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Improve Cash Flow Through Equipment Leasing

How Equipment Leasing Can Improve Cash Flow

Equipment leasing can improve cash flow in many ways – by keeping your costs minimal upfront, you can ensure that your business has access to capital that can be used for a variety of other needs.

From marketing, additional equipment, to operations, expansion and more, you’ll have the extra cash you need and won’t have to spend huge sums of money on a down payment for equipment purchases, which can often drain your business savings.

Many equipment leases have flexible payment terms with minimal to no down payment, so that you can get the equipment you need while still having access to much of your cash.

It often doesn’t make sense to tie up your cash

When purchasing equipment, you often have to tie up large sums of cash in the down payment, which often doesn’t make sense for many types of businesses.

When your cash is tied up you have less available for paying vendors, bills, for marketing expenditures, etc. The down payment for many types of equipment can also be substantial and drain your accounts. This isn’t necessary when leasing is an option.

Smaller payments per month

Many lease payments are significantly smaller than financing payments per month, allowing you even more flexibility with your cash flow. The payments can be significantly lower than financing payments.

This can be very important when you have a relatively tight monthly budget, or when launching new operations or a new business.

While paying as little as possible for equipment, you’re able to utilize it as needed to expand your business and generate a healthy cash flow.

Add a minimal monthly payment to minimal to no down payment, and the cash flow advantages are clear.

Once your business has maximized the value of its newly leased equipment and generated enough cash, it can make sense to finance equipment the next time around, especially once you are familiar with the level of revenue that the equipment can generate and can justify a purchase with detailed financials.

Easier budget management

When you own equipment, you have to track a variety of expenses, depending on how complex and costly the equipment is. Some types of equipment have multiple maintenance requirements and require you to set aside a separate budget for that, along with still having to take care of the monthly payment.

When leasing equipment, you are typically buying new equipment that is warrantied (depending on the circumstance), and as a result you aren’t required to have a separate account for maintenance expenses. Your cost of ownership is simply the monthly lease payment, which can greatly simplify your budgeting.

If you are looking to improve cash flow for your business, Call us today at 1-800-978-8817 with your questions about equipment leasing.

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First Amendment Lease Structure

The First Amendment Lease Structure

The first amendment lease structure is often a good option if you are purchasing heavy equipment as it allows you to have the option to purchase the equipment outright at various points during the contract.

No option is available to return the equipment during the lease period. If the purchase option is not utilized (at a fair market value or a specified price), the lessee must renew the lease at the end of the term.

It may make sense to consider this lease structure in many circumstances, and AFG can assist you with making a determination on it or our many other lease structures.

There are many advantages to choosing this type of lease structure, including the following:

Are you leasing expensive equipment that will increase your revenue?

When leasing expensive equipment, there can be many advantages to first choosing to lease the equipment rather than buying it outright upfront, and then making a purchase once the lease term has come to an end, or at another point during the lease.

For example, you will be able to utilize the equipment to generate revenue with a lower upfront cost when you choose the first amendment lease structure. Once the equipment has helped your company reach higher revenue levels, then you get to purchase the equipment at a fair market price.

Not sure whether to lease or buy?

It can be challenging to determine whether or not you want to lease or buy. A first amendment lease allows you to make a decision so that you can get the equipment you need and still have the option to buy it down the road.

When the lease term expires, you are able to exercise the right to purchase the equipment at a fair market price. At that point you may have to take on the added responsibility of maintenance and other costs of ownership, but you may be in a better position at that point to take on those costs.

There are a variety of other situations in which a first amendment lease may make sense for your business. Meet with one of the experts at Alliance Funding Group today to determine your specific needs. We will find the appropriate lease structure for your current situation, whether it is a first amendment lease, capital lease, operating lease, tax lease, or any other option we have.

Call us today at 1-800-978-8817 with your questions about first amendment leases or other lease structures.

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Working Capital Loan: Does my business need one?

How to Figure Out If You Need a Working Capital Loan

A Working capital loan is a term that essentially refers to current assets minus current liabilities. It’s a measure of your operational efficiency and financial health in the short term.

Your working capital ratio indicates whether you have enough short-term assets to cover any debts that will be due in the near future – and you can figure that out with the help of your accountant.

There are several ways that you can determine if you need access to a working capital loan, including some of the situations below:

Is your business seasonal?

You may have enough cash flow to cover expenses when business is going well, but do you find that your business is seasonal at all? Are there periods of time when your cash flow diminishes?

As you probably already know, your debts still require timely payments, even during those periods.

If that is the case, a working capital loan can cover seasonal gaps to ensure that you have enough liquid assets to pay debts and keep operations going.

Are you starting a new business?

Many new or recently launched businesses suffer from working capital issues. Many owners must invest large sums of money into equipment, overhead costs, launching costs, etc. and often have very little left over for working capital needs.

As a result, newer business owners may consider applying for a short-term working capital loan from Alliance Funding Group to take care of the inevitable expenses that will arise and keep their business growing.

Have you determined your specific working capital needs?

As many financial experts mention, most business owners greatly underestimate their working capital needs. Although it’s hard sometimes to estimate them, it’s a good idea to have a rough estimate at the very minimum.

Working capital needs greatly vary depending on the industry and specific business. Some types of service businesses have relatively low working capital needs. Other businesses that require equipment leasing or purchases or retail businesses have larger working capital needs.

A lack of sufficient working capital can result in the stagnation of the growth of your business, late fees or the potential for defaulting on debts, and a host of other undesirable situations.

Alliance Funding Group can meet with you to determine your working capital needs and connect you with a suitable loan to cover your short-term expenses.

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Capital lease and operating lease comparison

Comparing a Capital and Operating Lease

Deciding to lease equipment for your business is a common option, but there are many lease structures to choose from, including the capital lease and operating lease.

Below is a quick overview of what they are and some key differences between them:

Capital Lease

A capital lease allows you to lease equipment in a way that reflects ownership of the equipment on your balance sheet, so that the equipment is treated as an asset.

It is treated as a purchase both for the lessee and lessor for accounting purposes. The lessee gets both the benefits and downsides of ownership of the equipment.

Capital leases are usually long term leases and are good options for certain types of equipment that do not become technologically obsolete very easily, like machinery.

The title is transferred to the lessee once the purchase has been completed, either prior to the end of the lease term or at the end of the term.

One of the following conditions that must be met in order for the lease to be considered a true capital lease by the FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board):

  • The title passes automatically by the end of the lease term.
  • The lease contains a bargain option to purchase the equipment.
  • The lease term is greater than 75% of the useful equipment life.
  • The current value of the lease payments is greater than 90% of the FMV (fair market value) of the equipment.

Operating Lease

Operating leases are a lease structure that does not come with a title transfer at the end of the lease.

They are often a short-term lease and are good for certain types of equipment that become technologically obsolete very quickly, like servers, printers or office equipment.

One of the following conditions must be met for the lease to be considered a true operating lease by the FASB:

  • The lessor holds onto the title before, during and after the lease term.
  • The lease cannot have a bargain option to purchase the equipment.
  • The lease term should be less than 75% of the useful equipment life.
  • The current value of the lease payments should be less than 90% of the FMV (fair market value of the equipment)

Whether a capital lease and operating lease; It can be challenging to determine which type of lease structure will work best for your business.  Alliance Funding Group is available to meet with you to help you make that determination, along with answering your questions about other leasing options.

Call Alliance Funding Group today at 1-800-978-8817 to learn more.