Loans and leases against the equipment itself: trucks, machines, medical devices, kitchens and fixtures, new or used.
Equipment financing pays for a specific machine, vehicle or system and uses that equipment as the collateral, which is why it is among the most available forms of business capital, including for young companies and industries that banks avoid. Equipment lenders underwrite the asset as well as the borrower: its type, age, resale market and useful life all shape the amount, the term and the down payment, which commonly falls between ten and twenty percent.
The structure matters as much as the approval. A loan builds ownership from the first payment, while a lease can lower payments and keep equipment current, and Section 179 can change the after-tax cost of either, subject to limits and the owner's circumstances. These guides cover loans against leases, new against used, vendor programs, sale-leasebacks and the industry-specific equipment questions lenders ask.
Farm and Ranch Loans: Operating Lines, Equipment and Land Financing — Farm loans are usually three structures at once: an annual operating line for inputs, equipment loans or leases, and long-term land and facility financing. Who writes each one, what they weigh and what to bring.
Machine Shop and CNC Equipment Financing: Leases, Loans and Section 179 — CNC machine financing is one of the most routinely written loans in commercial lending because the machine is the collateral. Loan versus lease, who writes it, down payments, soft costs and the payback math a lender applies.
Catering Business Loans: Kitchens, Vehicles and Deposit-Driven Cash Flow — Catering business loans come from equipment and vehicle lenders, working-capital lines that bridge the deposit and the balance, factors that buy corporate invoices, and SBA lenders for a commissary or an acquisition.
Multi-Unit Franchise Financing: Funding Your Second, Third and Tenth Location — Multi-unit franchise financing is a sequence, not a loan: SBA 7(a) for the early units, portfolio lenders and equipment lines once there is a track record, and real estate for owned sites. The development agreement sets the pace.
Franchise Financing: SBA, Franchisor Programs and Equipment Loans — Franchise financing usually combines an SBA 7(a) loan for the initial investment, equipment financing for the buildout and the buyer's own cash as the equity injection. Franchisor programs and unsecured loans fill the gaps.
Brewery Financing: Tanks, Taprooms and Working Capital for Craft Breweries — Brewery financing comes from equipment lenders that fund the brewhouse and tanks against the steel, SBA 7(a) lenders that fund the taproom buildout, and lines and working-capital lenders that carry cans, kegs and hops contracts.
Coffee Shop Business Loans: Opening, Equipping and Expanding a Cafe — Coffee shop business loans come from SBA 7(a) lenders for a startup or buildout, equipment lenders for espresso machines and refrigeration, and revenue-based funders and private lines for an operating cafe.
Gas Station and Convenience Store Loans: Buying, Building and Upgrading — Gas station loans are written by SBA 7(a) and 504 lenders, conventional real estate lenders and equipment lenders. The site, the tanks, the fuel contract and the inside sales margin decide which one, and how fast.
Financing Ski, Marina and Outdoor Recreation Businesses — Marinas, ski areas, campgrounds and outfitters are financed mainly on their assets: real estate and SBA 504 loans for land and docks, equipment loans for lifts and fleets, seasonal lines for the pre-season build.
Seasonal Business Loans: Financing Through the Off-Season — A seasonal business can borrow: lines of credit drawn before the season, equipment loans that skip the winter, inventory financing timed to the build-up and SBA loans with seasonal schedules. The file has to show the whole year.
Fitness Equipment Financing: Leasing or Buying Gym Equipment — Gym equipment is the easiest part of a fitness business to finance because commercial-grade cardio and strength equipment secures the loan. Lease versus loan, used versus new, and an illustrative monthly cost against membership count.
Construction Equipment Financing: Excavators, Cranes, Trucks and Fleets — Construction equipment financing covers nearly every machine a contractor runs, new or used, through loans, leases and dealer programs, and it is usually the easiest contractor credit to place because the machine is the collateral.
Working Capital for Trucking Companies: Fuel, Repairs, Insurance and Growth — Working capital for a trucking company is a timing problem: fuel, drivers, repairs and insurance are paid weeks before the broker pays. Fuel cards, factoring, repair financing, premium financing and lines each close a different gap.
Why Lenders Call Trucking High-Risk, and How to Underwrite a Carrier — Lenders call trucking high-risk because fuel and spot rates move weekly, trucks break down and depreciate, insurance costs jump after a claim, and many new authorities fail early. Here is the file that answers each objection.
Owner-Operator Truck Financing: Buying Your First or Next Truck — Owner-operator truck financing is decided on four things: years holding a CDL, the age of your operating authority, your credit tier and cash down. How new and used trucks, first-time buyer programs and lease-purchase deals compare.
Trucking Business Loans: Funding Carriers and Owner-Operators — Trucking business loans come in five forms: truck and trailer financing, freight factoring, working capital for fuel and repairs, lines for small fleets and SBA 7(a) for carriers. Lenders check authority, insurance and safety first.
Restaurant Equipment Financing: Kitchens, Hoods, Refrigeration and POS — Restaurant equipment financing is the most available capital in the industry because the hood, the line and the walk-in secure the loan. What lenders fund, lease versus loan, soft costs and what a start-up needs.
Food Truck Financing: Buying, Building and Operating a Truck — Food truck financing is equipment financing on a titled vehicle. Lenders fund a finished truck or a custom build against the truck itself, and the first season's permits, commissary and working capital come from somewhere else.
Aesthetic Laser and Device Financing: Leasing or Buying Cosmetic Equipment — Aesthetic laser financing is equipment financing: manufacturer programs and independent lessors write lasers, IPL and body-contouring devices against the device itself. Lease or loan, and the treatments that cover a payment.
Med Spa Financing: Lasers, Buildout and Working Capital — Medical spa business loans are layered: equipment financing for lasers and devices, buildout and tenant improvement funding, working capital lines, and SBA 7(a) loans, which med spas are not excluded from. What each layer takes.
Why Lenders Decline Pre-Revenue Startups, and the Capital That Is Available — A business loan is denied to a startup with no revenue because a lender needs cash flow to repay it or collateral to recover it. Personal credit, equity, equipment and contracts substitute, in a sequence that leads to a real line.
Financing GPUs and Compute for AI Companies: Lease, Buy or Cloud — GPU financing for startups works like other equipment financing, with a shorter term and a closer look at resale value. Leases, loans, vendor programs and cloud commitments compared, with an illustrative structure.
Startup Business Loans: What Is Realistic With No Revenue History — Startup business loans with no revenue history come in a few forms: unsecured lines and term loans on the owner's credit, equipment financing, and SBA 7(a) loans for founders with experience and equity. Here is what each takes.
Financing Buses, Boats and Charter Equipment for Tourism Businesses — Buses, boats and charter equipment are the easiest capital in travel to arrange, because the lender can title the asset. How motorcoaches, vans, vessels and adventure gear are financed, and how to time payments to the season.
Call Center Business Loans: Funding Seats, Technology and Payroll — Call centers are funded mostly against their client contracts: receivables financing, payroll funding, equipment and technology leasing, and lines of credit for established operators. Here is what each lender underwrites.
Bitcoin Mining Equipment Financing: ASICs, Containers and Power Infrastructure — Bitcoin mining equipment financing exists through equipment lenders, lessors and private credit funds that price ASIC resale value, power cost and the hosting contract. What each asset class attracts and what the file must contain.
Nightclub Financing: Buildout, Sound and Lighting, and Working Capital — A nightclub is financed in layers: the landlord's allowance and FF&E financing for the room, leases for sound, lighting and video, revenue-based capital against weekend card volume, and the lease or building that sets the term.
Bar Business Loans: Funding a Bar When Banks Call It High-Risk — Banks code bars high-risk for cash, liquor liability and a reputation for closing early. Bars still borrow: SBA 7(a) where the lender allows, equipment, revenue-based capital and real estate. What a fundable bar file looks like.
Opening a Vape or Smoke Shop: Startup Financing Options That Work — A first vape or smoke shop is funded by the owner's equity and credit, fixture and equipment financing, and sometimes a seller. Licensing comes before capital, revenue-based money comes after opening, and store two is far easier.
Vape Shop Business Loans: What Is Available and Who Qualifies — Vape shops can borrow, mostly from non-bank sources: revenue-based financing, unsecured lines, equipment and fixture lenders. What each requires, the regulatory signals lenders check, and what to bring.
Gaming Equipment Financing: Slot Machines, Tables, Kiosks and Systems — Regulated gaming equipment is financed by manufacturer programs, participation leases and lessors licensed as distributors, with the regulator's consent to the lien. How leases and loans work, residual value, and the refresh cycle.
Buying the Building: Commercial Real Estate Loans for Adult Businesses — Private and non-bank commercial real estate lenders finance the buildings adult businesses operate from, at conservative loan-to-value with zoning and licensing as closing conditions. Purchase, refinance, cash-out and sale-leaseback.
Equipment Financing for Firearms Manufacturers and Gunsmiths — Firearms manufacturer financing starts with equipment: CNC, finishing lines and test equipment are generic, resellable collateral that equipment lenders whose policy allows firearms write on invoices.
Financing a Shooting Range: Construction, Equipment and Working Capital — Gun range financing is built in layers: SBA 504, 7(a) or conventional loans for the building, equipment lenders for ventilation and baffles, and working capital underwritten on memberships, retail and training.
CBD and Hemp Business Loans: Easier Than Cannabis, and Still Not Easy — CBD and hemp business loans exist from equipment lenders, factors, revenue-based funders and some banks, because the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the definition of marijuana. Product type and processor history decide the file.
Dispensary Financing: Real Estate, Buildout, Equipment and Working Capital — Dispensary financing comes in layers, not one loan: equity and investors for the license, equipment and fixture lenders for the buildout, private capital for inventory and working capital, and real estate structures later.
Cannabis Business Loans: What Financing Actually Exists in 2026 — Cannabis business loans exist, but almost none come from banks or the SBA. The realistic menu is specialty private lenders, equipment financing, real estate and sale-leasebacks, and revenue-based capital.
Franchise Financing: How to Fund a Franchise Purchase or Your Next Unit — Franchise financing usually pairs an SBA or bank loan for the initial investment with equipment financing for the build-out and working capital for the ramp-up. Here is how lenders judge franchisees, brands and multi-unit plans.
Commercial Truck and Fleet Financing: From Owner-Operator to Growing Carrier — Commercial truck financing ranges from a single used tractor for a new owner-operator to a pre-approved fleet line for a growing carrier. Here is how the structures work, what lenders check, and how to avoid the advance trap.
Business Loans With Under Two Years in Business: What Is Realistic — Business loans under 2 years in business exist, but the menu is narrower. Here is where each product's time-in-business line falls, what young companies can qualify for, what lenders accept in place of history, and what to build toward.
Financing Saltwater Disposal Wells and Midstream Assets — How saltwater disposal wells, gathering systems, and water midstream assets get financed — contract-backed underwriting, construction-to-perm loans, and lender fit explained.
How Equipment Financing Works With Section 179 — Financing equipment doesn't disqualify it from Section 179. See how loan and lease structures interact with the deduction, and what to ask your CPA before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How much down payment does equipment financing require?
Many equipment lenders commonly ask for roughly ten to twenty percent down, and some strong borrowers finance the full cost. Used, specialized or hard-to-resell equipment, a young business or weaker credit usually means a larger down payment. The exact amount depends on the lender and the asset.
Is it better to lease or finance equipment?
Financing builds ownership and suits equipment with a long useful life. A lease can lower the payment, simplify upgrades for equipment that ages quickly, and sometimes keeps the asset off the balance sheet. The tax treatment differs between the two, so the decision is worth reviewing with a tax adviser.
Can I finance used equipment?
Yes. Many lenders finance used equipment, often with shorter terms or a larger down payment, because the collateral has less remaining life and a narrower resale market. An inspection, an appraisal or a dealer invoice with the serial number helps the lender value it.