Equipment Financing

leasing is flexible.

With leasing, you are able to customize a program to address your needs & requirements - cash flow, budget, transaction structure, cyclical fluctuations, etc. For example, some leases allow you to miss one or more payments without a penalty, an important feature for seasonal businesses.

100% financing.

There is very little money down with leasing - typically the first & last month's payment are due at the time of lease signing. Since a lease does not require a down payment, it is equivalent to 100% financing.

leasing is fast & convenient.

Leasing allows you to add equipment or upgrade equipment under similar terms. Leasing can also allow you to respond quickly to new opportunities with minimal documentation. Credit decisions are usually made same day.

tax benefits.

The IRS does not consider an operating lease to be a purchase, but rather a tax-deductible overhead expense. Therefore, you can deduct the lease payments from your business income. Also, because lease payments are treated as expenses on a company's income statement, equipment does not have to be depreciated over five to seven years.

improves cash flow.

Lease payments are historically lower than loan payments, hence conserving cash for other uses. Also, by leasing equipment you know the amount & number of lease payments over the life of the leasing period, so you can accurately forecast cash requirements for your equipment.

manage obsolescence.

A lease allows equipment to be returned to the lessor at the end of the lease term. You can then upgrade equipment without having to manage disposal & other ownership burdens. The risk of getting caught with obsolete equipment is lessened.

balance sheet management.

Because an operating lease is not considered a long-term debt or liability, it does not appear as debt on your balance sheet, thus making you more attractive to traditional lenders when you need them.

leasing is smart.

Eight out of ten companies lease some or all of their equipment, according to industry research. Why do they lease? Because the flexibility provided by leasing allows them to have the most effective operation possible. Companies that lease tend to be the most entrepreneurial & competitive.

what are typical lease terms?

Lease terms typically range from 12-60 months. The most common lease terms are 36-60 months (three to five years).

can I lease to own?

Yes. About 95% of Geneva Capital's clients select a "lease-to-own" plan.

are there tax advantages to leasing?

Yes. In fact, one of the most appealing reasons businesses lease new equipment is because the IRS does not consider an operating lease to be a purchase; rather it is a tax-deductible overhead expense. Therefore, you can deduct the lease payments from your business income.

You could also take advantage of Section 179, a special tax deduction allowing you to recover all or part of the cost of a piece of equipment in the year the equipment is put into service. This is a way to rapidly write-off the equipment versus taking depreciation deductions over the life of the asset.

does leasing require a significant down payment?

No. Generally speaking, leasing requires little to no down payment. While the first & last month's payments may be required, leasing is almost identical to 100% financing.

how does leasing affect my cash flow?

You'll find leasing has a positive impact on your cash flow because you're not paying for the equipment in one lump sum. By tailoring a custom lease, business owners can conserve cash...allowing them to focus on growing their businesses. Leasing also allows you to forecast cash requirements more accurately as you know the amount & number of lease payments you will owe over the lease period.

can I lease more equipment while I have an existing lease?

Yes. Leasing opens the door for faster response to new business opportunities. Many leasing companies can approve an application for new equipment in a matter of a few days. This allows you &/or your company to react quickly to a new opportunity before your competitors can.

how does leasing look to other lenders?

Leasing can actually help you to look more attractive to traditional lenders when you need them. Operating leases are not considered a long-term debt or liability on your balance sheet, making you look more stable to lenders. Leases are also not reported to consumer credit bureaus.

is leasing flexible?

Absolutely. Lessors offer flexible terms, allowing you to customize your lease to a program which fits your needs & requirements - cash flow, budget, transaction structure, cyclical fluctuations, etc.

products & services

Geneva Capital offers a full range of financing products to meet your needs. Whether you require one of our standard offerings or a customized program, Geneva will provide a financing solution that works for you & your business. The following are some of the services we offer:

Fair Market Value Purchase Option Leases.
$1.00 Purchase Option Leases.
Start-Up Leases.
Deferred Payment Leases.
Technology Leases.
Skip Payment Leases.
Equipment Protection Plans.
Discount Programs for Repeat Customers.
Property Tax Services.
Equipment Finance Agreements.

lease vs loan

Business owners rely on equipment every day to operate & grow their businesses. Most often, customers who are looking to purchase equipment seek financing from one of two sources - traditional bank financing programs or specialized leasing companies. The following are four key differences to consider when comparing these programs:

Impact on Additional Financing

When a business finances with Geneva Capital, we file a UCC letting the Secretary of State know where the customer is located & that the equipment is owned by the leasing company. We designate only the new equipment as collateral. Other lenders will see that only the leased equipment is under consideration & will still be willing to work with you.

In comparison, under a traditional bank loan, all property is stated...the new equipment plus your entire business. With this blanket UCC in place, other banks will not be willing to provide overlapping financing to you.

Access to Capital

Banks have a lending threshold with each borrower. If you get into an amount of debt that the bank deems a risk, they may choose to end business with you or refuse you financing.

Leasing companies also deal with this, but only consider the equipment finances for that customer. By using Geneva Capital, you can retain access to capital with your bank without tying up credit lines.

Interest Rate Fluctuations

Banks are not in the business of taking excessive risks; their programs are subject to change as economic conditions falter. As the Federal Reserve raises or lowers the Prime Rate, interest rates will increase or decrease, impacting your business outside of your control.

The opposite is true for leasing companies...they take 100% of the interest rate risk! Therefore, the payment on your lease will never change during its term, regardless of interest rates & inflation.

Flexibility of Terms

Most banks require 10-20% down to finance business equipment with a requirement of security...the primary concern of a bank is to protect its interests.

A leasing company's main goal is to generate cash flow. Therefore, leasing companies are highly creative in finding the easiest way for a business to get new equipment. At Geneva Capital, we offer several custom terms to fit the needs of our individual customers.

section 179 qualifications

Section 179 is a special tax deduction allowing you to recover all or part of the cost of a piece of equipment in the year the equipment is put into service. Equipment must be for business use, acquired by a form of purchase (cash, lease, or loan), & eligible under IRS guidelines. This is a way to rapidly write-off the equipment versus taking depreciation deductions over the life of the asset.

eligible equipment

Tangible property - used as part of the business operation, production, or manufacturing.

deduction amount

In 2015, businesses are allowed to write-off as much as $25,000 of qualified equipment acquired over the course of the year.

section 179 calculator

2015 Equipment Cost:

$

Section 179 Deduction:

$

Bonus Depreciation Deduction:
(Not available in 2015)

$

Regular First Year Depreciation Deduction:

$

Total First Year Deduction:

$

2015 Tax Savings:
(assuming a 35% tax bracket)

$

Lowered Cost of Equipment after Tax Savings:

$

*All examples provided herein are for illustrative purposes only. Actual numbers will vary based on credit and individual financial situations. Geneva Capital LLC recommends each customer review their own unique situation with their tax advisor. All transactions are subject to equipment and credit approval.

we appreciate feedback

If you ask us, there's nothing that better reflects how we're doing than feedback from our valued customers. Whether they write us an email singing our praises, or give us thoughtful insight into what we can improve, we greatly appreciate it & it helps us become a better company.

"Thanks for all your great help on this new lease for another Kornit. You guys have been a great partner in helping us grow our business from our first DOG printer to now our fifth. Everything has always been handled with professionalism. I am looking forward to working with Geneva as we grow."

Jay Butterfield, Silk Screen Ink

"We currently have a lease with Geneva Capital. I have only good things to say about everyone from sales to credit. They work together as a team to meet their customers' needs & requests. I will definitely call them again for future lending needs."

Rhonda S. Christian, Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group

"I wanted to thank you & your staff for the wonderful job you did for us. It was a pleasure working with you. You have been extremely responsive, as well as clearly informative in regard to our equipment financing. I am, as you know, one of the few that read the fine print & ask many questions. You promptly answered them & addressed any concerns to our satisfaction. We look forward to working with your company for many years to come."

Janet Bordonaro, Paws for Fun, LLC

"We would definitely recommend Geneva to others that need financing. Getting our lease set up was very painless...heads above other leasing companies we've checked into."

Marcia M., Distinctive Togs, LLC

"Our relationship with Geneva Capital started in 2007 with our first engraving machine - we now have 4! Repeat business is proof that they are doing it right. They have made the process from the customer prosepective very simple & 'painless'. No matter who you talk to at Geneva, they are all extremely professional & helpful. Someone is always available to assist with our needs - great teamwork. They already have our business, but they continue to be responsive to any questions/inquiries that we have. All we can do is 'sing their praises'."