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"Contractors want a selection of trowels to be able to rent a unit that best fits the needs of the jobsite conditions they're faced with," says Orzechowski. "A lot of small contractors own a trowel but still need to periodically rent one with different features to meet the needs of the job."

The reasons contractors rent vary. For example, the size of the job might require more than one walk-behind unit; they might not have great access to the jobsite, so they'll need a walk-behind instead of a ride-on; or they need an electric trowel (with no exhaust emissions) for some indoor refurbishing work.

Rental businesses do most of their business in walk-behind trowels, says Cuppett. "A rental business should look for units that offer features most appealing to a wide variety of general and concrete contractors," he says. "For example, rental businesses should carry a range of models with various ring diameters and engine options."

Safety features on the units are always important in the rental industry. "Make sure the trowel meets or exceeds industry safety standards," says Lickel. "This is important for rental businesses because you might not know the level of experience the customer has with the machine."

Important questions

According to sources, there are several questions that need to be asked when purchasing a power trowel for your inventory: