Mat Rentals vs. Ownership: Which Is Better for North Dakota Businesses?

Your entrance mats do more than you think. They catch dirt, stop slips, and honestly, they’re part of your first impression. So here’s the question every ND business owner hits eventually: buy mats or rent them?

It depends on your setup. A Bismarck medical office has different needs than a Fargo warehouse. But either way, you need something that handles our weather and the daily beating from foot traffic.

Let’s look at what each option actually gets you.

Why Mats Are Necessary in High-Traffic Environments

Mats are more than decoration. They protect your floors from damage, absorb water and debris, and reduce the risk of slip-and-fall accidents. In North Dakota, where winter storms bring snow and salt inside and spring mud gets tracked across entrances, the value of durable, well-maintained mats is even higher.

Without them, you’re left with:

Dirty and unsafe entryways

Higher floor maintenance costs

A poor first impression for customers and guests

So, the question isn’t whether you need mats—it’s whether to own them or rent them.

The Case for Owning Mats

Some businesses purchase mats with the idea that they will save money over time. Ownership gives you complete control and eliminates recurring invoices. Once purchased, the mats are yours to use as long as they last.

Potential Advantages of Ownership

No ongoing rental fees: You pay once and keep the mats.

Full control: You decide where mats go and when to replace them.

Flexible purchasing: You can choose styles or colors without service contracts.

On paper, ownership sounds appealing. But the reality of maintaining mats tells a different story.

The Challenges of Owning Mats

Cleaning and care: Most businesses don’t have the equipment to properly launder mats. Standard vacuums or hoses don’t remove embedded dirt, oils, or bacteria.

Shorter lifespan: Without professional laundering, mats wear out quickly, especially in high-traffic areas.

Storage needs: Seasonal changes often require switching mats in and out. Storing backups takes up valuable space.

Hidden costs: Replacement costs, staff labor, and cleaning supplies add up, often exceeding the cost of a rental program.

For many North Dakota businesses, ownership looks simple at first but quickly becomes an ongoing hassle.

How Mat Rentals Work

Mat rental service takes the burden of care off your staff. Instead of managing everything in-house, you partner with a provider like Dakota Mat Service. We deliver fresh mats on a set schedule, pick up the soiled ones, and launder them in professional facilities. You always have mats in place that look good, perform well, and are ready for the season.

Advantages of Mat Rentals

Consistent cleanliness: Mats are picked up and replaced before they fail.

No storage headaches: Extra mats aren’t piled in closets or back rooms.

Professional laundering: Industrial cleaning restores mats and extends their life.

Safety first: Mats are inspected for wear and replaced as needed to reduce liability.

Seasonal adjustments: Service schedules adapt to winter slush, spring mud, or busy retail seasons.

A rental program shifts mat care from being reactive to proactive. Instead of waiting for mats to look bad or create problems, they’re swapped out on a cycle that matches your traffic and climate.

Mat Rentals vs. Ownership: Side-by-Side

Cost

Ownership: Lower upfront cost, but replacements, laundering, and staff labor increase long-term expense.

Rental: Predictable weekly or monthly billing with no surprise supply runs or replacement charges.

Cleanliness

Ownership: Cleaning depends on in-house staff and equipment, which usually isn’t sufficient.

Rental: Mats are laundered professionally, keeping them effective and looking sharp.

Safety

Ownership: Risks increase as mats wear down, curl, or lose traction.

Rental: Mats are replaced before they become hazards.

Flexibility

Ownership: Stuck with mats until you buy more. Storage space is required.

Rental: Easy adjustments for seasons, traffic surges, or special events.

Why North Dakota Businesses Benefit From Mat Rentals

Weather plays a huge role in mat performance. In Bismarck, Dickinson, and across the state, floors face slush in the winter, mud in the spring, and dust in the summer. Cheap mats from hardware stores simply aren’t built for these conditions. They curl, flatten, and stop absorbing moisture just when you need them most.

Dakota Mat Service provides 90mil mats that outperform the thin 52mil mats sold by many national vendors. Ours hold their shape, trap more debris, and last through extreme North Dakota seasons. And because we’re local, we adjust routes and schedules when storms hit or when foot traffic spikes.

When Ownership Might Still Make Sense

Mat rentals aren’t the only option. Some facilities with very low traffic or decorative areas may do fine with purchased mats that don’t need frequent replacement. Small offices, for example, may see minimal soil and moisture during the week. In these cases, ownership can work—but only if the business is prepared to handle regular cleaning and replacement.

According to the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), “Matting is the first line of defense in removing soil and moisture from building occupants’ shoes” and proper maintenance is critical to effectiveness. The challenge with ownership is keeping up with that maintenance consistently.

The reality is this: if your mats are in high-traffic or public-facing areas, ownership often means more hassle and higher long-term costs than many businesses expect.

Making the Smarter Choice for Your Facility

At the end of the day, your mats should work for you, not against you. Dirty, worn mats put your facility at risk, while clean, professional mats improve safety and appearance every single day.

Choosing mat rentals through Dakota Mat Service means:

Predictable billing

Reliable cleanliness

Professional image

Less liability

More time for your staff to focus on what matters

Ready for Better Floor Protection? Call Dakota Today!

National vendors may treat mats like an afterthought, but your business can’t afford “good enough.” You deserve service that understands North Dakota’s weather, adjusts when conditions change, and delivers reliable support every time.

At Dakota Mat Service, we make sure your floors stay safe, clean, and professional year-round. Our team inspects every mat, swaps them before they wear out, and adapts to seasonal demands so you never have to worry.

Contact Dakota Mat Service today to get a mat rental plan built around your facility. We’ll keep your entrances welcoming, your staff focused, and your customers safe, no matter what the forecast brings.