there. They’re great cars; they just have high maintenance costs.
The same applies to that new automatic scrubber. A new 27-inch walk-behind automatic scrubber can cost between $10,000 and $13,000. If you have to finance it, expect to pay another $1,000 in finance charges.
And, while the scrubber may work very well after hours and hours of use, eventually maintenance and service issues will arise. Here’s where those hidden costs come in. According to one study, an automatic scrubber can cost about $1,100 annually to service and maintain. As it gets older, those costs will likely rise until reaching a point that the machine is simply not worth the repair bills.
BSCs must realize they are running a business. While a shiny scrubber may be nice at first, selecting a system that is far less costly to purchase and maintain will likely pay dividends over time. An example of this when it comes to floor care is the AutoVac, which is part of the OmniFlex™ Crossover cleaning system from Kaivac.
A new AutoVac system with all the bells and whistles costs a third or less than the auto scrubber mentioned earlier. But, here’s the clincher: It costs about $300 a year to maintain, probably a lot less. The equipment only has a few moving parts and components that can break down or need repair.
As it is used, the AutoVac applies cleaning solution directly to the floor. A pad applies the necessary agitation to loosen soils, which are then vacuumed up by the machine. Expect to clean about 20,000 square feet per hour with the battery- powered model.
We all want to have our share of success symbols… We just don’t want to keep paying for them over and over again. When it comes to your business, practicality and cost savings are the best success and accomplishment symbols a BSC can have.
For more information on the AutoVac, visit www.kaivacAV.com.
