Does anyone know of any computer leasing companies (preferably a small company) in the United States?
I work for a start-up company that is opening up distributors/retailers across the US and we need to provide them with computer equipment. The company would like to ‘team-up’ with a computer leasing company that will lease equip to all of our locations. The location is not important since they will be shipping the equip, but they must be able to service every state in the country.
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Equipment Lease Calculator
One important step in finding the best resource for leasing small business equipment is knowing how to use an equipment leasing calculator. Here are other helpful hints:
Every year, thousands of business owners and financial managers are faced with the task of obtaining attractive financing for equipment their firms want to acquire. Snaring the best leasing arrangement requires only a bit of planning and a smidgeon of finesse. You can save time, land a better lease deal and make the leasing experience less of a conundrum by considering several important factors.
Plan Ahead
Before seeking lease proposals, invest a little time in planning and preparing. Establish priorities by considering the relative importance of such factors as lease pricing, balance sheet considerations, ongoing leasing needs and the necessity of the prospective lessor to have specialized equipment/industry knowledge. If the transaction is relatively insignificant in the overall scheme of things, a truncated planning process might be in order. If not, allow enough time to: 1) identify and pre-qualify lessors, 2) review and select a lease proposal, 3) allow selected lessor to conduct due diligence and get credit approval, and 4) to complete lease documentation.
Assemble an information package for prospective lessors that anticipates what they will want to know before submitting a proposal, including: 1) background information on your company and management bios, 2) three years of financial statements and interim financials, 3) a list of company trade and credit references, and 4) a description of the equipment to be acquired, including acquisition cost. Anticipate questions about your firm and disclose them in advance.
Choose the Right Leasing Company
The starting point for getting an attractive leasing proposal is in choosing the right commercial leasing companies to bid. All leasing companies are not alike. Some specialize in specific industries, some in certain equipment types, and still others in transaction sizes. Leasing companies also vary in size, capabilities, expertise and integrity. Do your homework to pre-qualify leasing companies that will bid. Lessor qualities to look for include: 1) knowledge; 2) reputation; 3) ability to perform; 4) helpful business contacts; and 5) a relationship approach. Try to identify at least three leasing companies to bid.
As in any field, leasing professionals have varying degrees of knowledge and expertise. Look for leasing representatives and managements that have a good understanding of lease structuring, equipment issues, documentation, credit evaluation, the capabilities of their firms, your industry and other leasing issues. Avoid lease ’sellers’ with obvious limited knowledge. It is too easy to be led down the painful path of misinformation and misrepresentation.
Because the entry bar for setting up shop in equipment leasing is relatively low, it is important to locate leasing companies that have good reputations in the business. Check to see whether the bidding leasing companies belong to one or more of the major industry trade associations (e.g. ELA, EAEL, UAEL, and NAELB). While membership in these associations doesn’t guarantee high ethical standards, each of these organizations has standards and processes to review members’ unethical business practices. Contact relevant associations for references. Then, get several names of customers, banks and vendors to contact.
Along with good ethics, the ability to perform as agreed is equally important in considering leasing partners. Ask for and get financial information, background information on the key managers, a listing of recently completed financings, names and contacts at key funding sources for each leasing company being considered. Review this information and follow up with the contacts provided. If your industry and/or the equipment to be leased are highly specialized, make sure the leasing companies have completed several arrangements similar to the one you are seeking. Check lessors’ websites and brochures to make sure that the type of leasing arrangement you are seeking is specifically referenced and discussed.
Good leasing partners offer more than equipment financing. In many cases, lessors have met or worked closely with bankers, attorneys, CPA firms, business insurers, equipment vendors and investors. If the leasing company serves a wide variety of customers, some of these contacts can prove invaluable. Try to get a feel for the depth and breadth of each leasing company’s ability in this area.
Since you will be working closely with the selected leasing company and may have additional leasing needs in the future, why not choose a leasing partner that values relationships? Although it is not easy to identify relationship-oriented leasing companies at the quoting stage, check customer references to inquire about lessor follow-up, attentiveness, willingness to learn about customers and willingness to be helpful.
Get a Large Enough Lease Facility
Right-sizing the leasing facility can save a lot of time. Look for an arrangement that will cover equipment needs for at least the next six to twelve months. A helpful rule of thumb is to obtain a leasing facility that is at least 20% more than what is needed. If a leasing credit line is an available option, this can be a helpful tool in securing the right amount of lease financing.
Choose a Lease Term That Matches Equipment Use
The term of the lease should match the expected use of the equipment as closely as possible. If the term is too short, the monthly cash outlays for the equipment might exceed the expected benefits to be derived from the equipment (cost savings or revenue production). If you sign a lease that is too short that also includes fair market value end-of-lease options, and you exercise one of these options, you might wind up overpaying for the equipment. If the lease term is too long, you might lose the flexibility of upgrading to newer more desirable equipment. More than a few lessees have been stuck with equipment they no longer need, yet they still have a significant lease balance remaining.
Notwithstanding your preference, a shorter lease term returns the lessor’s investment in the equipment faster and lessors generally perceive a faster recovery to be a credit enhancement. You might be able to manage any mismatch between your preference and the lessor’s by obtaining favorable end-of-lease options. Seek end-of-lease options that include: 1) the right to return the equipment to the lessor; 2) favorable renewal options; and 3) favorable purchase options. Seek ways to limit what you are charged by requesting fair market value options that are ‘capped’ (have upper limits) or favorable fixed options.
Look For Lease Flexibility
Obtaining lease flexibility can easily trump obtaining the lowest price. In fact, you can trim lots of money from overall leasing costs by having a flexible leasing arrangement.
First, make sure the lease allows you to include most of the equipment you intend to acquire. Also, check that it will be easy to add more equipment to the lease as your needs change. The better leases provide for multiple schedules under a master lease or the ability to amend existing leases to make additions. What if you no longer need some of the equipment? An early termination formula is useful in these situations. Generally, these formulas consist of present valuing the remaining rents. If the equipment has a strong residual value, try to negotiate a more favorable termination charge by incorporating some of the anticipated residual value.
A flexible lease arrangement anticipates upgrades. Usually, at the time of equipment upgrade, the present value of rents associated with the upgrade can be combined with the present value of the remaining equipment rents to create a revised schedule. Other methods might be required in the event that the lessor will incur penalties or additional charges resulting from the way the lessor has funded the lease.
Will you be able to terminate the lease early without an onerous charge? An amount consisting of the present value of the remaining rents plus a termination charge no greater than 3% to 5% should compensate the lessor for early termination in most leasing arrangements. Where equipment has high residual value, request that a portion of the anticipated residual value be applied to reduce early termination charges.
Does the lease have flexible end-of-lease options? Clearly, if the lease contains a nominal purchase option, there is little need for additional end-of-lease flexibility. Otherwise, a good array of end-of-lease options is desirable. Request the right to return the equipment to the lessor without undue penalty or expense, the right to purchase the equipment at a fair or reduced price, and the right to continue leasing the equipment at a fair or reduced rent. Use of ‘caps’ in fair market value purchase or rental options can greatly reduce potential costs at lease end. Beware, however. Lessors may insist on fair market value ‘floors’ (lower limit) when they agree to ‘caps’.
It may become necessary to relocate the equipment to another site. Make sure the lease provides that equipment can be relocated without unreasonable penalties or charges, subject to notifying the lessor. Keep in mind that equipment relocation may create extra expense for the lessor, particularly if it is to be moved to another state or to multiple locations. Most lessors perceive multiple locations as adding additional risk to the transaction in the event they must repossess the equipment. As long as these considerations are taken into account, the lessor should permit relocation of equipment with reasonable notice and reimbursement of lessor’s direct costs and administrative expenses.
Is there a sufficient notice period at the end-of-lease for you to indicate your desire to renew the lease, purchase the equipment or return the equipment? The notice period generally ranges from one to six months, with three months being typical. If you violate the notice period, the lease kicks into an automatic renewal period, usually one to six months. You should seek notice and automatic renewal periods that are short, to avoid unintended additional lease charges. If the lessor is unwilling to negotiate this provision, you can manage the situation by making sure the notice requirement is fulfilled within the allowed time.
Look For Competitive Lease Pricing
Lease pricing is a function of many factors, including: market rates, perceived lessee credit risk, lessor competition, equipment collateral quality and equipment re-marketing prospects. Get at least three lease bids, if possible. At the end of the day, lease pricing is market driven. A properly completed present value analysis will bring into focus comparison of diverse proposals otherwise difficult to make. Make assumptions about the equipment residuals and incorporate all anticipated costs and fees. Take into account the amount and timing of the periodic rental payments, any advance rental payments, security deposits, cash collateral, interim rents and commitment fees. To achieve an accurate analysis of cash flows, you should incorporate any tax charges/benefits as they are to be realized.
If you are concerned about the impact of the lease transaction on your firm’s financial statements, compare the impact of each proposed lease on the balance sheet and income statement (if lease accounting is not your forte, get a qualified accountant involved). For example, if your company is sensitive to adding additional debt to its balance sheet, a capital lease should probably be avoided. As you can see, there are several ways to evaluate lease proposals and to compare lease pricing. The important thing is to use an analysis method with consistency and to choose the method that best fits your company’s priorities.
Understand All Fees and Penalties
Leasing proposals vary in the types and amounts of fees and penalty charges. Some common lease charges include: commitment fees; documentation charges; charges for attorney fees; and charges for UCC financing statements. Additionally, some leases might contain penalty charges for late rental payments or early lease termination. These are only a few of the possible fees and charges. It is important that you go through the lease proposal and lease agreement to identify likely charges. If fees or charges are significant and likely, you should incorporate them into your pricing analysis.
Understand the Lessee’s Major Responsibilities and Obligations
Most lease proposals cover the basic terms of the lease, but are silent regarding many of the obligations and conditions normally included in the lease agreement. Lessors usually will not negotiate the lease agreement before receiving a signed proposal letter. While negotiating lease terms might not be customary or practical at the proposal stage, requesting a copy of the lessor’s standard lease along with the proposal letter is a good idea. In their standard agreement, look for any onerous or non-standard terms that would otherwise eliminate the proposal from consideration.
There are lease provisions that are common to almost all ‘net’ lease agreements, including: 1) prompt payment of rent, taxes and other required payments; 2) equipment & liability insurance; 3) equipment maintenance and upkeep; 4) tracking and reporting relocation of equipment; 5) freedom from any liens or other encumbrances against the equipment; and 6) return of equipment. Less common lease provisions, such as financial covenants or requiring personal guarantees might not be competitive or might result in you rejecting a proposal that is otherwise attractive. Review the proposal letter and the lessor’s standard lease agreement to insure that they are free of provisions that are problematic.
In all cases, it is important that you have the right to terminate the proposed transaction if you and the lessor can not come to terms on the lease agreement, especially if onerous terms appear in the lease that are not covered in the lease proposal.
Conclusion
Snaring the best lease deal and relationship need not be like getting a root canal. With a dash of advance planning and a few well defined objectives, you can find a good match. Remember to establish your priorities in making a decision on lease proposals and allow enough time to go through the proposal, lease approval and documentation phases. Also, while lease pricing is usually of utmost concern, make sure you consider other factors that can increase costs or create problems.
Copier Lease Calculator
It lets you factor how many payments you want to make, what the residual amount will be, and the interest rate on your equipment lease. More importantly this lets you know the class of copier you can afford.
Car Loan Equipment Leasing
In this corner, major aspects of loan and leasing are discussed, including knowledge of loan, discussions and news about car loan equipment calculators.
Guidelines for gas station equipment leasing
We can suggest this lease calculator to help with the calculation of equipment leasing.
Some business owners look over equipment
Some business owners look over equipment leasing contracts carefully. They make notes and question obscure language. They then send the document to their lawyer for review.
Equipment Leasing Calculations
Article by George A. Parker, a Director and Executive Vice President of Leasing Technologies International, Inc. (’LTI’). He is responsible for overseeing the company’s marketing and financing efforts. One of the co-founders of LTI, Mr. Parker has been involved in secured lending and equipment financing for over twenty years. Mr. Parker is an industry leader, frequent panelist and author of several articles pertaining to equipment financing. Headquartered in Wilton, CT, LTI is a leasing firm specializing nationally in direct equipment financing and vendor leasing programs for emerging growth and later-stage, venture capital backed companies. More information about LTI is available at http://www.ltileasing.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Parker
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Commercial Equipment Lease
6 Tips For Getting The Best Commercial Equipment Lease
How To Get The Right Equipment Lease Financing Deal
Equipment lease financing is very beneficial
to businesses, especially to those who are in a financially tight position and to those who operate in a rapidly changing technological environment. In leasing, business organizations won’t have to purchase the business critical equipment, they just need to pay a monthly rental fee to the leasing firm to use it.
All types of equipment from major manufacturing equipment to smaller items, such as computers, can be leased from lenders like banks, finance companies, bona fide business equipment/office equipment leasing companies, equipment manufacturers or retailers.
Tips for getting the right deal
1) Find the Right Leasing Partner
As you will be dealing with the leasing company for a long time and it is the question of your business critical assets, take great care in choosing the right leasing firm. This way you will be able to save time and avoid later problems because of a substandard lease. Look for a business equipment or office equipment leasing company who are experienced, have good reputation, are in good financial shape, and have a relationship approach to the business.
2) Choose the Right Lease
When choosing the right lease give utmost attention to details like lease pricing, lease flexibility, balance sheet considerations, equipment obsolescence, the anticipated period of equipment usage and your firm’s credit status. This analysis will help you arrive at the right decision with regard to the type of lease most beneficial to your business and finances. The lease types you can choose from are a capital lease, finance lease or operating lease.
3) Opt for short End-of-lease Notice and Renewal Periods
Usually the notice period ranges from one to six months. And if proper notice is not served, automatic renewal kicks in which can last from one month to 6 months. You can opt for short notice and automatic renewal periods to avoid paying unintended lease charges.
4) Minimize Interim Rent
Interim rent is the amount paid to the leasing firm for using the equipment between the equipment acceptance and lease start dates. You can opt for delivery and acceptance towards the end of the month as the first day of the month is usually the official start day for leasing firms. In case you fail to do so, you can request a limit on interim rent.
5) Make sure that Lease Term and Projected Equipment Use match
This is important because your lease might run out before your project is over resulting in extra expenses and disruption in work or idle leased equipment for which you have to keep paying. This might also result in premature surrender of the lease which itself will attract penalties. So be very careful in determining your requirements and the expected period of use when deciding the lease period.
6) Identify and Understand All Potential Fees
Leasing proposals are replete with a myriad of fees and penalties such as commitment fees; non-use fees or facility fees, per schedule documentation charges, attorney fees, penalty charges for late rental payments, early lease termination charges etc. You can save a significant amount of money if you can prove yourself to be a good potential customer on the basis of your financial position, market position etc. So understand all the inherent fees and charges and negotiate hard. Remember that if you are a strong candidate there are numerous small business equipment leasing companies in the market.
By: Stephanie Iles
News:
The Advantage of Commercial Equipment Financing
Those with a limited budget can greatly benefit from leasing business equipment. Compared to commercial loans or bank loans, applying for an equipment lease is a lot easier.
Guidelines for gas station equipment leasing or financing
Gas station and convenience store owners seeking equipment financing for their operations should know these basic facts about equipment leasing to make the best decision for their business.
Equipment Lease
This is a standard straightforward lease form. Be sure to file the appropriate local, county, and state liens (UCC forms) against the equipment within the locals.
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Stephanie Iles is a writer on business and finance. She specializes in writing on equipment lease financing, commercial mortgages and various other loan options. Her write-ups highlight the different aspects of www.assetfinancebroker.co.uk /equipment-leasing-company.php>office equipment leasing.
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American Equipment Leasing Options
Equipment Leasing: A Competitive Weapon
by: George A. Parker
Most great generals know how to design winning battle plans. They also know how to use their resources to gain advantages over the enemy. For these military leaders, getting enough tanks, aircraft, ships and armaments into the hands of the right personnel can spell military victory or defeat.
In the business arena, gaining access to certain resources and getting them into able hands can also determine success. Many successful business leaders have discovered that equipment leasing can make a significant difference when competing in the marketplace. In fact, equipment leasing has become a competitive weapon for business managers who understand how and when to use this helpful financing tool.
Here are some ways savvy business owners and managers use equipment leasing to gain advantage over their competitors:
To Develop a Financing War Chest
Equipment leasing allows companies to finance more activities to compete effectively. It supplements other forms of financing, such as equity capital, bank debt, trade credit and mortgage financing. Astute business managers understand that access to a variety of useful financing affords them certain options and gives them an advantage over competitors with limited financing.
Maintaining State-of-the-Art Technology
Being able to acquire and use state-of-the-art equipment and software can give many companies a noticeable competitive advantage. This advantage can be particularly significant in research, product development, marketing and operations. By using equipment leasing, companies are able to better manage technology turnover. Many managers use operating leases to acquire state-of-the-art equipment for fixed time periods. At lease end, they are then able to rid themselves of obsolete equipment by returning the equipment to the lessors.
Stretching Equity Capital
Equity capital is often the most flexible form of business funding. It allows companies to undertake high-impact growth activities like adding key personnel, conducting research and development, and expanding marketing programs. Equipment leasing is dedicated financing. It permits companies to add equipment efficiently. In this context, equipment leasing helps to leverage and stretch a company’s equity capital by freeing it up for other uses. When used properly, the overall impact of equipment leasing is to leverage equity returns. High equity returns attract investors and permit companies to source more equity capital in the future.
Equipping Talented People to Do Battle
Using leasing to get the best software and hardware into the hands of talented personnel is a competitive advantage. Companies that quickly get equipment into the hands of talented workers at every level usually compete more effective in the marketplace.
Accelerating Company Growth
Equipment leasing facilitates faster company growth. It allows companies to add infrastructure faster by bringing in equipment earlier and paying over time. In this regard, leasing affords a competitive advantage over companies that wait to purchase equipment outright.
Defending Working Capital
Sophisticated business managers have discovered how to keep pressure off of their companies’ working capital. Compared to outright purchase, equipment leasing has a low impact on working capital. Leasing allows companies to avoid large upfront outlays while spreading equipment acquisition costs over an extended period. Using equipment leasing to manage working capital permits companies to pay bills on time and to operate smoothly. They are then able to gain a competitive advantage over companies that haven’t mastered this technique.
Maximizing Tax Benefits
Sophisticated companies are able to maximize tax benefits by carefully using equipment lease structures. By entering into operating leases and being able to fully deduct lease payments, companies that can’t otherwise use depreciation write-offs can still realize tax benefits. Capital leases allow companies that can use depreciation write-offs to take advantage of this feature. Tax benefits further reduce the cost of acquiring equipment. These benefits can often make equipment leasing a more efficient means of acquiring equipment compared to other methods.
Turbo-Charging Equipment Sales
For companies selling equipment, offering equipment leasing to customers at the point of sale can help establish a significant competitive advantage. Convenient equipment financing at the point of sale can eliminate a major selling challenge the customer’s lack of financing for the purchase. Equipment sellers offering leasing give their customers a means of acquiring the equipment and realizing the full benefits of an equipment lease. This sales-financing strategy represents a clear advantage over sellers who let customers fend for themselves.
Savvy business owners and managers understand the benefits of equipment leasing. They also understand how to exploit leasing for competitive advantage. The challenge for them is to optimize leasing to realize the biggest gains and to compete more effectively. It is no wonder that equipment leasing in the U.S. has grown to over $ 240 billion annually and accounts for more than 30% of equipment acquisitions. Consider equipment leasing when designing your battle plans. Don’t allow your competitors to use leasing against you to win the battle in your market.
About The Author
George Parker is a Director and Executive Vice President of Leasing Technologies International, Inc. (’LTI’). He is responsible for overseeing the company’s marketing and financing efforts. One of the co-founders of LTI, Mr. Parker has been involved in secured lending and equipment financing for over twenty years. Mr. Parker is an industry leader, frequent panelist and author of several articles pertaining to equipment financing.
Headquartered in Wilton, CT, LTI is a leasing firm specializing nationally in direct equipment financing and vendor leasing programs for emerging growth and later-stage, venture capital backed companies. More information about LTI is available at www.ltileasing.com.
Other News …
The Vast Benefits Of Equipment Leasing
You might be wondering why a lease can be a better option for you. Well, the matter of fact is, there are quite a number of advantages when you will decide to lease than just buy.
Leasing Benefits
Another benefit to leasing equipment for you and your business is the money you will save, again, in the long term.
Equipment Leasing Benefits
First and foremost, the most important benefits to leasing rather than owning your equipment is cash; lets face it, the more cash you can put to advertising, the better.
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Small Business Equipment Lease
Small businesses and new businesses often find it very difficult to obtain financing. Private loans are not easily qualified for, and federal loans have precise requirements not easily met and are not widely available.
When it comes to financing new equipment, leasing can be the solution.
Leasing Explained
Leasing consists of obtaining an asset which remains the property of the lender but can be used by the borrower. The contract lasts for a certain period of time at the end of which the borrower has the option to buy the asset by paying a lump sum (usually a small percentage of the asset’s value). If he chooses not to do so, the contract ends or it can be renewed by replacing the leased asset with a new one. It’s widely used for cars and business equipment.
Benefits of Leasing Equipment
Leasing equipment has many benefits; it combines the advantages of renting equipment with those of possession by means of loan financing. Furthermore, the main advantage leasing provides is flexibility. Due to its mixed nature, most terms are subject to negotiation.
No Money Down
When buying equipment you need either to put money down or request a loan in order to purchase the equipment. When you lease, you pay monthly installments and get immediate tenure. It is just like if you were renting the equipment only you’ll be able to acquire it if you want to at a later occasion.
Tax Benefits
When you purchase equipment, it adds up to your taxable assets. If you requested a loan in order to pay for it, you can deduct the costs, but the equipment remains your property. When Leasing, you only hold possession of the equipment, it remains property of the lender and thus, you can deduct the monthly payments and it will not add up to your taxable assets.
Flexibility
If the equipment becomes obsolete, you can always request it to be replaced with a new one. Thus, you won’t suffer the consequences of obsolescence. You can have up to date equipment just by paying a monthly fee for it. Once you have no more use of it, disposing of it becomes the lender’s problem and not yours.
Given all the technological changes that occur everyday, chances are that you will make an excellent use of this leasing characteristic. When it comes to starting businesses and businesses in the technological field or technology dependent, leasing is definitely the best financial alternative.
Fast Approval
Since the asset remains property of the lender, leasing doesn’t have many requirements. The contract usually includes insurance policies attached to it so the lender get’s rid of certain risks related to the equipment and concentrates on its concern (financing).
Nevertheless a good credit history contributes a lot to getting a good deal on a leasing transaction. Bad Credit can increase the costs of leasing operations and since leasing is not the cheapest financial option, if you have really bad credit, it might be wise to consider other alternatives first.
Fewer SBA Loans Stifling Small Business
Free Up Capital For Your Small Businesses
New Financing Source
According to a recent Equipment and Leasing Finance Association report, U.S. businesses leased nearly $600 billion in capital goods.
Hispanic Chamber helps boost businesses
The event will stress credit, nontraditional lending, equipment leasing, Small Business Administration loan guarantees and microlending.
Equipment leasing is your ticket to upgrades
In a struggling economy, leasing allows manufacturers to upgrade existing equipment, acquire it new, or improve it.
| Mary Wise, a professional consultant at http://www.badcreditloanservices.com with twenty years in the financial field, prevents consumers from falling into the hands of fraudulent lenders. In her website you will find more useful tips and interesting financial articles on this and many other related topics. By Mary Wise |
The Benefits Of Equipment Leasing
However you are confronted with the question of whether to buy a brand new one or just opt for equipment leasing?
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