The Machinery Report
Know the numbers before you sign anything

Machinery decision reports for farmers and contractors

A written analysis of whether a machinery purchase stacks up. Full cost of ownership, cost per hectare, payback period, break even, and a clear recommendation, delivered as a professional PDF within 48 business hours.

Order a Report, $297 See what is included
Prepared by a national technical specialist in agricultural machinery
$297
One flat fee. Australian dollars, GST free. Everything included.
48 hours
From completed intake form to finished report, in business hours.
$30,000+
Conservative estimate of what a wrong machinery decision costs.
The problem

Machinery decisions are harder than they look

The dealer says it is a good deal. It might well be. The question is whether it is a good deal for your operation, at your hours, on your country. These are the situations people are usually in when they get in touch.

The numbers do not quite add up

You have done rough calculations but you are not confident in them, and the amount at stake is too large to work on an estimate.

Keep it or replace it

The current machine keeps costing money. Whether a replacement is actually cheaper once every cost is counted is a different question, and it is not obvious.

The bank wants a justification

Your financier or business partner wants the numbers on paper. That means a professional document, not a spreadsheet you built at the kitchen table.

There is no time to work it out

A thorough machinery cost analysis takes most of a day to do properly. You have a farm to run, and the dealer wants an answer this week.

Who it is for

Built for people who take machinery decisions seriously

A report is worth ordering if any of the following describe your situation.

  • You are looking at a machinery purchase between $30,000 and $1,000,000 or more.
  • You are unsure whether to buy new, buy used, keep the current machine, lease, or contract the job out.
  • A dealer has given you a price and you want an independent view of whether it stacks up.
  • You need a professional document to show your bank, your accountant or your business partner.
  • Your current machine keeps breaking down and you are not sure whether it is time to move on.
  • You want the numbers done properly, once, before you commit to anything.
What is included

Twelve sections, specific to your machine and your operation

Every report is written for your machine, your farm and your situation. It is not a calculator printout with a cover page on it.

SECTION 01

Executive summary

A one page recommendation with the three numbers that matter most, written to be read first and shared easily.

SECTION 02

Ownership cost breakdown

Depreciation, interest, insurance, registration and storage, calculated for your machine over your ownership period.

SECTION 03

Operating cost breakdown

Fuel, labour, repairs, maintenance, oils, filters, wearing parts and consumables specific to your machine type.

SECTION 04

Cost per hectare and per acre

Total annual cost converted to a per area figure you can benchmark against any alternative or against industry figures.

SECTION 05

Side by side comparison

Your current machine against the proposed machine, or buy against lease against contractor, set out clearly.

SECTION 06

Payback and break even

How long before the new machine pays for itself, and the minimum area required to justify the investment.

SECTION 07

Three scenario analysis

Best case, expected case and worst case, so the full range of outcomes is visible before you decide.

SECTION 08

Technology and automation value

Hard savings in fuel, chemical, seed and labour separated from soft benefits, and converted to dollars where that can be done honestly.

SECTION 09

Downtime and reliability cost

The cost of breakdowns, missed weather windows and late operations, which standard analysis usually understates.

SECTION 10

Confidence rating

How reliable the numbers are, which assumptions drive the result, and what to confirm before committing.

SECTION 11

Risk checklist

What to check before committing, including dealer support, parts availability, finance terms and compatibility.

SECTION 12

Final recommendation

One of ten possible verdicts, in plain English, with the reasons behind it, ready to share with anyone who needs to see it.

How it works

Three steps from enquiry to report

STEP 01

Get in touch

Email your machinery situation. The details are confirmed and an invoice is sent within a few hours.

STEP 02

Complete the intake form

Once payment is confirmed a short intake form is sent. It takes 10 to 20 minutes. Rough figures are fine, and any estimate used is labelled as one in the report.

STEP 03

Receive the report

Your report is delivered as a PDF within 48 business hours, with clear numbers and a clear recommendation.

Pricing

One flat fee, everything included

No hourly rate, no add ons and no upsell. The price is the same regardless of what the analysis concludes.

Standard report

Machinery Decision Report

$297Australian dollars, GST free. Single machine. Buy, replace, keep, lease or contractor comparison.
  • Full ownership and operating cost analysis
  • Cost per hectare and cost per acre
  • Payback period and break even area
  • Side by side option comparison
  • Three scenario analysis
  • A clear recommendation with reasons
  • Risk checklist and questions for the dealer
  • Professional PDF, 10 to 15 pages
Order a Report Delivered within 48 business hours. Payment by bank transfer.

Why $297 is the easiest money to spend on this decision

Average machinery purchase this report covers $180,000
Cost of a wrong decision, conservative estimate $30,000+
Your own time to do the analysis properly Half a day
Time from intake form to finished report 48 hours
A Machinery Decision Report $297
Purchase and loss figures are indicative of the decisions this report is typically used for. They are not a prediction about your situation.
Questions

Common questions

What if I do not have all the figures?
Rough figures are fine. The intake form asks for what you know, and anything estimated is labelled clearly in the report so you can see exactly which numbers are firm and which are not. Section 10 sets out how much weight each assumption carries.
What types of machinery do you cover?
Broadacre and mixed farming equipment, including tractors, seeding and planting equipment, spreaders, sprayers, tillage, harvesters, balers, and handling and materials transfer equipment. If you are unsure whether your machine is covered, ask before ordering.
How does payment work?
Email your situation. The details are confirmed and an invoice is issued within a few hours. Payment is by bank transfer. The intake form is sent once payment is confirmed, and the 48 hour turnaround starts from the completed form.
Can I use this report to show my bank or accountant?
Yes. That is one of the main reasons people order one. The report is a professional PDF of 10 to 15 pages with the assumptions and workings set out, and the executive summary is written so it can be read on its own by someone who was not part of the decision.
What is the difference between keeping my machine and buying new?
That comparison is Section 5 of the report. Your current machine is costed on its actual running and repair figures, the proposed machine on its ownership and operating costs, and the two are set out side by side on the same basis so the difference is a single number rather than an impression.
What if I am comparing a contractor against buying?
That comparison is included at no extra cost. Contract rates are costed against ownership on a per hectare basis, including the timeliness and availability factors that usually decide it.
Is this the same as advice from a farm consultant?
No. This is a single written analysis of one machinery decision, for a fixed fee, with no ongoing engagement. A farm consultant works across your whole operation over time. The two are complementary, and the report is often used as an input to a wider conversation with a consultant or an accountant.
Do you sell machinery or take commissions?
No. No machinery is sold, no finance is brokered and no referral fees are accepted from anyone who does. The fee is the same regardless of what the report recommends.
Order a report

Know the numbers before you sign anything

Email your machinery situation. The details will be confirmed and you will be told whether a report will actually help before any invoice is issued.

Email your situation Call 0407 728 296
Ask to see an example report first Response within one business day