Jones Construction was paying for 15 to 20% extra time on equipment rentals because return dates kept getting missed. On more than $100,000 in monthly rental costs, that added roughly $10,000 a month. Automated return reminders in APARBooks cut those overages by 75%.
“Before APARBooks, equipment rental costs were a constant source of frustration. We'd get hit with extra charges for equipment we didn't even realize was overdue. Now, with automated reminders and tracking, we've taken back control of our rental costs, saving us time and thousands of dollars each month.”
— Adam Jones, owner of Jones Construction
About the company
Jones Construction Solutions is a mid-sized general contractor doing commercial builds and renovations, running around 20 projects across the state. That volume means a lot of rented equipment, from heavy machinery to specialized tools. On average, 40% of the equipment on site is rented, and without a tracking system, managing those rentals had become a real financial and operational problem.
The challenge: rental overages eroding profit
Missed due dates meant Jones Construction was regularly paying for 15 to 20% extra rental time. At over $100,000 a month in rental costs, the overages added an estimated $10,000 a month, tightening project budgets and cash flow. Equipment sometimes sat unused on a job site for days after it was no longer needed, just because nobody was tracking the return date.
The APARBooks solution
With APARBooks, Jones Construction set up automated reminders for each piece of rented equipment, alerting project managers 48 hours before the return date. They logged each rental period and watched upcoming due dates in real time.
In the first month, the system flagged several upcoming returns and helped them avoid an estimated $2,500 in overages right away. With a clear view of what was due and when, they could decide to return equipment on time or extend a rental based on what the project actually needed.
The results
Rental overages dropped 75%, saving an average of $7,500 a month. Rental budgets stayed under control, equipment tracking became a routine part of operations, and project managers got that time back for higher-priority work. The real-time visibility into equipment use and due dates also lifted overall project profitability by an estimated 5%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes equipment rental overages?
Missed return dates. Without tracking, equipment stays on the rental clock, and sometimes sits unused on site for days, after the project no longer needs it. Jones Construction was paying 15 to 20% extra time this way.
How does APARBooks prevent rental overages?
APARBooks logs each rental period and sends project managers an automated reminder 48 hours before the return date, with upcoming due dates visible in real time. That let Jones Construction return equipment on time or extend deliberately.
How much did Jones Construction save?
Rental overages fell 75%, an average of $7,500 a month, and overall project profitability rose an estimated 5%.
Built for Contractors. Built for Construction Accounting.
APARBooks is purpose-built construction accounting software for general contractors and bookkeepers. Manage job costing, AIA progress billing, subcontractor payments, retainage, change orders, lien compliance, and WIP reporting in one place.
