There’s no question that choosing a lift that takes up less space can be a smart business move. Our narrow inground SmartLifts keep your shop uncluttered and take up just 11 feet x 24 feet for each bay. There are lots of advantages to choosing a lift that isn’t a space hog, but if you’re starting a new shop or in a position to make some changes, which way should you go? Is it better to opt for a smaller shop space or go with a larger area and install more lifts? The answer truly depends on your business and situation, but we’ll break down the pros and cons of each scenario to help you make a smart decision.
Go Small
There are many pros to having a smaller shop. The biggest is that you’ll save on utility and maintenance costs with lower heating, cooling and electricity bills. Those benefits will even extend to things like cleaning and maintenance costs. And of course, running a smaller-scale shop in general means you’ll have a smaller staff and lower payroll. All of this adds up to savings for you, but there are larger advantages, as well.
Having a smaller physical footprint is good from a green standpoint, too. You’ll use fewer resources with a smaller shop, reducing your overall environmental impact. So if your capacity to expand is limited by practical space constraints or it’s just not in the business plan for now, rest easy knowing that you’re taking advantage of some serious benefits. And if you’re making the most of your limited space by using narrow lifts, you’re truly getting the most bang for your buck. Depending on the size of your shop, you might be able to fit in a whole extra bay with a smaller lift, and that means you’ll be able to process more jobs without increasing those heating, cooling or electricity bills.
Go Big
Let’s look at the other side of the coin. Typically, adding more bays will mean more revenue, and you can squeeze in more with a narrow lift. Does that mean you should start planning an expansion to multiply those gains? If you’re exploring the possibility of going bigger, consider these factors:
So which option do you think is more attractive? Have you made the decision to expand or intentionally kept your shop smaller? Share what you’ve learned in the comments below.
If you’re interested in making the most of your space, big or small, get more information about our SmartLifts today.