O'Leary's Contractors Equipment & Supply

What O'Leary's Contractors Equipment & Supply does

O'Leary's Contractors Equipment & Supply Co., Inc. is a privately held, family-owned construction equipment rental and supply company operating from a single location at 1031 North Cicero Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1949 by John J. O'Leary Sr. and Ruth O'Leary, the business is now in its third generation of family ownership under John J. O'Leary Jr., who took over operations in 1991 and relocated the company to its current facility in 2011. The firm sells, rents, services, and delivers construction equipment and supplies to professional contractors in the Chicago metropolitan area.

The company maintains a fleet spanning more than 30 equipment categories, including aerial lifts, air compressors, compaction equipment, concrete equipment, mini excavators, forklifts and telehandlers, generators, welding equipment, water pumps, wood chippers, landscaping tools, surface preparation equipment, and an emerging line of electric compact equipment. It carries products from major manufacturers such as Honda, Bobcat, Stihl, Wacker Neuson, Miller, Vermeer, Husqvarna, Bosch, Doosan Portable Power, Haulotte, Toro, Mi-T-M, Chicago Pneumatic, and Bosstek. Rental units are maintained to manufacturer specifications and the newest designs. A Rent-to-Own program allows customers to apply rental payments toward purchase, and the company holds millions of parts in inventory for same-day fulfillment.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: usage-based equipment rentals, one-time equipment sales (both new and used), hardware parts sales combined with repair service, and professional services including on-site mechanic work and job-site delivery. Customers are primarily small-to-mid-market construction contractors serving demolition, concrete, excavation, landscaping, and general contracting projects. Pricing is quote-based, requires a deposit and state-issued photo ID for walk-in rentals, and proof of insurance may be required. The go-to-market is direct, relying on the physical storefront, job-site delivery, the company website, and local word-of-mouth rather than paid digital marketing.

Name

O'Leary's Contractors Equipment & Supply

Legal name

O'Leary's Contractors Equipment & Supply Co., Inc.

Website

https://olearysequipment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

O'Leary's Contractors Equipment & Supply is a third-generation, family-owned construction equipment rental, sales, parts, and service company serving professional contractors from a single Chicago, Illinois location since 1949.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Equipment Rental & Supply

NAICS

Construction, Transportation, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53241), Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (532490)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)

akta.pro primary industry

Cranes & Heavy Lifting Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN), Surface Preparation & Compaction Equipment Rental/Leasing (Compactors, Rollers, Grinders) (TLABAFAJ), Material Handling Equipment Rental/Leasing (Forklifts, Telehandlers, Reach Trucks) (TLABAFAF), Industrial Cleaning & Environmental Equipment Rental/Leasing (Vacuum Trucks, Dust Control, Dehumidifiers) (TLABAFAK)

Keywords

• Construction equipment rental
• Construction equipment sales
• Contractor supplies
• Aerial lifts rental
• Equipment parts service

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rentals: Short-term and long-term rental of construction equipment including aerial lifts, compressors, generators, concrete equipment, demolition tools, and more. Rental units are maintained per manufacturers' specifications and available manufacturers' newest designs.
2. Equipment Sales: Sale of new construction equipment and tools from major manufacturers. All rental equipment is available for purchase at any time, providing a used equipment sales channel alongside new equipment sales.
3. Parts and Service: Parts sales and equipment service/repair. The company maintains millions of parts in inventory allowing same-day order fulfillment. Service includes on-site repairs by certified mechanics. Both personally owned equipment and rental equipment service are offered.
4. Professional Services: On-site equipment service at customer job sites performed by certified mechanics. Delivery and pickup services for equipment rentals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

O'Leary's Contractors Equipment & Supply rents, sells, services, and supplies parts for construction equipment from a single Chicago-area location. The fleet spans more than 30 equipment categories including aerial lifts, air compressors, compaction, concrete, demolition, excavators, generators, welders, water pumps, wood chippers, pressure washers, and lighting. The company also offers rent-to-own arrangements, on-site mechanic repairs, job site delivery, and a parts inventory capable of same-day fulfillment.

Product overview

O'Leary's Contractors Equipment & Supply is a family-owned construction equipment rental and sales company founded in 1949, operating as a single-location business from Chicago, Illinois. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of construction equipment organized into 30+ equipment categories including aerial lifts (boom lifts, scissor lifts), compaction equipment (rammers, rollers, vibration plates), concrete equipment (buggies, mixers, trowels), excavators (mini and electric), forklifts and telehandlers, generators, welding equipment (Miller welders, plasma cutters), water pumps, wood chippers, and general contractor supplies. The equipment fleet includes specific branded products such as Vermeer BC1000XL wood chippers, Miller Bobcat 225 and Blue Star 185 welders, Miller Spectrum 875 plasma cutters, and Honda trash pumps. The company operates a rent-to-own program allowing customers to purchase rental equipment at any time, and provides parts and service support with on-site mechanic availability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vermeer BC1000XL Wood Chipper Brush chipper with 89-horsepower GM 3.0L gas engine, 12-inch cutting capacity, EcoIdle system and SmartFeed technology, available for rent and purchase.
• Miller Bobcat 225 Welder/Generator Multiprocess welder/generator for Stick welding and generator power, powered by a Kohler engine, delivering Accu-Rated 11,000 watts of usable peak power; available for rent and purchase.
• Miller Blue Star 185 Portable Welder Outdoor power welder/generator for farm, ranch, and maintenance applications with electric start, GFCI receptacles, and 6.25-gallon fuel capacity; available for rent and purchase.
• Miller Spectrum 875 Plasma Cutter Compact 51 lb plasma cutter providing 7/8 inch mild steel cutting capability at 230/208V, with automatic air regulation, Ultra-Quick Connect torch, and Wind Tunnel Technology; available for rent and purchase.
• Honda WT Series Trash Pumps Honda WT40XK2A, WT30XK3A, and WT20XK3A trash pumps for dewatering and fluid transfer applications; available for rent and purchase.
• Aerial Lifts (Boom Lifts, Scissor Lifts) Construction-grade aerial work platforms available for rent and purchase for working-at-height applications on commercial and residential job sites.
• Construction Equipment Parts Multi-million-parts inventory supporting same-day order fulfillment for contractor repairs and maintenance across all equipment categories carried by O'Leary's.
• On-Site Equipment Repair Service Certified mechanic service for both rental and customer-owned equipment, performed at the Chicago shop or delivered to job sites throughout the Chicago area.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• VermeerminorOthersO'Leary's carries Vermeer equipment including the BC1000XL wood chipper. Vermeer is a manufacturer of industrial equipment for construction, forestry, and agriculture.
• Miller ElectricminorOthersO'Leary's carries Miller welder products including Bobcat 225, Blue Star 185, and Spectrum 875 plasma cutters. Miller is a leading manufacturer of welding equipment.
• Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)minorOthersO'Leary's carries Honda generators and pumps, including portable generators and trash pumps.
• Bobcat (Doosan Bobcat)minorOthersO'Leary's offers Bobcat skid steers, mini excavators, and attachments.
• Wacker NeusonminorOthersO'Leary's carries Wacker Neuson compaction equipment.
• StihlminorOthersO'Leary's carries Stihl saws and blowers for landscaping and construction applications.
• HusqvarnaminorOthersO'Leary's carries Husqvarna saws, blades, and surface preparation equipment.
• BoschminorOthersO'Leary's offers Bosch power tools.
• Doosan Portable PowerminorOthersO'Leary's carries Doosan portable air compressors and light towers.
• BosstekminorOthersO'Leary's carries Bosstek DustBoss DB-60 dust control equipment and misting fans.
• Chicago PneumaticminorOthersO'Leary's offers Chicago Pneumatic breakers, chipping hammers, rivet busters, and rock drills.
• HaulotteminorOthersO'Leary's carries Haulotte scissor lifts.
• TorominorOthersO'Leary's offers Toro concrete and mortar mixers.
• Mi-T-MminorOthersO'Leary's carries Mi-T-M pressure washers.
• 3MminorOthersO'Leary's offers 3M safety supplies.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Ahern Rentals: Family-owned equipment rental company operating across multiple U.S. states with a broad mix of aerial lifts, earthmoving, and contractor equipment. Highly comparable to O'Leary's as a family-led, multi-category rental operator with a similar parts/service culture, though at larger geographic scale.

Broad incumbents

• United Rentals: Largest equipment rental company in the world, offering aerial lifts, earthmoving, power generation, and contractor tools across hundreds of branches including Chicago. Comparable to O'Leary's across nearly every equipment category they rent, but at massive scale with dedicated infrastructure.
• Herc Rentals: Major equipment rental company (formerly Hertz Equipment Rental) with aerial, earthmoving, industrial, and contractor equipment offerings. Direct overlap with O'Leary's core rental categories and competing in the same Chicago market via branch presence.
• Sunbelt Rentals: One of the largest equipment rental companies in North America with broad product categories (aerial lifts, earthmoving, tools) overlapping O'Leary's portfolio. Operates many branches including in the Chicago metro, competing directly with O'Leary's on contractor rentals at greater scale and pricing power.
• Home Depot Tool Rental: National tool and small equipment rental program attached to Home Depot retail locations. Competes with O'Leary's on entry-level contractor and DIY rentals (compressors, generators, small tools) but lacks the heavy equipment and on-site mechanic service depth O'Leary's offers.
• NES Rentals (Herc Holdings): Acquired by Herc Holdings, NES historically operated as a top-tier equipment rental brand with strong aerial lift and contractor tool offerings. Direct product overlap with O'Leary's lift, compaction, and tool rental categories.
• Caterpillar Rental Network (Cat Rental): OEM-backed rental channel for Caterpillar heavy equipment including mini excavators, skid steers, and compaction — overlapping categories O'Leary's rents from third-party manufacturers. Competes in the same Chicago contractor market via the local Cat dealer network.

Regional players

• BrandSafway: Provider of access solutions, scaffolding, and aerial work platforms serving industrial and construction customers. Overlaps with O'Leary's aerial lift and barrier lift offerings while also providing site services that complement contractor equipment needs in the same Chicago industrial market.
• Altorfer Cat: Regional Caterpillar dealer serving Illinois and Iowa with equipment sales, rental, parts, and service — direct functional overlap with O'Leary's four-stream model. Operates the same Chicago-area geography with strong Cat brand depth that O'Leary's lacks as an independent.
• LoJack (local Bobcat dealer) — McCann Industries: Bobcat dealer serving the Chicago metro with compact equipment sales, rental, parts, and service — a near-identical four-stream model to O'Leary's. Particularly close competitor on Bobcat skid steers, mini excavators, and attachments, which O'Leary's also carries.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/olearysequipment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/o-leary-s-contractors-equipment-supply-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about O'Leary's Contractors Equipment & Supply