Diversify your business with attachments

Looking to grow your business? Before adding a dedicated piece of equipment to your fleet, consider outfitting your skid-steer loader, compact track loader and compact excavator with Bobcat® attachments. With more than 80 attachments to choose from, you can get more versatility and profitability for the dollar compared to other equipment acquisitions, especially if you plan to use your equipment year-round.

Selecting the right attachment for your job can be overwhelming. Before adding attachments to your fleet, follow these steps to become a more versatile business year-round.

1. Take stock of your inventory

Before you decide to invest in multi-purpose tools, take stock of your inventory and note what attachments you currently own. Then ask yourself if you can complete your work in the most efficient and affordable manner possible with those attachments.

Augers, buckets, breakers, clamps and grapples are just a few core attachments that can increase your versatility year-round. Specialty attachments, such as rotary cutters, brush chippers, flail mowers, forestry cutters, soil conditioners and stump grinders, also have multi-functional capabilities that can expand your attachment offering. For winter seasonal work, you may seek dedicated snow-removal attachments, such as snow blades, snow pushers or a snowblower.

2. Assess jobsite conditions

If your typical projects, terrain or space constraints are changing enough to require a different attachment than you currently own, consider other attachments to increase your equipment’s versatility and open up new revenue sources.

For instance, if you’re a utility contracting firm with a skid-steer or compact track loader, you likely have a trencher attachment. However, adding a planer, breaker, drop hammer or wheel saw could assist with concrete or asphalt installations.

Compact excavators are perfect candidates for attachment integration, which can help you complete projects far beyond just earth-moving. With their ability to access tight areas, compact excavators and attachments are as effective in pavement and utility rehabilitation applications as in new construction. They can also be used to replace aging utilities, specifically gas and sewer lines and septic tank systems. More municipalities are also realizing the aesthetic and protective value of using compact excavators to help bury overhead power lines.

Attachment mounting systems and auxiliary hydraulics allow compact skid-steer loaders, compact track loaders and compact excavators to be extremely effective tool carriers for a wide variety of attachments.

3. Clarify upfront costs

Buying an attachment may be the right choice if it can meet your project needs, support your expansion efforts or become a significant part of your business. For example, an additional attachment or two could allow you to complete a key task that you previously subcontracted. A new attachment can give you the ability to do work that may be scheduled one or two weeks ahead or after a contractor’s standard part of the project. Adding attachments is a good investment if you have your own service department and storage facility.

However, consider the cost-effectiveness to buy if you use an attachment infrequently, such as once every six months. For one-off jobs, like loading dirt and aggregate one day, moving brush another or breaking up concrete the next, it may be beneficial to rent attachments from your local compact equipment dealer. Keep in mind the costs associated with storage and maintenance for attachments you might not use as frequently.

The decision to buy or rent boils down to being able to complete your work in the most efficient and affordable manner possible. It is entirely dependent upon your company’s situation, so take the time necessary to fully evaluate what is best for your operation.

Adding attachments to your fleet has a variety of benefits that can be used to expand your revenue and reduce the need for specialty or dedicated equipment. As always, making your machines as productive as possible should always be top of mind. With the right attachments, you can make that a reality.