"The most important contribution of the equipment leasing industry lies in providing access to capital," said Michael Fleming, the leader of the Equipment Leasing Association for the last 25 years. This summarizes the work done by equipment leasing companies in enabling the growth of other industries.

Role of an equipment leasing company

A company wishing to lease equipment goes to an equipment leasing company. An equipment leasing company buys equipment from the manufacturer or other sources and leases it to the customer for use, charging a fixed monthly fee for the duration of the lease. The customer does not have to pay huge down payment that would be required to finance the purchase of that equipment.

How to choose a leasing company?

There are so many equipment leasing companies that it is very difficult to find the right one for the desired equipment. Of course, the company offering the lowest fixed monthly rate is the best. But the requirements for the disclosure of business transaction in leasing are less than in the consumer market, so finding the best lease can be difficult.

First, contact the manufacturer of the equipment you wish to lease. Usually, manufacturers of the equipment will refer to a leasing company with which it does business. Get the quote from the leasing company and check it with the manufacturer. The manufacturer wishes to sell the equipment to you so he will check that you are not getting a raw deal. It is a good idea to get a quote from more than one leasing company. Then choose the one giving the overall best deal.

An equipment leasing company may be different in the sense that it might specialize in transportation equipment or medical equipment and even add free insurance coverage for the equipment. Also some companies might offer special packages for a new start-up, etc.

Conclusion

The role of equipment leasing companies in the everyday life of industries is well represented by this remark by Michael Fleming: ""If leasing were unavailable, many entities, from non-profit to private organizations, from tax-exempt entities to public companies, would not be able to acquire the equipment they need.