What is Equipment Leasing?
When your small business requires specialized equipment, leasing it might be the way to go to keep cash flowing and your business running optimally.
What’s the difference between equipment leasing and equipment financing?
Equipment leasing allows you to use an asset without the burden of ownership. At the end of the lease term, you decide if you want to pay to own the equipment, return it, or continue to lease. Equipment financing allows you to own the equipment after a fixed term. When it comes to structuring your financing, Cardiff is flexible. Choose the program and terms that fit your budget and your cash flow.
Operating Lease
You’re probably familiar with how an automobile lease works. It can save you money, but you won’t own the asset at the end of the term. Some business owners like this structure, because they have the option to buy or return the equipment at the end of the lease, while enjoying a lower payment in relation to financing. Your CPA may not need to list an operating lease on your balance sheet, which may offer a number of advantages.
Equipment Finance Agreement
An Equipment Finance Agreement (EFA) shares many of the characteristics of a loan. It comes with higher payments than an operating lease, but you are the legal owner of the asset. If you’re certain you want to own the equipment once the term is complete, this is the right structure for your business. The EFA has a cousin called a capital lease. If your lease has a bargain purchase option at the end like $1 or $101, this is a capital lease structure. There may be some tax benefits in choosing a capital lease over an EFA, but that’s between you and your CPA.
Flexible Equipment Loans and Leasing for Growing Businesses
Getting the right equipment to launch a new service or replace outdated tools is a key step toward building a successful business. Equipment leasing and financing with Cardiff gives you the flexibility to acquire the equipment you need to grow and improve your business without draining your working capital. You gain access to funding designed to support small business expansion, whether you’re in construction, healthcare, retail, or wellness.
Instead of waiting until you can pay in full, you can use small business equipment financing to purchase the equipment you need now and pay over time on terms that fit your budget and your growth timeline.
What Is Business Equipment Financing?
Business equipment financing can be a loan or lease that helps you spread out the high cost of new or used equipment over time. You secure the asset today and make predictable payments until you repay the loan or lease. Equipment financing is often more accessible than traditional business loans because it is a secured loan. The equipment itself serves as collateral, reducing the lender’s risk.
If you’re opening a veterinary clinic and need exam tables, financing can help. If you’re upgrading spa treatment machines, leasing offers a low upfront investment. Whether it’s heavy construction equipment, POS systems for your retail store, or machines for an auto repair shop, equipment financing through Cardiff helps you put it to work driving business and boosting revenue now.
Equipment Leasing vs. Equipment Loans: What’s the Difference?
You can acquire equipment for your business using a loan or a lease. Which one should you choose? It depends. Understanding the difference helps you decide which path will support your current growth strategy.
Equipment leasing gives you access to the tools and machines you need without owning them outright. You make regular, predictable payments for the lease term. You do not own the equipment during the lease term, but you may have the option to purchase the item at the end of the lease. Leasing is ideal for rapidly evolving industries where equipment may become outdated by the end of the lease or when you want to avoid long-term ownership obligations.
Business equipment loans, on the other hand, allow you to buy equipment for your business. You make monthly payments for the term of the loan, but you own the equipment from day one. This loan is a good fit when the equipment you purchase has a long useful life, or you want to build equity.
With Cardiff, you can choose either structure, or a blend of the two, to match your operational needs and cash flow.
What Businesses Use Equipment Financing?
You don’t have to be a large corporation expanding your vehicle fleet to qualify for equipment financing. Many small businesses rely on equipment leases and loans to finance vital equipment purchases. Cardiff’s business equipment financing is ideal for:
- Medical practices acquiring diagnostic tools, x-ray machines, exam chairs, or treatment systems
- Spas and salons investing in upgraded machines, chairs, or specialty wellness equipment
- Veterinary clinics adding surgical tables, imaging tools, and sterilization equipment
- Auto repair shops needing lifts, air compressors, tire mounting equipment, and diagnostic scanners
- Construction companies purchasing new or used heavy machinery
- Retailers refreshing checkout systems, refrigeration units, or inventory management gear
- Landscaping businesses financing mowers, trimmers, loaders, and trailers
If you need tools to stay competitive or grow your business, Cardiff can help you fund them fast. We’ll provide a financing solution that makes sense for your business and financial situation.
Equipment Financing Across Industries
Cardiff offers flexible equipment lending for a wide range of industries. Here are just a few examples of what you can finance:
- Heavy Equipment Financing – Bulldozers, backhoes, excavators, and cranes for construction businesses
- Spa Equipment Financing – Hydrotherapy tubs, microdermabrasion machines, massage tables, and aesthetic lasers
- Veterinary Equipment Financing – Ultrasound machines, anesthesia units, dental tools, and diagnostic software
- Loan for Used Machinery Purchase – Previously owned machines without the markup of new inventory
We can even help you secure an equipment line of credit if you have rotating equipment needs and plan to purchase multiple items over time. With Cardiff, your equipment financing options scale with your ambition.
Why Choose Cardiff for Equipment Leasing and Loans?
If you’re looking for a partner to finance your lease or purchase, Cardiff offers distinct advantages we’re proud to offer our customers.
Fast Decisions
Cardiff’s streamlined online application makes it easy to get started, and you won’t be left waiting days for an answer. Applicants typically receive a same-day decision and as fast as same day funding, helping you seize business opportunities without delay.
Flexible Repayment Options
Every business has a unique rhythm, and your repayments should reflect that. Cardiff offers repayment structures that adapt to your revenue cycles, making it easier to manage cash flow during slow seasons or growth spurts.
Low Credit Threshold
You don’t need perfect credit to access the capital your business needs. Cardiff works with a broad range of credit profiles, focusing on the overall health, revenue and performance of your business.
Tailored to Small Businesses
Cardiff specializes in funding for small businesses that need fast, transparent access to updated equipment. Whether you’re upgrading existing equipment or scaling operations, we built our tools and support to keep pace with your goals.
Revenue-Based Lending Available
If your business has limited credit history but generates steady revenue, Cardiff’s revenue-based lending options may be an excellent fit. We evaluate your actual cash flow, making it possible to qualify even if traditional lenders say no.
Whether you’re a solo practitioner or scaling a multi-location service business, Cardiff offers the financing tools to help you grow.
How to Apply for Equipment Financing
Getting started is easier than you think. With Cardiff’s streamlined process, you’ll avoid paperwork overload and get a funding decision fast.
Apply Online – Provide basic information about your business and financing needs, including bank statements and an equipment quote.
Get a Decision – Our team reviews your application and responds quickly.
Access Funding – Once approved, we release funds so you can order or take delivery of the equipment.
If a one-time purchase or lease does not meet your needs, you can also opt for an equipment line of credit, which gives you access to revolving funds for equipment purchases.
Building Credit with Smart Equipment Financing
Using equipment financing wisely sets you up for even greater funding opportunities. By successfully managing a business equipment loan, you build creditworthiness and prove your capacity to repay, making it easier to get a business loan or qualify for a business line of credit in the future.
Leasing or financing equipment builds your financial profile. It’s a strategic move when you’re preparing to expand locations, open a new division, or scale operations.
Let Us Help You Get The Equipment You Need
Every day you wait for new equipment is a day you lose productivity and profit. Cardiff helps eliminate that delay with fast, accessible equipment financing tailored to your unique business. Whether you’re investing in technology, machinery, or medical devices, you deserve a funding partner that understands your urgency and supports your success.
Apply now and take control of your equipment needs with financing that fits your future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is business equipment financing?
How are business equipment loans different from equipment leasing?
Equipment loans help you purchase equipment outright using borrowed funds, which you pay back over time with interest.