Choosing the Best Vehicle for Your Business

Sep 2016

Choosing the Best Vehicle for Your Business

The most important element in choosing a business vehicle is how well the vehicle matches your business needs. Purchasing the right vehicle will not only facilitate your work but also save you money in the long run. With so many options in the industry, one needs to know which one will suit their operations.

Here are five questions you should answer before choosing a vehicle for your business:

Does the vehicle align to your long-term goals?

Small business owners tend to purchase a vehicle that works for the moment, but later find out that a new vehicle is needed once the business expands. It will save you more money to align your vehicle purchase to your long-term goals.

The rule of thumb is to purchase a vehicle that will be able to sustain your plans for the next five years.

Is the vehicle suitable for your daily operations?

The type of business you are running will make an impact on the type of vehicle you will purchase. If you’re constantly on the road you need a reliable vehicle. In this instance, you will look for a brand that’s known for its reliability.

Another factor will be your day-to-day operations. You need to consider what you will be using the vehicle for. For example, if you’re managing a delivery company you may want extra boot space for your deliveries, such as a panel van, or if your business philosophy centers around environmental friendliness, you will purchase a vehicle that is fuel efficient and reduces greenhouse gases significantly.

Does the vehicle match your brand?

I once dealt with a company that portrayed themselves as offering niche services to their clients, thus it was only reasonable that I expected only the best when waiting for my delivery. When it did arrive I was completely disappointed.  The products were poorly packaged and the vehicle sounded like it was about to give in. Suffice to say I did not order from them again.

Your vehicle should represent and match your brand. As in the example above, clients will in their mind have certain expectations based on what you initially portray to them.

If your business focuses on environmental impact for example, showing up in a gas-guzzling machine will not look good for your brand.

What is the mileage on the vehicle?

Mileage is extremely important when purchasing a business vehicle because firstly, it will affect the length of time you have to enjoy the vehicle and secondly because older vehicles or more expensive to maintain.

According to experts, a vehicle is considered as having low mileage if it has reached 100,000 kilometers or less on the odometer. Vehicles with 200,000 kilometers or more should be completely avoided. In addition, purchasing a newer vehicle or one with less mileage means paying less for servicing costs.