Most of the time, hiring something or renting something is a sure way to lose money. You always pay for something that you never actually own. Not everything is clear-cut when it comes to shipping containers. There are good reasons to either buy or rent a shipping container office kit. How you'll use your shipping container will help you choose between these options. Here is a guide to help you decide if you should buy or rent a shipping container.
When to rent a Shipping Container
You want to save money
The price is probably the best thing about container hire. You can rent a 20ft shipping container for as little as $5 per day. If you use the container for business, you might even be able to write it off on your taxes. Hiring is an excellent way to save money when you only have a small amount to spend.
It will cost you a few thousand dollars to buy a shipping container. Unless you plan to use something for decades, it will be cheaper to hire than to buy. Most people wouldn't bother to buy it if they only need it for a short time, like when they need to store things temporarily or Ship items one way.
You need different sizes or special features
You might need a 20ft container some months and a 40ft container other months. When you switch sizes, deciding on just one container can be challenging. In this case, container hire would be better. The other thing to think about is what your container can do. Things like fridges and doors that open to the side don't come cheap. Buying a container is not a good investment if you only need the extra features for one project.
When should you buy a shipping container?
You have a plan for the future
The most important reason to buy a shipping container office kit is that you will use it for a long time. This could be a permanent way to store things, a constant way to move items from one place to another, or a creative way to build an office or pop-up cafe. If you use it for ten, twenty, or more years, you might as well buy the container.
You would like to change your container
As was already said, you can't make changes when you rent a shipping container. If you want to use it for architecture or change the way it looks (by adding new paint, logos, branding, etc.), you have to buy it outright.
You need different sizes or special features
You might need a 20ft container some months and a 40ft container other months. When you switch sizes, deciding on just one container can be challenging. In this case, renting out your shipping container would be better. The other thing to think about is what your container can do. Things like fridges and doors that open to the side don't come cheap. Buying a container is not a good investment if you only need the extra features for one project.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide has helped you figure out what you need to know. You should now know the differences between buying and renting a shipping container, as well as the different sizes and how much they cost.
