One of the concerns in business operation is to provide vehicles for operational use. The businesses that needs vehicles may choose to get a vehicle by outright purchase or through leasing. The former is like buying a vehicle in cash or in installment arrangements and the intention is to fully own the vehicle while the latter is leasing  arrangement where the vehicle company still owns the vehicle but is offered to the client as leased item. The client then pays a deposit and leasing fee in a regular basis. Usually the arrangement of lease is flexible with the customer’s paying capacity. Each model or brand of vans has leasing price. What matters is that you don’t need to raise high capital for vehicle purchase. With van leasing, you just need to raise required deposit and ensure that you get regular earnings to compensate the leasing fees to be paid regularly.

 

The major disadvantage of van leasing is that you have no ownership of the vehicle. As such, you are most likely subject to conditions and terms of usage for the vans. In cases of breakdowns, you are obliged with policies governing breakdown cause by one of your business operations. Despite your effort and money put into the repair, you still don’t own the vehicle. Second disadvantage is that you get to lease used vans. Used vans may not be in good driving condition anymore so it would be detrimental to your business operations.

 

However, the advantage of van leasing outweighs the disadvantages. First, your payment option is flexible with your terms. Whilst owning brand new vans for your business requires big capital, you can be have a vehicles and be operational already with van leasing.  You don’t have to wait until you get big amount to buy vehicles for the business since van leasing only requires deposits and leasing fee paid on a regular basis. There are also arrangements with van leasing companies that suit your current capacity to pay. Second advantage is that van leasing may be using used vans, but these are refurbished models that are definitely useable to new clients. Van leasing companies usually provide used vans to clients since these are vehicles that have previously been leased by other clients. The remodeling of the used vans makes it look like the new user is getting brand new vans for lease. Different models, brands, and sizes of vans has different leasing price so there is definitely one that suits the needs for your business. If your business is into stocks delivery for example, you can find vans that match the distance of your commercial deliveries, the capacity of the stocks usually carried in the van, and the period that you want to use the van for such a routine. Third advantage is that since you don’t own it, you can definitely use another new vehicle if you need to replace the existing one. Vans, just like any vehicles, depreciate. So before it cannot be used anymore, you can readily return it and use another vehicle for continuous business use. If you own the vehicle, you will have problem disposing it to buy a new one or you may be spending money for too much maintenance just to make the depreciated vehicle continuously useable.

 

There are many companies for van leasing to choose from. You just have to check their services and their period of expertise in dealing with commercial vehicle leasing so you’ll get maximum service for your business needs.

 

 



Passive Income

by Tom Williams

Savvy business owners who choose to lease business equipment can save themselves hard-earned cash, accumulated debt, and industrial-strength headaches by optimizing their relationships with lending entities.

Customers who are looking to lease equipment for their business most frequently seek financing from one of two sources – traditional bank financing programs, or specialized leasing companies like eLease. The following are four key differences to consider when comparing these programs.

1. Interest Rate Fluctuations

In a healthy economy, banks often choose to offer equipment leasing as a service for their business clients. In this way, banks foster economic growth in local communities by supporting expansion in growing industries. However, banks are not in the business of taking risks, and because of this, their programs are subject to change as current economic conditions falter.

An example of this is interest rates. Consistent with their conservative risk philosophy, banks do not entertain risk with interest rates. Typically, bank lines fluctuate on the Prime Rate — as the Federal Reserve raises or lowers the rate, so will your interest payment increase or decrease. These economic fluctuations can have financial impact on your business outside of your control.

The opposite is true for leasing companies, because they take 100% of the interest rate risk. Therefore, when industry rates decrease or increase, your lease payment stays the same. The payment on a lease will never change during its term regardless of interest rates and inflation. You know what you are getting from day one.

 

2. Impact on Additional Financing

The way that your financing source reports your leased business equipment with the Secretary of State can directly impact your ability to obtain additional financing for your business.

When your business equipment is financed by a third-party leasing company, that company files a UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) which specifies to the Secretary of State where the customer is located, and that the leased equipment is owned by the leasing company. For example, if your business makes the decision to lease an oven for your new restaurant, a leasing company would designate the oven itself as collateral.

In comparison, all property owned by the business is stated when a bank finances the lease. A Blanket UCC is usually filed, which includes the equipment as well as all assets. Therefore, not only would the oven for your new restaurant be considered collateral, but so would your entire business.

When a blanket UCC is in place, other banks will not want to provide overlapping financing with another lender. If, however, your financing is provided through a third-party leasing company, other lenders will see that only equipment is under consideration, and be favorable to loan financing because they will be able to Blanket UCC the rest of the business.



3. Access to Capital

Both banks and leasing companies evaluate exposure (the total amount of debt taken on by a company) when considering whether to offer financing. The difference in the way these entities look at total debt can have significant influence on their decision to finance your equipment, as well as other financed assets.

In most cases, banks have a borrowing threshold with a borrower. This may include the line of credit on the home, auto loans, credit cards, business debts and personal mortgage. If you get into an amount of debt that the bank sees as a risk, they may choose to end business with your company. Or, they may refuse you financing due to how much debt your already have.

Leasing companies deal with the same issue, but only consider the equipment financed for that customer. So, by using a third party leasing company, you can retain access to capital with your banker without tying up credit lines. A business can never have too much access to capital!



4. Flexibility in Terms

Most banks are highly structured and cautious in their leasing terms. Frequently, they require 10% to 20% down to finance equipment for a business, with a requirement of security such as a minimum amount in a CD, or reserve in a checking account.

While the primary objective 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. It is not uncommon to terms that include seasonal payments, or no payments for 90 to 180 days.

 

In summary, a good rule of thumb is to use your bank for working capital, and equipment finance companies to finance equipment.

 

 



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