No matter the industry, most businesses need a significant amount of equipment. While it can sometimes make sense to purchase this directly from the manufacturer, leasing can be a great alternative because it conserves capital and allows for more flexibility. It is estimated that over 80% of businesses in various sectors lease equipment.
Fortunately, it is extremely easy to get started. Once you know what items you need and how much they might cost, you can compile all the relevant documents and contact a reputable leasing company. They will make you an offer and ask you to pay a deposit. As soon as you’ve done this, you can take your new equipment to your business location and use it. Today, let’s have a closer look at how leasing works and whether it could be a good idea for you.
How to Lease Equipment
When you get a loan, ownership of the equipment transfers to you. At the end of the loan term, the item is yours to keep. During the lease, the equipment belongs to the lender and you pay a monthly fee to use it.
Once the term comes to an end, most lessors allow you to decide whether you would like to keep your item, give it back, or renew the lease. This is very useful because it allows businesses to operate more flexibly. What’s more, it’s easy to get started, and any business that has been operating for a while and is in good financial shape is eligible for a lease.
Take Stock of What You Need
First, you should take inventory of any items you already have and figure out what else you have to buy. Good leasing companies offer a wide variety of products, so you can lease almost everything you need. For instance, we at Noreast Capital can provide you with office furniture, electronic devices, kitchen equipment, tools related to security, machinery used in construction, and even various types of software.
Together with your team, you should decide which items you’ll need for a long time and which ones you might like to replace every few years. Often, the former can be purchased outright, and the latter can be leased.
Compile the Relevant Documents
Depending on the financial stability of your company and the size of the loan you are requesting, you’ll need to provide certain kinds of documents to your leasing company. If you’ve been in business for more than two years, you will have to show some of your bank, trade, or other financing references. Those requesting large loans should also provide financial statements.
If you’re a brand-new company or you haven’t been operating for more than two years, a personal guarantee might be necessary, but as long as the owner or director is in a good financial position, a lease should still be possible. In some cases, startups will also have to show pro forma financial statements, business plans, and supplier contracts.
Contact a Leasing Company
Once you’ve come up with a list of items you need and compiled all the relevant documents, it’s time to lease equipment from a reputable company. Here at Noreast Capital, every new business is paired up with an account manager, and you can contact this person whenever you have questions or a request.
The manager will speak to you about your business’s background, current operations, and future plans. Then, they can show you what equipment we offer, and you can choose the items that best suit your needs.
Pay Your Deposit
There are various types of leases, and your manager can explain the differences and let you know what each one will cost. For example, the idea behind a capital lease is that you own the equipment at the end, whereas a true lease might offer you more flexibility and allow you to return the items at the end.
When you’ve found a suitable arrangement, you will be asked to pay the deposit. Then, you can take possession of the equipment and begin using it at your business location. The whole leasing process might only take a few hours, especially if you are requesting items that cost less than $50,000. Larger leases require more thorough financial checks, so you might have to wait for two days until we get back to you.
Decide What to Do with the Equipment at the End
Most leases are 12-60 months long, with the most popular term being 36 months. At the end, businesses can decide what they would like to do with the equipment. In some cases, they buy it from the leasing company and continue to use it. However, this often isn’t the best solution, since technology might have improved in the years since the lease was signed.
If this is the case, company owners might decide to give back the old item and choose a more updated version, then sign a new lease. If the nature of the business has changed, the equipment might no longer be necessary, or the owners might want to select something different to meet their needs. As you can see, leasing is very flexible, and it allows businesses to scale their operations or pivot and target a new market at will.
What Are the Advantages of Leasing?
There are many reasons why so many firms choose to lease instead of buy. The primary one is that they can avoid making an upfront investment and therefore keep more of their capital. Additionally, leases offer more flexibility, and there is a suitable option available for almost every business which are advantages of leasing. Unless a company is struggling financially, they are likely to be eligible for a lease.
No Upfront Investment
When you’re just starting out, you might not have enough money to purchase all the equipment you need. In such a case, a lease can be a great way to reduce the financial burden and make your startup more feasible. Instead of having to worry about raising money to purchase your items, you can focus on improving the efficiency of your operations straight away.
Successful larger companies can also benefit from leasing because it allows them to keep a larger percentage of their profits and reinvest them into growing their business. As a result, they might be able to open up another branch or expand into different areas of the country.
Various Options to Suit Companies’ Needs
Every company that wants to lease equipment is different, so lenders have developed a number of options. For example, businesses that operate seasonally can pay more during their busy months and less during quiet times. Similarly, startups that don’t have a large customer base yet can delay payments for a few months or pay less at the beginning and more as they grow.
If you run a special type of business or you have a unique request, don’t hesitate to speak to your account manager. They will be able to put together a customized lease that suits you.
More Flexibility
Leases offer an enormous amount of flexibility. When business owners sign a contract with Noreast Capital, they often don’t know whether they will give back their equipment at the end of their term, sign another lease with us, or purchase the items outright. Depending on market conditions and the direction the business goes in, the CEOs can choose the best option once the lease is up.
Most People Qualify
When offering you a lease, the lender takes on a certain amount of risk, so they have to double-check that you are likely to pay your monthly, quarterly, or annual fee. However, it’s easier than you might think to qualify for a lease. Almost every business can get equipment for up to $50,000, and many can borrow much more.
The best way to find out what kind of deal you can get is to speak to your personal account manager. They can determine whether you need to provide a personal guarantee and what documents are required. In some cases, you can even get a line of credit in advance, which allows you to complete the leasing process faster once you’re ready to borrow some equipment.
Leasing for the Future
Businesses all over the country lease equipment because it allows them to avoid an upfront investment and provides more flexibility. What’s more, there are various options that suit companies’ needs, and most people qualify if they have been doing business for a while or if they have a solid financial background. To get started, you should figure out exactly what kind of equipment you need and then compile your financial documents.
Once you have everything in place, you can get in touch with your leasing company and discuss your situation. The expert assigned to you will offer you a lease and ask you to pay a deposit. Most contracts last for 12-60 months, and at the end, you can decide whether you’d like to extend your lease, buy the equipment, or return it. Get in touch with us now at Noreast Capital to find out more about the equipment we offer and get the leasing process started.
