How do I judge the rental fleet before buying a ski rental shop?
Ask for the fleet by item and season of purchase, then inspect a sample of skis, boots and boards for worn bindings, soles and liners. Check whether the seller kept up a replacement cycle, whether the tuning and fitting equipment works, and whether the fleet suits the hill the shop serves.
In a ski rental shop, the fleet is the business. Skis, boots and boards wear out through hard use, and a worn fleet can hide behind a few good winters of rental income. Judge the fleet on its condition, not just its count. The general method for rental records is in how to read equipment rental fleet utilization records.
Age and replacement cycle
Ask for a list of every ski, boot and board, with the season each was bought. Group them by season. A fleet bought in a few large batches will need replacing in large batches too. Ask what the seller replaced each year and what is overdue. If the owner stopped replacing gear before the sale, ask what catching up would cost.
Wear you can see
Pull a sample from every group and look at it yourself. Check bindings for wear and for release that feels right, edges and bases on skis and boards, and boot soles, buckles and liners. Ask how bindings are tested and who does it, and ask to see the records. Safety checks on rental gear are worth discussing with your insurer and lawyer.
Tuning gear and the location
Ask what the shop owns for tuning, waxing and boot fitting, and whether each machine runs. Then think about the shop’s place. A fleet suited to a family hill is different from one built for experienced skiers. Ask how many hills are in reach, how lease terms look, and how much of the fleet is sized for the customers who actually walk in.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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