Is it Better to Purchase or Lease Mobile Surveillance Equipment?

When you need mobile surveillance equipment, it’s important to think about how your business will manage an investment in a security asset. There are many options in the marketplace, and it can be tough to know if you’re getting a good deal; especially if you’re weighing the differences between purchasing or going with a lease.

Indefinite expense vs. One-time investment

While the monthly cost of renting a unit may seem more manageable in the short term, in the long run, ownership is generally most cost-effective. Rental fees can add up fast and before you know it, you’ll have paid enough on a unit to have purchased one outright.

For example, the annual cost of leasing a fairly basic surveillance trailer can range from $24,000 to $38,000. When you purchase a unit from Mobile Pro Systems, the full return on your investment can start as early as one year. Every month you own your surveillance system instead of renting it, you are realizing the value of having a security asset that will cost less and less to use while providing an even better mobile surveillance experience for you as an owner than a renter.

When you rent, you end up paying for the equipment many times over; and at the end of the agreement, the provider will rent it to someone else who will do the same.

So when does it make sense to rent a mobile surveillance system? If you know your need to deploy surveillance is temporary and not necessary for long-term security purposes, then it can be viewed like any other specialty equipment rental. You’ll pay a premium for a few months and write it off as a business expense.

Coming up: the next post in this series will look at what mobile surveillance leasing providers typically offer compared with custom-built solutions.

The Purchase vs. Lease series examines the differences between owning or renting mobile surveillance equipment and the implications each of these approaches can have for your business. If you need help sorting out your options, our solutions consultants are experts at listening and guiding you to the solution that works best for you: call 952-324-5656.