Trusted by 250K+ Business Worldwide. Find a Location
Trusted by 250,000+ businesses worldwide across 250 locations delivering uniforms, linens and more. Find a Location Near You
Delivering Excellence Since 2000
Contact Us
Are uniforms essential? While they can increase team spirit, a sense of belonging and therefore productivity, uniforms can be costly especially when you’re just starting a business. In some industries, such as the industrial and food and beverage environment, workwear to protect your staff and their clothes are essential. However, it’s hard to justify the return on your uniform investment. Is it better to rent your uniform, or is owning your own uniforms better? Every company is different and it all depends on what your requirements are.
Ownership vs Renting
- Owning
Purchasing your uniforms outright gives you personal control of your inventory, at the cost of total responsibility. You know how many you own, how many of each size and the different kinds you have, however you’re fully liable for your garments and it is up to you to decide how to maintain them. On the one hand, it’s possible to make any changes if you decide to change your uniform or branding, however, if you’re purchasing and maintaining a supply of uniforms for your staff, you will also need to stock a large variety of sizes and find a space to store your spares and extra sizes. It’s also worth keeping in mind that when purchasing uniforms outright, you will be required to re-purchase to replace any faults or breakages, so your initial cost-price will not be your total lifetime spend.
- Renting
The future is unpredictable and it’s hard to foresee if you will still require the same type and amount of uniforms in the near future for your business. With rental uniforms, you have the freedom of a flexible supplier and won’t be stuck with cupboards full of uniforms if your business decides to change focus and pivots. When renting, you can be flexible with uniform requirements. If you require a different style of uniform for certain events, e.g. your client wants your catering team dressed in black and white for a special occasion, you can just let your rental company know and they can arrange the new uniform for you without your business being required to pay for a full new set for all staff involved. Rental companies can also be quite flexible with sizing requirements, ensuring your staff are wearing well fitted uniforms instead of uniforms that are one-size fits all.
Cost
- Ownership
The biggest challenge with owning uniforms is the immediate upfront cost. It can be quite expensive depending on the customisation level you’re after, the styles and the number of uniforms required. With owning uniforms, having to pay for replacements, purchasing extra uniforms for additional staff, and repairing and covering any extra holes or stains can all add up. Purchasing uniforms outright is an option for businesses where uniforms rarely get soiled or ripped (e.g. retail) however you still lose the additional flexibility of a rental service.
- Renting
With renting a uniform, there is little to no upfront costs. Just pick which uniform you would like for your staff, and the organisation will provide it for you. There is also little wait time with renting uniforms, as uniform rental services already have stock and can provide you the uniform straight away. There are no costs on capital and renting is ideal if your organisation doesn’t have the initial cash flow required for uniforms but would like staff to look uniformed.
Uniform Maintenance
All uniforms require maintenance. For many industries such as hospitality and healthcare, uniforms are more likely to get damaged and will require a higher maintenance level to other industries like retail. If you’re concerned about maintenance on your staff uniforms, a rental service may be the best option for your business.
- Owning
When you own your uniforms, either yourself or your employees are responsible for their maintenance. This includes washing, drying, ironing and repairing if required. All of this can be time consuming and stressful just to ensure your employees look professional at all times. Everyone has different standards. While you may classify a uniform as untidy, your employee may not think the same and considers it passable. By passing on the responsibility of uniform cleaning to your employees, you’re relying on their judgement of a tidy, clean uniform. If a uniform misses a wash, they may turn up to work with a stained apron as there was no alternative at the last minute. It’s important to also consider the quality of laundering and it’s important to ensure a high level of hygiene is maintained at all times.
- Renting
When you have a uniform rental service, they’re responsible for maintaining the uniforms for you. This includes cleaning, washing, ironing, repairing any holes and replacing any uniforms if they do not look fresh and new. Using a rental company can also be more hygienic as uniforms are washed ‘correctly’, ensuring a decreased risk of contamination while providing a higher level of hygiene for your staff. Rental companies know how to maintain uniforms to protect the life of the garment and staff are guaranteed to look presentable and professional at all times.
Branding
When you rent, you have a wide variety of colours, sizes and styles to choose from. You will also not be locked into the same choice forever, and your rental company will be flexible with any changes you may need to request in the future.
So renting or owning uniforms outright? To keep your workplace as hygienic as possible, it may be a good idea to outsource your uniforms and go through a rental company. Get in touch with Alsco to organise your rental uniform needs now!
Read More
How Alsco Can Benefit Your Business
6 Smart Ideas For Dealing With Wet Floors
