Equipment Financing: The Answer to Your Growth Strategy
The economy is rebounding. Demand for both products and services is on the rise. To stay competitive and meet that demand many companies are in expansion mode. Expanding capacity often requires new equipment. The best equipment financing structure depends on your goals, the type of assets you need and your financial position.
The information below is designed to help answer your questions so you can make the most informed decision.
The information below is designed to help answer your questions so you can make the most informed decision.
Non-tax leases and loans
These financing vehicles typically permit advance rates up to 100% of cost and enable your company to retain the benefits associated with owning equipment:
• Secured Loan: The asset your business acquires is pledged as collateral for the loan. This financing vehicle works best if you need to own your equipment long-term and want to retain the tax benefits of ownership.
• Finance Lease: Your business selects the asset and has rights to use it, while the lessor purchases it. Your company has the option to acquire ownership at a later date. Your business can expense all interest paid and depreciate the equipment cost over its life.
• Synthetic Lease: This is a finance lease which may qualify as an operating lease for your company’s financial reporting purposes. It also permits your company to utilize the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System’s (MACRS) allowance deductions as if the transaction were a loan. This type of transaction is fundamentally equivalent to a partially amortizing term loan with a balloon payment, some or all of which is satisfied by relying on equipment value.
• Secured Loan: The asset your business acquires is pledged as collateral for the loan. This financing vehicle works best if you need to own your equipment long-term and want to retain the tax benefits of ownership.
• Finance Lease: Your business selects the asset and has rights to use it, while the lessor purchases it. Your company has the option to acquire ownership at a later date. Your business can expense all interest paid and depreciate the equipment cost over its life.
• Synthetic Lease: This is a finance lease which may qualify as an operating lease for your company’s financial reporting purposes. It also permits your company to utilize the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System’s (MACRS) allowance deductions as if the transaction were a loan. This type of transaction is fundamentally equivalent to a partially amortizing term loan with a balloon payment, some or all of which is satisfied by relying on equipment value.
Tax leases
With tax leases, the lessor maintains ownership from a tax perspective. Through the lessor’s tax ownership, your firm receives the benefit of lower payments and maintains liquidity and availability of capital. Your business also has greater asset flexibility by deferring the purchasing decision:
• Fair Market Value Lease: The lessor provides 100% of the funds required to purchase equipment for lease over a defined term. These leases are generally “True Leases” for tax purposes (i.e., the lessor is considered the owner and takes MACRS allowance deductions related to the equipment). These leases provide your company with maximum asset flexibility, enabling you to decide whether to return or purchase the equipment, or renew the lease at the end of term. These leases can also be structured with fixed early buyout options during the term.
• Terminal Rent Adjustment Clause Lease: A TRAC lease is for use with over-the-road motor vehicles and provides the benefits of a True Lease, while giving your company the option to purchase the equipment for a fixed amount at the lease end. If you decide you don’t want the equipment, it can be sold to a third party and, if the proceeds exceed the fixed purchase option amount, your company retains the excess.
Equipment Finance FAQs
• Fair Market Value Lease: The lessor provides 100% of the funds required to purchase equipment for lease over a defined term. These leases are generally “True Leases” for tax purposes (i.e., the lessor is considered the owner and takes MACRS allowance deductions related to the equipment). These leases provide your company with maximum asset flexibility, enabling you to decide whether to return or purchase the equipment, or renew the lease at the end of term. These leases can also be structured with fixed early buyout options during the term.
• Terminal Rent Adjustment Clause Lease: A TRAC lease is for use with over-the-road motor vehicles and provides the benefits of a True Lease, while giving your company the option to purchase the equipment for a fixed amount at the lease end. If you decide you don’t want the equipment, it can be sold to a third party and, if the proceeds exceed the fixed purchase option amount, your company retains the excess.
Equipment Finance FAQs
How do I decide between a tax and non-tax lease?
Generally speaking, if your company is not a full taxpayer – whether that means you have existing net operating losses or you are in an alternative minimum tax position – a tax lease may be the best fit. That is because the lessor will pass tax benefits through to you as lessee by offering a lower lease rate. A lease may allocate tax benefits to the most tax efficient party.*
My company is considering alternatives for raising capital or diversifying our funding sources to manage our fixed and floating rate debt mix. What are some of the benefits of leasing over purchasing?
Many companies appreciate the flexibility that comes with leasing – both in amortization structure and in payment terms. The benefits for cash management are also often a factor; you can put your cash to better use for R&D, sales programs, inventory or other projects. And there is simplicity – the leased equipment is typically the only collateral required to secure the transaction and there usually are no covenants. A lease also provides 100% financing.
My company is considering alternatives for raising capital or diversifying our funding sources to manage our fixed and floating rate debt mix. What are some of the benefits of leasing over purchasing?
Many companies appreciate the flexibility that comes with leasing – both in amortization structure and in payment terms. The benefits for cash management are also often a factor; you can put your cash to better use for R&D, sales programs, inventory or other projects. And there is simplicity – the leased equipment is typically the only collateral required to secure the transaction and there usually are no covenants. A lease also provides 100% financing.
Equipment leasing can limit your asset risk in multiple areas:
• Avoiding technology obsolescence – you can stay current by returning equipment to the lessor at the end of the lease.
• Letting the experts handle the sale of used equipment – the lessor can take care of that for you.
• Tying lease terms to a specific business contract.
• Deferring decisions – if you need equipment today, but are unsure that long-term ownership makes sense, you can wait until the end of the lease to decide.
Can a lease line of credit be established before a lease application?
Lease lines of credit are common and can be approved for up to a 12-month period. Within the lease line, different structures may be used for different types of equipment depending on your needs. Progress payments or interim funding for projects requiring construction may also be available.
• Avoiding technology obsolescence – you can stay current by returning equipment to the lessor at the end of the lease.
• Letting the experts handle the sale of used equipment – the lessor can take care of that for you.
• Tying lease terms to a specific business contract.
• Deferring decisions – if you need equipment today, but are unsure that long-term ownership makes sense, you can wait until the end of the lease to decide.
Can a lease line of credit be established before a lease application?
Lease lines of credit are common and can be approved for up to a 12-month period. Within the lease line, different structures may be used for different types of equipment depending on your needs. Progress payments or interim funding for projects requiring construction may also be available.
What types of equipment can be leased?
Typical leased equipment categories include construction trucks, tractors and trailers, railcars, corporate aircraft and helicopters, marine, manufacturing, distribution and warehousing equipment, material handling equipment, general industrial, technology/IT and medical equipment. Typically, assets classified as fixtures such as building improvements – would not be leased. The structure of leases and the economics for each category will likely differ. Lease structures will also be driven by your needs.
What is a sale-leaseback? Can it help my business?
A sale-leaseback is a finance tool that allows you to sell equipment you own – free of debt – to an equipment finance company, then lease it back for your use. Companies using sale-leaseback arrangements often do so to monetize assets they own in order to reimburse themselves for purchases made before making the decision to lease or finance it, pay down debt, expand their business or fund an acquisition.
What are my options at the end of a lease?
Your options depend on the lease type you choose to match your financing needs and may include fixed or fair market value purchase options:
• Renewing the lease for a mutually agreeable term
• Returning the equipment to the lessor
These options may be modified, depending on your specific needs and may include fixed early buyout options.
For non-tax leases, you can either arrange a fully amortized structure or negotiate a fixed balloon payment, which provides a longer amortization period.
• Renewing the lease for a mutually agreeable term
• Returning the equipment to the lessor
These options may be modified, depending on your specific needs and may include fixed early buyout options.
For non-tax leases, you can either arrange a fully amortized structure or negotiate a fixed balloon payment, which provides a longer amortization period.
What if I want to buy the equipment before the lease ends?
Certain lease products may include an early buyout option. This type of lease allows you to buy the equipment at a predetermined price and at a specific time before the end of the lease. Taking advantage of this option lets you buy the equipment when your company has available capital and avoids future rental payments and uncertainty as to the future value of the equipment.
It’s important to stay competitive in a growth market and an expanding economy. When you have questions or are making decisions about financing your equipment needs and want to understand all your options, talk with a professional who can guide you.
It’s important to stay competitive in a growth market and an expanding economy. When you have questions or are making decisions about financing your equipment needs and want to understand all your options, talk with a professional who can guide you.
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