I think for any business, you will come across the “should I buy or rent this?” question. So here’s a few pros and cons. This is a “Jennilyn’s opinion for her business list” – your business is (and probably should be) different from mine.

Camera Equipment – rent. I REALLY wish I had done this sooner! My thought was, why rent when I can just buy? Then it’s mine. Well, the camera body that we love is about $2,700-$3,700 a pop. JUST the body folks. To rent TWO bodies for 3 days is about $250. It’s great to rent for a couple reasons. First, you get to play with the gear. It’s fun to try before you buy! Second, if you don’t have it in the budget to buy what you need now, you can still give your client a quality product by renting.

Office/studio space – rent or use other methods. Over the last few weeks, I’ve worked remotely a LOT…more than I EVER have. I have to say that Panera Bread is THE best place to work. There have been a few slow internet experiences….but to be fair, I was there at semi-peak times. One morning a week or two ago, I spent six hours in a Panera with no trouble. I did buy breakfast and lunch, so I don’t feel like I was taking advantage or anything. What I love about Panera is that they don’t kick you out. They don’t make you feel bad about staying for a while. (Budgeting/saving bonus tip: get a Panera Rewards card if you use them!) You can also meet clients here too….or a hotel lobby if you need something classier.

Computer/laptop/tablet/phone – buy. This is pretty much a given. I will say though, that there are a LOT of options for cloud work, it’s worth looking into.

Bonus – lessons learned: I will say, looking back over my ten years in business, I wish I hadn’t spent so much on things I really didn’t need. I think about backdrops that were cheap that I got from goodwill (I think that was actually a sheet….)….I think about props I bought…I think about samples (albums and prints)….so. much. unneeded. stuff. Think long and hard about ALL of your purchases. Know why you’re buying something for your business.

What about you? What have you learned about buying versus renting over the years?

This morning, my office is Chick-fil-a! 🙂