A Guide to Industrial Equipment Financing

Purchasing new equipment for a company can be an expensive proposition. The equipment is vital, but other company costs need to be factored in as well including employee wages, sales and marketing and other operating expenses. There is an alternative however. Industrial equipment financing can provide the necessary equipment to sustain operations without the high up-front costs. There are several factors to consider whether buying or financing is the best option though.

When to Use

Start-up companies are frequently short on capital no matter what type of company. While it may seem an overwhelming task to have enough funds to get the equipment needed, industrial equipment financing supplies a way to get the heavy machinery necessary without funneling large amounts of money away from the business. In today’s economy, even established business owners can benefit from having to purchase or replace existing equipment with a financing plan however.

Types of Industrial Equipment Financing

There are two basic types of industrial equipment financing; leasing and business loans. Either can provide a business with the backhoes, bulldozers and dump trucks that are needed, but both work differently. Each method has its pros and cons and the type of financing chosen usually depends on the business owner’s needs and the personal resources that they can draw on.

Industrial Equipment Financing Leasing

Industrial equipment financing leasing is similar to the way a consumer would lease a car. The business owner chooses the equipment that they want and then pay to “borrow” the equipment from the dealership. There is generally little or no down payment for the machinery and it may be a smart option when cash flow is limited. Payments are usually broken out over the course of the lease and there is often an option to purchase at the end of the terms. There is also no collateral necessary as the equipment itself is the collateral.

The Negatives of Leasing

There are some negative aspects of industrial equipment financing leasing. Business owners may not see leasing as a wise option because any payments that are made do not go towards ownership of the machinery. In addition, a continuous partnership with the dealership is needed to retain or replace the equipment. The benefits frequently outweigh the negatives however.

Loans

Another option to industrial equipment financing is a loan. A loan requires a down payment and some form of collateral. This is done to prevent someone from defaulting on the loan. At the end of the terms however, the business owner is the titled owner of the equipment. Loans may be provided by a bank, the equipment manufacturer, the dealership or other financier.

Industrial equipment financing may be the only way a new business can get the machinery they need to start the company. It is important to understand all the options available before making a decision on which type of financing is best though. Research the terms and conditions before signing anything and chose a reputable company to deal with. However, financing may be the perfect way to get a business going.