Equipment Leases
Benefits of Equipment Leasing
Equipment leasing saves your working capital (bank lines) for day-to-day business expenses, business expansions, or unexpected business related expenses. In addition to saving your working capital, with a lease you have a pre-determined monthly line item, which can help you budget more effectively. With predictable monthly expenses you can develop long-term plans for your business with confidence and get your business set up with the equipment you need, while keeping your cash flow available for other expenditures.
2. Upgrade outdated Equipment.
Depending on your business type, equipment leasing can help you stay on top of the latest advances in equipment and technology. How long do you plan to keep the asset? If you're only planning to keep it for the short term, you may find that leasing is a better alternative than buying it and trying to resell it when you no longer need it. You can also determine the length of your lease, so if you work with technology that changes rapidly, you can take on a short lease to ensure you’re always at the cutting edge in your industry.
3. Tax Benefits.
Lease financing presents your business with potential tax benefits. In many cases, leasing not only provides businesses with a full deduction of lease payments against current earnings, but also preserves working capital that you wouldn’t have access to if you had to purchase your equipment up front. It’s always a great idea to check with your tax advisor to determine the benefits for your business.
4. More Attractive Balance Sheet.
Monthly lease payments are viewed as a business expense instead of long-term debt. Having little debt on your balance sheet helps you secure financing to fund your business. And who doesn’t love a sexy balance sheet?
Ultimately, a few simple rules of thumb may help you decide to lease or buy. If your equipment requirements are relatively small and you have the money–or can get a low-interest loan–then just buy it. You'll save money in the long run. However, if you require a substantial amount of equipment, such as computers for your new company's 10 employees, leasing may be a better option. After all, why tie up a large amount of cash–especially when you could use that money to establish or grow your business?