“Should I Buy That?” A Brief Guide to Business Purchases That Actually Pay Off
You see the ad.
You walk past the showroom.
You hear another business owner say, “That tool paid for itself in the first month.”
And suddenly, you’re asking yourself:
👉 Should I buy that new lift?
👉 Do I need another truck?
👉 Will this machine/tool/software take us to the next level—or just drain the bank?
We get it. Whether you’re running a performance shop, building race cars, hauling trailers, or managing a small team, those big purchases can feel like the tipping point between leveling up… or overcommitting.
Here’s how to know if the investment makes sense—and how to make a smart decision before you sign the dotted line.
🚦First, Let’s Get Honest: Is It a Tool or a Trophy?
In the world of drag racing and high-performance work, we’re surrounded by cool stuff—high-end gear, tech, builds, and upgrades that make us say “YES” with our heart before checking in with our wallet.
But the truth is: not every flashy item is a smart business move.
Before you buy, ask yourself:
Will this make us money?
Will it save us time we can use to take on more paid work?
Will it fix a real bottleneck in the business?
Is this for the business—or for bragging rights?
🛠️ Shop Example: The New Lift
Let’s say you’re running a performance shop and eyeing a new 2-post lift.
If your current lift is always tied up, and you’re turning away projects—or slowing down turnaround time—that lift could allow you to complete more jobs and increase revenue.
✅ Good buy.
But if your bays are rarely full and you're still trying to build up your workflow?
⛔ Might be better to wait.
🚛 Truck Example: The Second (or Third) Rig
We see this one a lot with mobile mechanics, landscapers, and race teams: you’re thinking about adding another truck.
Ask yourself:
Do you already have enough work to keep another vehicle moving profitably?
Do you have the crew to staff it—or would this trigger another big expense?
Do you know how much revenue a single truck needs to bring in monthly to cover its cost plus profit?
We help our clients calculate this exact number.
Because if you don’t know your break-even point, it’s too easy to buy something you think you can afford… until it starts bleeding you dry.
🧾 What About Equipment Financing?
Financing can help you make smart purchases without draining your cash—but it also adds fixed monthly costs that you can’t afford to ignore.
Before you finance:
Make sure your current cash flow supports the payment.
Look at the total cost over time (including interest).
Be honest about how long it will take before that purchase starts paying for itself.
And remember: just because you can finance it doesn’t mean you should.
🧩 Software, Subscriptions, and Services
It’s not just big-ticket items. Smaller monthly expenses add up, too.
We often see clients sign up for:
Marketing services they never monitor
Software tools with overlapping features
Premium subscriptions they forget to cancel
That $89/month here and $149/month there can quietly add up to thousands per year. Always review and ask:
👉 Is this making us more efficient or profitable?
👉 Would we notice if it disappeared tomorrow?
💡 How We Help
At A&L, we don’t just track your spending—we help you understand if your business can truly afford something, and when it’s time to say yes or not yet.
We can:
✅ Break down your cash flow and see how a new payment fits
✅ Help you forecast ROI on new equipment or services
✅ Run a breakeven analysis so you know what you need to earn before the investment pays off
Because smart decisions aren’t just about having the money—they’re about knowing the impact.
📣 Final Thought
Next time you’re tempted to swipe the card or sign a loan for that new tool, truck, or tech—pause.
Ask yourself:
“Will this purchase make my business stronger… or just shinier?”
And if you’re not sure, we’re here to help you run the numbers before you run the risk.
Ready to make smart moves with confidence? [Book a free consultation today].