The question of whether to lease or buy is a common one for our clients who are considering a larger than normal equipment purchase, are engaged in a significant expansion or who simply wish to smooth their cash flow by spreading an equipment investment over a number of years.

 

A "lease vs. buy" analysis compares the cost of leasing and buying based on the assumptions used for residual value, cost of funds, tax rates and so on.

 

 

 

 

Leasing equipment can be a better option for business owners who have limited capital or who need equipment that must be upgraded every few years, while purchasing equipment can be a better option for established businesses or for equipment that has a long usable life. Each business owner’s situation is unique, however, and the decision to buy or lease business equipment must be made on a case-by-case basis. Here's a look at both options.

 

 

Leasing business equipment and tools preserves capital and provides flexibility but may cost you more in the long run.

 

 

The primary advantage of leasing business equipment is that it allows you to acquire assets with minimal initial expenditures. Because equipment leases rarely require a down payment, you can obtain the goods you need without significantly affecting your cash flow.

 

Another financial benefit of leasing equipment is that your lease payments can usually be deducted as business expenses on your tax return, reducing the net cost of your lease. In addition, leases are usually easier to obtain and have more flexible terms than loans for buying equipment. This can be a significant advantage if you have bad credit or need to negotiate a longer payment plan to lower your costs.

 

Leasing also allows businesses to address the problem of obsolescence. If you use your lease to attain items that are subject to becoming technologically outdated in a short period of time, such as computers or other high-tech equipment, a lease passes the burden of obsolescence onto the lessor, as you are free to lease new, higher-end equipment after your lease expires.

 

 

Leasing business equipment has two main disadvantages: overall cost and lack of ownership. With regard to cost, leasing an item is almost always more expensive than purchasing it at first glance. For example, a 3-year lease on a computer worth $4,000, at a standard rate of $40/month per $1,000, will cost you a total of $5,760. If you had bought it outright, you would have paid only $4,000. In addition to the higher cost, you will have built up no equity in the computer. Unless the computer has become obsolete by the end of the lease, this lack of ownership is a significant disadvantage.

 

Another downside to leasing is that you are obligated to make payments for the entire lease period even if you stop using the equipment. Some leases give you the option to cancel the lease if your business changes directions and the equipment you leased is no longer necessary, but large early termination fees always apply.

 

 

Ownership and tax breaks make buying business equipment appealing, but high initial costs mean this option isn’t for everyone.

 

 

The most obvious advantage of buying business equipment is that, after you purchase the equipment, you gain ownership of it. This is especially true when the property has a long useful life and is not likely to become technologically outdated in the near future, such as office furniture or farm machinery.

 

 

For some people, purchasing business equipment may not be an option, because the initial cash outlay is too high. Even if you plan on borrowing the money and making monthly payments, most banks require a down payment of around 20%. Borrowing money may also tie up lines of credit, and lenders may place restrictions on your future financial operations to ensure that you are able to repay your loan.

 

Although ownership is perhaps the biggest advantage to buying business equipment, it can also be a disadvantage. If you purchase high-tech equipment, you run the risk that the equipment may become technologically obsolete, and you may be forced to reinvest in new equipment long before you had planned to. Certain business equipment has very little resale value. A computer system that costs $5,000 today, for instance, may be worth only $1,000 or less three years from now.

 

 

When deciding whether to buy or lease a particular piece of business equipment, you should try to figure out the approximate net cost of that asset. Be sure to factor in tax breaks and resale value when making this calculation. After determining which option is more cost-effective, consider other intangibles such as the possibility that the product will become obsolete (if you are considering purchasing) or that your need for the product will expire before the lease does (if you are considering leasing).