Financing by the traditional banks and developed companies to support the smaller businesses is the need of most countries and is also essential for the growth of smaller businesses at the national and even the international levels. Equipment Financing and Invoice Financing are two separate terms that are used together but have a completely different history and working. Both are a type of financing to help and support smaller businesses to fulfill their purposes. Discussing both types of financing will help you get aware of their benefits and drawbacks and even the procedure of getting the finances.
In the case of any type of financing the major factors that matter the most are the scale your business is running at, the professional behavior of all the workers, the smooth legal history of your business, and most importantly the profit your business is making in all the previous years. Equipment financing and invoice financing go side by side as there are many benefits of both but there also exist a few negative points because of which businesses get confused about applying for such loans. But most of the time these loan policies prove to be helpful and supportive towards all the growing and developing companies and businesses as well.
Equipment Financing
Different sorts of equipment are used in all the businesses like heavy machinery, vehicles, and many more. Investments in the equipment are the biggest investment one can consider and therefore heavy funding is required for them to do so. The businesses can finance the equipment with the loan money they get from bigger banks. Purchasing new equipment and replacing the old ones is the basic need of these businesses which are running on a smaller scale.
Working on the Equipment Financing
For applying for equipment financing, you first have to find the right lender who is professional enough to handle such cases with all the dignity and stuff. Contacting the traditional banks would be beneficial for you in this case.
Your personal and business credit is checked by the Bank first. Then you go through the application process. Specialized lenders make the funding process easier, but traditional banks want legal guarantees and even your assets as collateral to keep until you return the Bank’s payment. Once you pay the money, you can get your assets back.
Sometimes the banks cannot lend you the full money, and then you have to pay at least a little of the payment before, based on the cost of the equipment.
I suggest you choose the specialized lenders for getting finances so that you will have to go through fewer terms and conditions as the professional behavior of the specialized lenders is more relaxing.
Requirements of the Lenders in Equipment Financing
The banks and administrations need to set some rules, terms, and conditions for loan funding and financing, and risk management at the same time. You have to fulfill a primary application where you have to give all the personal and business details.
You should provide the older bill payment history to them to show them how punctual and professional you are in such cases of cash flow. Two years of financial status are required to qualify for the loan money. Your current dept, your expenses, your behavior with the competitors, and even your older debt details are required at the time of going through the application process.
A detailed analysis of your business documents is done before the final selection by the traditional banks, and then you will finally qualify for the final loan payment by the Bank.
Benefits of Equipment Financing
Equipment financing comprises a long list of benefits for businesses, a few of which can be listed as these are the most common for every business that is going to apply for equipment financing:
Investing in the Latest Equipment and Techniques
Investing in the latest technology and machinery is essential for growing the business because using more modern technology than competitors will make your business more successful in the market.
You have to update your equipment from time to time, and this requires funds to do so. Businesses like medicine, agricultural businesses, and even the rest of them have to spend thousands of dollars for this purpose.
Usually, businesses do not own much larger amounts of money, and that is why they have to apply for loans in terms of equipment loans. Due to these loan services, life is much easier for these business owners.
Quick approval from the Banks
If you are applying for equipment financing, then there are no hard and fast rules for getting loans from the banks. You can get the loan after fulfilling their minor requirements like the documents of their business, their money payback guarantee, etc.
The application proceeding is very quickly, most of the time, by the lenders. The typical lengthy selection process is avoided in such cases, and you can get selected by the Bank for the loan overnight.
In cases there are some problems in the machinery of some bigger businesses, then they have to stop their work, and therefore productivity levels fall as a result. To avoid such conditions, they need quick financing from these companies, administrations, and even banks to make the business stand on their own feet again.
Zero Down Payments and No Collateral Policies
Equipment financing is such a beneficial step for you as there exist no policies for the down payments. Business owners find it frustrating to pay the down payments as they are already in need of support, and paying this down payment is not their cup of tea. For this purpose, the banks have removed the condition of paying the down payment from their contract.
Moreover, in the case of other types of loans like the SBA and agricultural loans, you have to give your assets in the custody of the Bank so that they will lend you money on behalf of that. In the case of equipment financing, the banks only check the validity of the running business and then lend you the money.
Avoiding the Cash Flow Problems
Equipment financing allows you to return the money from time to time and not all of the payments in one go. You can pay smaller amounts according to the contract and put an increment on it as time proceeds.
In this way, you can pay back the whole loan money in a fixed period if you try to return pieces of it as you make a profit in your business step by step.
You don’t have to gather a larger lump sump from your pocket at the same time and pay it back to the Bank. The Bank gives enough relaxation in terms of returning their money if you have guaranteed them it.
Flexible Policies Given by the Lenders
The financial background owned by the businesses should be strong enough so that the lenders will be satisfied and lend you money easily without much investigation.
The loan structures are customized by the lenders according to the condition of the businesses which are applying for the loans from the Bank.
The lenders analyze the profit-making time of the businesses around the year and then let them have enough time to make a profit, make cash, and return the bank money at suitable times.
Importance of Equipment Financing
Replacing the older tools and machinery as soon as possible should be your major concern as the productivity of your business falls in another case.
Getting loans in the hour of need is what these facilities were developed for by the government and major institutions of any country.
Get the suitable technology setup for your business through these loans, run the devices to make a profit out of their products, and finally earn dollars out of the loan money.
Which type of businesses can apply for Equipment Financing?
Industrial businesses usually require equipment financing as they need all the heavy machinery and tools like excavators, tractors, pumps and motors, forklifts, and whatnot.
If any of these essential equipment fails, it’s hard to run the whole process, and the productivity of that particular industry deteriorates.
Moreover, equipment is used for construction purposes, in restaurants, in hospitals running at larger scales, and even for farms, gyms, offices, and agricultural machinery.
Major Drawback of the Equipment Financing
Equipment financing seems to be very beneficial, but most of the time, the factory owners and most of the businesses have to change their tools every three to five years, and therefore getting loans through the banks will not be suitable in such cases.
They can sell the old equipment and get the new ones, but if they have got a loan from the Bank, then they have to return the loan money rather than buy the new ones and therefore, business owners find themselves in a dilemma.
In such cases, people skip the equipment financing and rather choose invoice financing, which is also suitable for businesses that are trying to grow and make a profit at smaller scales.
Conclusion
The businesses which require particular equipment to keep running the cash flow process can go for the equipment financing from the banks at any coast. This will be the best decision to support your business which depends upon the smooth working of the equipment. To improve the financial health of your business, you have to take this decision but consulting the best financial advisors would be a great idea as they will help you to make a perfect decision. You should ponder upon all the basic points including the interest rates, cash flow problems and others to jump on a final conclusion.
