Should I Buy or Lease My Business Equipment? January 25, 2022

Should I Buy or Lease My Business Equipment?

What is Best for Your Business: Leasing or Buying Equipment? When it comes to owning a business, you must be financially aware in order to succeed. Making judgments about leasing or purchasing equipment is also a component of being financially wise. But, which is the better option for your company? Get the lowdown on leasing vs. buying equipment, as well as things to think about when buying or leasing assets for your company.

In the business world, leasing vs. buying equipment

You may have pondered leasing vs. buying a car in your personal life. Leasing vs. purchasing company equipment operates in a similar way. Depending on your company’s financial status, you may choose to lease or buy equipment such as machinery and technology. When it comes to purchasing vs. leasing for a company, the fundamental distinction is asset ownership. Examine the distinctions between them in the sections below.

Equipment leasing

You do not have ownership of the asset when you lease it. Instead, you rent equipment rather than buy it and pay a monthly charge to utilize it (usually with interest). You may be required to make a down payment if you are leasing. You must also sign a contract that details your monthly price and the due date for returning the leased equipment.

When you lease equipment, you have access to it for the duration of the lease. If your lease is for five years, for example, you will have access to and be able to utilize the equipment for that length of time until your lease contract expires. Depending on the terms of your lease, you may be eligible to purchase the equipment at the end of the lease.

If you want to save money, leasing may be an excellent alternative. Not to add, it’s an excellent option if you need equipment quickly but don’t want to spend a lot of money on it.

Also, Read: Guide In Increasing Small Business Cash Flow

Purchasing Equipment

When you buy equipment, on the other hand, you own it. Although it may seem desirable to have your own business equipment, purchasing it altogether might be costly. You may need to pay a particular amount of cash upfront depending on what you’re buying and how you’re paying for it (e.g., loan). You may also have loan arrangements that require monthly payments and/or interest accrual. Learn more: How To Get A Business Loan Despite Your Past

If you pay cash for your equipment in full, you immediately possess the assets. However, this means you’ll have less cash on hand to meet other expenses.

Leasing or Buying Equipment?

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing versus Purchasing Company Equipment

Examine the benefits and drawbacks of each option before making a purchase to guarantee you’re making the greatest financial decision.

Advantages of leasing vs. buying equipment

So, what are the advantages of leasing rather than purchasing equipment?

Leasing Pros:

  • Payments for lease payments are generally tax deductible
  • More accessible if you don’t have good credit
  • It can be easier to upgrade after your lease expires
  • Easier to acquire more quickly
  • Down payments are usually cheaper (and sometimes no down payment is required)
  • Terms are more flexible (e.g., can buy out lease)
  • Can test out equipment before committing to it
  • Maintenance costs are usually free

Buying Pros:

  • Can sell the equipment after using it
  • Some payments for purchased equipment can be tax deductible
  • Own the equipment
  • Lifetime cost is usually cheaper (you can calculate this with life cycle costing)
  • Counts as an asset on your balance sheet
  • Can claim depreciation on your taxes
  • Free to use equipment however you choose

Also Read: How to Decide if How Much Business Financing Loan you need

Advantages and Disadvantages of leasing versus purchasing business equipment

There is no such thing as a flawless system, of course. Both buying and leasing have some drawbacks.

Leasing cons:

  • Obligation to stick with the lease due to contractual obligations
  • Termination fees for breaking the lease contract
  • Operating leases may appear as a liability on your balance sheet
  • You don’t own the item while leasing it
  • Higher overall lifetime cost
  • Depreciation isn’t tax deductible

Buying cons:

  • May get stuck with old and outdated equipment
  • Increase liabilities on the balance sheet, which could prevent you from – borrowing more money
  • Need more cash or credit upfront
  • Cannot always test out the equipment before purchasing
  • You are liable for maintenance and replacements

Also Read: What is Inventory Loan and How it Works?

Factors To Consider Whether You Lease Or Buy Equipment

  • What is the purpose of the equipment? : What do you intend to do with the equipment? Are you planning to utilize it for a lengthy or short period of time? The answers to these questions may influence your decision on business equipment. The more you utilize a piece of machinery, the more it wears down. Furthermore, some equipment, such as computers, may become obsolete sooner than others.

Consider the equipment you’d like to purchase or lease. How long do you think it’ll last? Is it something you’ll have to replace in a few years? Consider purchasing the equipment if you believe it will be functional and last for a long time. However, if you believe the equipment will fast become obsolete, you might want to explore leasing it instead.

  • Do you want to be profitable or grow? : When deciding between leasing and buying, you must decide whether you want to focus on business growth or profit. If your goal is to expand, you should keep as much capital as feasible and lease instead of buying. You might put your money into other assets that will help you expand your company. You can also concentrate on preserving your financial flow. If you want to make money quickly, investing in equipment may be the way to go. Owning equipment can help you save money on running costs while also increasing the worth of your firm.
  • What is your financial situation? : The quantity of capital available to your company may influence your decision to buy vs. lease. Buying may be the greatest option for your company if you have additional resources and a good cash flow. You won’t have to worry about finance or leasing arrangements this way. On the other hand, if you don’t have a lot of additional cash on hand, leasing the equipment is usually the best option, at least for the time being. Leasing allows you to keep the money you already have in case you need it for something else (e.g., emergency repairs).
  • Do you want to be in charge of equipment maintenance? : When it comes to leasing equipment, you won’t have to worry about doing your own repairs or upkeep. Instead, the company that is leasing the equipment to you is normally responsible for them. When you buy equipment, however, you are responsible for all maintenance—and all of the costs connected with this maintenance. So, before you acquire anything, consider whether you’d be willing to tackle the equipment’s upkeep charges. Also, do some research to see what potential maintenance costs would be.

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