Equipment Finance Options

When it comes to setting up a new business, it can be difficult to come to terms with business terminology – especially if the process of setting up and running a company is completely alien to you. For instance, speaking to your bank about asset and sales finance may be a daunting notion in itself; but when you consider the possibility of getting tangled up in the jargon – and perhaps even losing credibility with your bank – the experience seems even more intimidating. However, if you keep your wits about you and make sure that you’re up to date on the latest financial terms, your bank’s asset and finance solutions are sure to benefit your business.

Make sure you begin with the basics: for starters, familiarize yourself with what asset and sales finance is. Essentially, asset and sales finance is a service through which banks can help businesses obtain a range of equipment – including plant and machinery, IT equipment, commercial vehicles, office furniture and cars, among a range of other necessary business items. The fundamental difference between asset financing and sales financing is that sales financing will help businesses obtain quick access to cash, while asset financing helps companies fund business equipment.

Cost-effective and expedient sales financing solutions will help businesses find enough working capital for operation. Factoring and invoice discounting are two important sales financing solutions. With factoring, for instance, up to 95 per cent of the value of approved invoices can be advanced within a certain time period, with the balance being paid on receipt. Invoice discounting involves a similar process, but with one crucial difference: in factoring, the client’s customers are aware of the bank’s involvement, whereas in invoice discounting they are unaware.

Asset financing is important because it will help business owners acquire assets in a financially viable way, without eating into vital cash reserves. Many banks and financial providers will offer a range of asset financing solutions to its customers. Hire Purchase is one example of an asset financing solution; this can help businesses obtain the asset they need immediately, but payments may be spread across the life of the asset in question. Hire purchase schemes will often allow you to keep the asset in question for a certain fee at the end of your term. Another important asset financing solution, called Operating lease, will allow a business to benefit from a particular asset, while the bank itself will take on the risk of the depreciating value of the asset.

Various banks and financial providers will offer a range of asset and sales finance solutions to their customers, regardless of the business tools and supplies that are needed. For example, some asset and sales finance providers, like Barclays Asset and Sales Finance will offer two separate leases: a Technology Lease to help a business’ technology needs and an Agricultural Lease which offers finance towards the purchase of machinery, land and vehicles, as well as a range of other benefits.

Martin Mcallister
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/asset-and-sales-finance-can-aid-business-development-96633.html

Equipment finance is one of several options available to businesses seeking start up or growth capital. It is a highly attractive finance option because it can provide exactly what a business needs in order to survive. This could include machinery, software, computers, or even office furniture. Businesses will also find that equipment financing tends to not tie up cash, receivables, or credit cards. Overall it can reduce the amount of cash a business will need, and the best part is that it can be written off at tax time.

One particular form of equipment finance is a general equipment loan. This option can be valuable because the majority of equipment that is acquired is not likely to become obsolete as fast. The technology and medical industries would have to worry about the equipment becoming outdated. In general an equipment loan is a wise choice because there is low obsolescence. Ownership and equity are other reasons why equipment loans are a good choice. You get the same benefits as if you owned the piece of equipment, and it also allows you to use equity to go after more working capital down the road if needed.

Equipment leasing allows a business to get the most tax benefits possible while saving cash at the same time when compared to other forms of equipment finance which are available. The lease of course must be returned at the end, but often times the lessor will give a business the opportunity to buy the item for “Fair Market Value” at the end of the lease. That final total is often determined after the lease has already expired. The monthly rental payments can be tax deductible, but it is advised to speak with your accountant before taking out an equipment lease. With the lease you are simply paying a straight rental payment with no interest on the item. It can be difficult to locate equipment leasing companies, but researching the top search engine results from the phrase “funding directory” will return a valuable, free option for getting in touch with equipment leasing companies.

A relatively new concept for businesses trying to raise quick capital is through an equipment sale and leaseback. With this option a business can obtain up to 70% of the original purchase price against equipment they own. This money earned through the sale can be used for startup funding and business expansion needs with no restrictions. After being sold the item would remain on the seller’s property, and they would lease back the item from the source purchasing the asset. Businesses really like this option because there are no restrictions on how the money is used and of course no collateral is needed. Other lines of credit are also not affected by a business doing an equipment sale and leaseback. The other aspect is that the monthly payments are 100% deductible.

Equipment finance is just one of many methods available for obtaining business financing. There is commercial finance, small business loans, venture capital, equity investments, and more. It is also good to work on establishing your business credit, ensuring that you separate your personal credit from your business credit. With good business credit scores obtaining large loans and other forms of capital is very simple, and you won’t be one of the 97 percent that actually have a loan application denied. One other strategy that is easy to do and beneficial to a businesses quest for business capital is to use a free business capital search engine to locate potential lenders.

Corey Pierce
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/equipment-finance-provides-what-your-business-cant-survive-without-77242.html