You probably know that your company needs a uniform program, but you're not sure if you should rent or buy the uniforms. We have found this to be one of the biggest problems to solve, after hundreds of meetings with clients. Potential clients always ask:
Which direction should I go, rent or purchase?
In this article, we'll compare the two options. Both options exist because there is a demand for both. But there are situations where one is a better fit than the other.
So let’s start by looking at an example of why a company might choose to rent uniforms over purchasing them. A company that goes the renting uniforms route, may decide to, due to high employee turnover. In this case, purchasing a uniform wouldn’t make any sense.
If high employee turnover is not an issue, then purchasing might be a good choice. Typically, buying your uniforms will cost less than renting them weekly. Now, let's dig a bit deeper and look at some other things to consider.
Contracts
In a uniform purchase program, you might find a 1-year contract with automatic annual renewal or no contract at all.
Our company sells uniforms and doesn't work much with contracts. Companies either decide to continue buying from us or they don't. It's pretty simple.
When renting uniforms, these contracts can vary in length and terms. One rental contract could be a minimum of two years or could be up to five years, depending on contract terms negotiated. When you cancel a rental contract, you usually have a short time to do it. It usually happens near the end of the contract. After that, the contract will likely automatically renew.
Contracts can be necessary when renting uniforms because both companies have something to lose. There are plenty of moving parts that can cause small issues during the service term. Negotiations lead to the signing of contracts to protect both parties.
Buying uniforms, on the other hand, is like buying a used piece of equipment, or a car. You find a provider that you trust and decide what to buy. Next, you might negotiate the price, depending on the vendor. Finally, you decide to buy.
Under-wash fee
An under-wash fee refers to a company being charged a weekly rental and cleaning fee for those uniforms that your employees aren’t turning in. Not all, but some uniform rental companies will include an under-wash fee within their contracts.
Paying this fee shouldn't mean you switch to buying your uniforms either. It might mean you need to get organized and encourage your employees to turn in their uniforms for cleaning. That's how the rental program works.
When the full roster of uniforms is turned in, the under-wash fee would disappear.
On the other hand, purchased uniforms don't get turned in for cleaning. Your employees are responsible for caring for their own uniforms. Since you buy the uniforms, you won't need to pay an under-wash fee.
Size change fee
With a uniform rental contract, some uniform providers will charge a size change fee, usually around a $1 or $2 per garment, if an employee requests a size change. It’s important to remember the length of your contract and then multiply that fee per employee, for each year of the contract.
Although it can vary, almost all employees will have at least one size change during the contract terms.
A rental contract could also include an additional sizing charge, for any uniform needed over an XL. The cost varies depending on the uniform provider, and some providers won’t charge this fee. One example would be our sister company, Model Uniforms, who doesn’t charge a fee for sizes over XL that are needed.
With a uniform purchase program, what you order is what you get, so be sure you select the right size. In most cases, if your employees order a garment and it is decorated, it can’t be returned to your provider.
One easy way to avoid size changes when buying uniforms is to use a fit line. A fit line is the full roster of styles your company buys from the uniform company, with one for each size of each style. This can help your employees try on the workwear they'll be wearing before buying.
If buying a fit line seems expensive, talk to your uniform company. There's a good chance they'll work with you on that expense. They can also use the fit line for the order when orders are ready to be placed. Buying a fit line shows you're serious about getting your sizes right. And your uniform company should appreciate this, as it should mean there will be fewer chances of returns coming back.
Is a uniform purchase program right for you or should you be renting uniforms?
Usually, when starting a uniform purchase program, you’re only going to pay for the uniform and apparel your employees or admin purchases. When first setting up your uniform purchase program, you typically only pay for the digitizing fee of your company’s logo.
Other than that, your private web store is free and no other costs are incurred. Depending on the clothing brand you choose, your uniform purchase program will give you three to five years of wear. You can wear it every day and wash it at home.
So be sure to ask yourself a few questions, when deciding if you need a uniform rental program or a uniform purchase program:
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- Who will be wearing the uniform or apparel?
- Will the garments need industrial washed or can they be washed at home?
- Is this for corporate employees or field workers?
- What is the goal of the apparel or uniform?
- Is this for professional appearance or industry regulation?
- Who are your customers?
- Are your employees customer-facing or interacting with customers or the public?
- Do you have high employee turnover?
- What is my uniform budget?
If your company is considering a uniform program and wondering what it takes to get started, then be sure to click the button below and find out how simple it is to start up your own uniform purchase program.
