Article
Equipment Leasing
Prof. Ian Giddy, New
York University
What is Leasing?
Leasing defined
A lease is a contractual arrangement in which a leasing company
(lessor) gives a customer (lessee) the right to use its equipment
for a specified length of time (lease term) and specified payment
(usually monthly). Depending on the lease structure, at the end
of the lease term the customer can either purchase, return, or continue
to lease the equipment.
Leasing works for any type of business
Every imaginable type of organization leases throughout the world
including proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, government
agencies, religious and non-profit organizations. Over 80% of
American businesses lease at least one of their equipment acquisitions
and nearly 90% say they would choose to lease again.
Almost limitless possibilities
You can lease anything associated with the operations of your
business (including all types of capital equipment, hardware,
software, and soft costs such as installation and consultation).
Why Companies Use Equipment Leasing
Bank loans have problems
- Conventional bank loans usually require more money upfront
than leasing and often have restrictive covenants.
- Conventional debt financing may require a 10-20% down payment.
- Leasing generally requires only one or two payments upfront
Finance 100% of your costs
In most cases, the full amount of the equipment, as well as the
service, shipping, installation costs and maintenance can be included
in the lease. This spreads the cost out evenly over the term of
the lease freeing up your money to work harder for you.
Realize significant tax savings
Monthly payments on operating leases are typically viewed as operating
expenses offering significant tax benefits. You should always
consult with your financial advisor to determine the most tax-beneficial
lease for your company.
Company can tailor a solution that meets its requirements
Leasing is flexible so that you can tailor the length and amount
of your payments to meet your business' needs.
- "step-up" leases allow you to start with low payments that
increase over time so you can concentrate on using the equipment
to generate revenue.
- "skip" leases restrict payments to given months of the year
so you can plan ahead to cover the slow times.
- "deferred payment" leases allow a significant grace period
before your first payment is due.
- "master" leases offer a more convenient way to add more equipment
to your existing lease.
Avoids the risk of equipment becoming obsolete
With ownership you run the risk that new technology will render
your equipment obsolete within a few years, leaving you with equipment
that no longer meets your needs and that is difficult to sell. Leasing
allows you to replace or upgrade equipment to keep your business
competitive.
Types of Leases
True Lease or Operating
Lease
- What it is good for: Used with equipment that rapidly
depreciates or becomes obsolete in a short period of time.
- How it works: In a true or operating lease, the leasing
company retains ownership of the equipment during the lease.
True or operating leases typically have no predetermined buyouts;
customers usually classify these payments as an operating expense.
- Benefits: Lower payments and typically the most tax-friendly
form of leasing, Additionally, true or operating leases offer
three choices at the end of your lease:
- return the equipment to the leasing company,
- purchase the equipment at its fair market value or option
amount, or
- extend your lease term.
Finance Lease or Capital Lease
- What it is good for: If you plan on owning the equipment
at the end of the lease.
- How it works: The full purchase price plus interest
charges are spread over the length of the lease.
- Benefits: You will own the equipment at the end of
the lease for a minimal amount, such as a fixed percentage of
the original cost or $1.00.
Skip Lease
- What it is good for: Organizations that need a flexible
repayment schedule such as seasonal businesses, agricultural
companies, recreational services firms, and school systems.
- How it works: You specify months when no payments are
made.
- Benefits: Flexibility to adjust to irregular cash flow.
Sale Leaseback
- What it is good for: Customers who decide that leasing
is more beneficial after having purchased their equipment. Sale-leaseback
also allows companies to raise cash for other investments or
cash flow purposes.
- How it works: The business that has already purchased
equipment sells it to a leasing company, which, in turn takes
ownership of the equipment and then leases it back to the business.
eLease requires that the equipment be purchased within 90 days.
- Benefits: The sale-leaseback allows you to put money
back into your business or into investments that appreciate
rather than depreciate.
60 or 90-Day Deferred Lease
- What it is good for: Businesses that need equipment
for operation and development that will not immediately generate
revenue.
- How it works: A 60 or 90-day deferred lease can be
structured as a finance lease or
a true lease. There is usually no advance
payment required, and the first payment is not due until 60
or 90 days after the lease begins.
- Benefits: The equipment you need can be acquired with
little to no money up front and no payments for 2-3 months.
Master Lease
- What it is good for: Leasing additional equipment over
a certain period of time.
- How it works: Separate lease schedules are created
to accommodate the addition of equipment over that period of
time. The master lease governs the basic terms and conditions.
Each schedule may include different end of term options and
different lease lengths but all will come under one "Master
Lease."
- Benefits: Acquiring additional equipment is made more
convenient.
Step Up Lease
What it is good for: Businesses whose financed equipment
will become more profitable over time.
How it works: Payments increase according to a regular
schedule over the life of the lease.
<>Benefits: Payments can be differed to match cash flow
Buyout/Purchase Options
Buyout/Purchase options are
determined prior to the inception of the lease. They outline the
customer's final financial obligations at the end of the lease.
Leasing provides a number of options for purchasing your equipment,
including:
Fair Market Value (FMV) Purchase Option
At the end of term, you usually have the following options:
- Purchase the equipment for its then Fair Market Value,
- Extend the lease for a pre-determined length of time (this
will be specified in your lease contract), or
- Return the equipment at the end of term (please check your
lease documents to see if this is one of the options). Please
note that some leasing companies require you to enter into a
new lease agreement of equal or greater value if you choose
this option.
Fair Market Value (FMV) Purchase
At the end of term you are obligated to purchase the equipment
for its then Fair Market Value.
10% Option
At the end of term, you usually have the following options:
- Purchase the equipment for 10% of its original purchase price,
- Extend the lease for a pre-determined length of time (this
will be specified in your lease contract), or
- Return the equipment at end of term (please check your lease
documents to see if this is one of the options). Please note
that some leasing companies require you to enter into a new
lease agreement of equal or greater value if you choose this
option.
You are often required to give written notice of the option you
wish to select prior to the end of term. Please review your lease
agreement to understand the timing of this written notice
10% Put
At the end of the lease term you are obligated to purchase the
equipment for 10% of its original purchase price.
$1 Buyout
The customer purchases the equipment for $1 at the end of a capital
lease and title to the equipment is transferred from the leasing
company to the customer.
Comparing Purchase Options
|
|
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Commentary |
Fair
Market Value |
End of term option is open
ended.
Lower monthly payments.
Maximized tax benefit.
Great for rapidly depreciating equipment. |
Fair Market Value can be
ambiguous and result in a disagreeably high valuation. |
Fair Market Value allows
you and your leasing company to negotiate what the value of the
equipment is at the end of the lease. There are normally 3 options
at the end of the term: buy the equipment for a mutually agreeable
price, continue leasing it, or return it. You should ask your leasing
company what they normally expect to receive at the of the lease
term and if they can cap the amount. |
10%
Purchase Option / Put |
End of lease payment is
predetermined at either a fixed percentage of the equipment cost
or a specified dollar amount. |
You must pay the Fixed
Put. It is considered an additional payment. |
The Fixed Put is beneficial
if you would like a lower monthly payment and are not concerned
about making an additional payment at the end of lease. |
$1
Buyout |
End of lease payment is
$1.00. |
Higher monthly payments.
Minimized tax benefit. |
You can own the equipment
for $1.00 at the end of the lease. |
Lease vs. Borrowing vs. Cash
|
|
eLease |
Borrowing |
Cash |
Interest Rates |
Fixed rate |
Can fluctuate with the
market |
None |
Speed of Approval |
Within two business days
after a bid has been selected for most amounts |
Days to weeks |
Instant |
Down Payment |
Typically, only 1 or 2
payments upfront which are applied to your balance |
Typically, 10-20% of the
total amount |
100% |
Financial Statements |
Generally unnecessary for
transactions under $150,000 |
Generally needed regardless
of amount requested |
None |
Tax Benefits |
Operating lease payments
can be 100% tax deductible when shown as an operating expense. |
Depreciation can be taken
over the useful life of the equipment. |
Depreciation can be taken
over the useful life of the equipment. |
Equipment Obsolescence |
Used as a hedge against
obsolescence. Why own when you can lease? |
You own the equipment. |
You own the equipment. |
Adapted from elease.com
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