Featured Offer: Get a free credit card reader from Square Payments
Sign up for a free account with Square and get a complimentary card reader, point-of-sale app, and a suite of tools to run a better, more profitable business. No monthly fees required.
Best Equipment Financing Companies For Small Business
If you need a loan to purchase business-related equipment, learn how equipment financing works and the top financing companies.
Chris has been writing about small business topics since 2003. He has been featured in Fox Business, ABC News, Yahoo Finance, GoBankingRates, Newsweek, BizJournals, and other publications. He has a Bachelor’s of Arts in English Writing Arts from SUNY Oswego, and a Masters of Science in Interactive Media from the University of Central Florida.
WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Chris MotolaChris has been writing about small business topics since 2003. He has been featured in Fox Business, ABC News, Yahoo Finance, GoBankingRates, Newsweek, BizJournals, and other publications. He has a Bachelor’s of Arts in English Writing Arts from SUNY Oswego, and a Masters of Science in Interactive Media from the University of Central Florida.
Expert Contributor
Last updated onUpdated
Erica has been writing about small business finance and technology since 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and specializes in researching and reviewing business software, financial products, and other topics to help small businesses manage and grow their operations. Her expertise has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, a graduate of Limestone University, and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
REVIEWED BY
Erica SeppalaErica has been writing about small business finance and technology since 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and specializes in researching and reviewing business software, financial products, and other topics to help small businesses manage and grow their operations. Her expertise has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, a graduate of Limestone University, and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
Editor & Senior Staff Writer
Our content reflects the editorial opinions of our experts. While our site makes money through referral partnerships, we only partner with companies that meet our standards for quality, as outlined in our independent rating and scoring system.
Equipment financing can be a great way to buy hard assets like vehicles, heavy machinery, and office tech for your company. However, equipment financing can be surprisingly complex, and finding an equipment financing company that offers exactly what you need can be challenging.
We’re here to make things a little easier with our list of top equipment financing companies. Whether you’re looking for a loan or lease, these funders can help you get the equipment you need at reasonable terms.
The name of the game with Lendio is “efficiency.” With a single application, you can apply to Lendio’s entire network of lenders, thereby greatly increasing the chance that you’ll not only be approved but receive multiple offers.
Lendio also offers higher borrowing limits than many of its competitors, making it a great choice for businesses that need to finance heavy equipment. Better yet, Lendio’s equipment loans don’t require a down payment.
Lendio Services
Lendio offers a wide variety of funding:
Equipment financing up to $5 million
Short-term loans up to $500,000
Term loans up to $2 million
Lines of credit up to $500,000
Merchant cash advances up to $200,000
SBA loans up to $5 million
Lendio Rates & Fees
For equipment financing, Lendio’s partners offer $5,000 to $5 million. Rates start at 7.5% with repayment terms of 1 – 10 years.
Lendio Eligibility Requirements
Each of Lendio’s partners has its own lending criteria. However, Lendio does provide some general guidelines for qualifying for equipment financing:
Credit score of 520
At least $50,000 in annual revenue
At least 0-12 months in business
Choose Lendio If ...
You want to easily compare offers with multiple lenders
You’re a new business, have a low credit score, or don’t otherwise meet the borrowing requirements of other lenders
Why We Chose SmartBiz For Best Equipment Financing
SBA 7(a) and 504 loans are great options for equipment financing, although the application and funding process can be lengthy and difficult. Fortunately, SmartBiz helps simplify the process.
SmartBiz works with a variety of banks and other SBA-approved lenders to help you get a low-cost, government-backed loan with a single application. SmartBiz helps you navigate the complex SBA loan process, so you can get funded faster and quicker than if you tackled the process alone.
SmartBiz Services
SmartBiz offers the following services:
SBA loans up to $500,000
Term loans up to $300,000
Business lines of credit up to $100,000
SmartBiz Rates & Fees
APR for SBA loans through a SmartBiz lender starts at 10.25%.
Repayment terms up to 10 years are available.
SmartBiz Eligibility Requirements
SmartBiz’s eligibility requirements are as follows:
2 years in business
Sufficient cash flow to support repayments
Minimum credit score of 650 for SBA loans
Choose SmartBiz If ...
You want a long-term, government-backed loan with competitive interest rates
Why We Chose US Business Funding For Best Equipment Financing
US Business Funding offers a few advantages to small businesses seeking equipment financing. The first is that it has programs for businesses that are as new as six months old; lenders typically reserve equipment financing for more mature businesses.
US Business Funding also offers a variety leasing buyout options, making it a strong choice for businesses looking to finance rapidly depreciating assets. Finally, US Business Funding offers refinancing options for equipment.
US Business Funding Services
US Business Funding offers the following services:
Equipment loans and leases up to $10 million
SBA loans up to $5 million
Term loans up to $10 million
US Business Funding Rates & Fees
Rates for US Business Funding equipment financing vary based on factors including credit score and term structure.
Repayment terms vary by product but can extend up to 72 months.
US Business Funding Eligibility Requirements
US Business Funding’s eligibility requirements for equipment financing are as follows:
6 months in business (2 years preferred)
Choose US Business Funding If ...
You want to choose between multiple equipment loan and lease options
You want a lender that has a quick and easy application process
Why We Chose AgDirect For Best Equipment Financing
AgDirect is a highly specialized equipment financing company that is, essentially, a convenient way to access and leverage the Farm Credit System to purchase, lease, or refinance farm equipment.
Rates tend to be better than what you’ll typically see with other lenders, so if you’re in the industry, AgDirect should be near the top of your list of options
AgDirect Services
AgDirect offers the following services:
Equipment loans and leases from $5,000 – $200,000+
Equipment auctions
AgDirect Rates & Fees
AgDirect rates and fees vary by term length and the amount financed. Rates range from 6.20% – 7.20% (fixed), 7.25% – 8.25% (variable).
A documentation fee, which includes origination fees and all other service fees and is capped at $300, is also charged.
AgDirect Eligibility Requirements
AgDirect doesn’t provide a lot of information about qualifications, but there is no minimum credit score to qualify.
Choose AgDirect If ....
You want to purchase, lease, or refinance farm equipment
You want to choose from multiple vendors, including dealerships, private parties, or auctions
Why We Chose Crest Capital For Best Equipment Financing
Crest Capital is one of the older equipment financing companies that is explicitly small business-focused. While many other non-bank funders only dabble in equipment financing, Crest Capital offers a comprehensive list of leasing options and buyout agreements.
Rates, while not the cheapest in the business, tend to be competitive.
Crest Capital Services
Crest Capital offers equipment leases up to $500,000.
Crest Capital Rates & Fees
Crest Capital’s APRs start at 5%. Leases require a first month down payment. There’s also a one-time administration fee of $275.
Crest Capital Eligibility Requirements
Crest Capital has the following borrower requirements:
2 years in business
Credit scores and other requirements are not disclosed.
Choose Crest Capital If ...
You’d prefer an equipment lease over an equipment loan
You want to choose from a variety of equipment leasing options and buyout agreements
Why We Chose National Funding For Best Equipment Financing
We like that National Business Funding works with businesses as young as 6 months old, provided they have decent credit and revenue. National Business Funding can provide you with up to $150K for new or preowned equipment.
Other benefits of working with National Business Funding are that the application process is quick and easy, there are few limitations on equipment, and flexible payment options are available.
National Funding Services
National Funding offers the following services:
Equipment loans and leases up to $150,000
Short-term loans up to $500,000
National Funding Rates & Fees
National Funding’s equipment financing APRs vary. There is also a 1% – 3% origination fee.
National Funding Eligibility Requirements
National Funding has the following borrower requirements:
6 months in business
600 credit score
Revenue of $250,000/year
Choose National Funding If ...
You operate a newer business and can’t find funding elsewhere
You want funding for new or preowned equipment with few limitations
Business Loan & Funding Products Review Methodology
We spend hours researching and evaluating each business loan and funding product that we review at Merchant Maverick, placing special emphasis on key characteristics to generate our ratings.
Weighted Rating Breakdown
Rates & Fees 20%
Services 20%
Eligibility Requirements 20%
Application 15%
Sales & Advertising Transparency 10%
Customer Service 10%
User Reviews 5%
When rating lenders and funding providers, we use a 31-point rubric that looks at rates and fees, services, eligibility requirements, application, sales and advertising transparency, customer service, and user reviews. We weigh each section differently to calculate the total star rating. This rubric is applied to traditional term loans, as well as short-term loans, start-up loans, lines of credit, online lending products, merchant cash advances, and equipment financing products.
Rates & Fees: 20% of the total star rating
Services: 20% of the total star rating
Eligibility Requirements: 20% of the total star rating
Application: 15% of the total star rating
Sales & Advertising Transparency: 10% of the total star rating
Customer Support: 5% of the total star rating
User Reviews: 5% of the total star rating
Each section is further broken down into granular, weighted subsections, in which we examine specific attributes like terms lengths, conditions of repayment, credit score and revenue requirements, ease of application, length of time to funding, the ethics involved in promoting the lending product, customer support, and the overall reputation of the lender or funding provider.
A secured term loan exclusively used to purchase hard assets that uses the asset being purchased as collateral.
Capital lease/equipment finance agreement/$1 buyout lease
A lease that transfers ownership of the leased equipment to the lessee. The equipment is almost always retained by the lessee at the end of the lease, making it an alternative to a loan.
Operating lease/FMV lease/true lease
A lease that serves as a rental agreement. At the end of the lease, the lessee has the option to purchase the equipment for an agreed-upon amount or return it to the lessor. Comes in a variety of buyout terms.
How To Choose The Best Equipment Finance Loan Or Lease
Equipment financing is one of the more complicated types of business financing. Before making your decision, consider:
Borrowing requirements: Make sure you meet all borrowing requirements, including time in business, annual revenue, and credit score. Most lenders want to see a credit score of 650+, although some lenders may accept lower scores.
Interest rates: Compare rates to make sure you’re getting the best deal for your situation. Ideally, rates for leases should be under 10% (for the most qualified borrowers), while loan rates are typically lower.
Repayment terms: Choose repayment terms that work for your business. Most equipment financing loans and leases are 5 years and require monthly payments.
Tax implications: Consider whether or not you want to permanently own the equipment you’re buying or, effectively, rent it with an operating lease and the tax implications that come with your choice.
Talk to your peers in your industry to get a sense of how they handle equipment acquisition and turnover to make sure getting the best return possible on your investment. And remember, many of the best business loans can be used for equipment purchases even if they aren’t explicitly for buying equipment.
Chris has been writing about small business topics since 2003. He has been featured in Fox Business, ABC News, Yahoo Finance, GoBankingRates, Newsweek, BizJournals, and other publications. He has a Bachelor’s of Arts in English Writing Arts from SUNY Oswego, and a Masters of Science in Interactive Media from the University of Central Florida.
View Chris Motola's professional experience on LinkedIn.
Let us know how well the content on this page solved your problem today. All feedback, positive or negative, helps us to improve the way we help small businesses.
Want to help shape the future of the Merchant Maverick website? Join our testing and survey community!
By providing feedback on how we can improve, you can earn gift cards and get early access to new features.
Get Started With A New Top Pick 🏆Get funding up to $3 million as fast as same-day from this loan marketplace.Our expert reviewers found BusinessLoans.com to have a quick and easy application process alongside excellent support and guidance for borrowers.Start A Quick ApplicationNo minimum credit score required
We Want Your Feedback!
Help us to improve by providing some feedback on your experience today.
The vendors that appear on this list were chosen by subject matter experts on the basis of product quality, wide usage and availability, and positive reputation.
Merchant Maverick’s ratings are editorial in nature, and are not aggregated from user reviews. Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services. The rating of this company or service is based on the author’s expert opinion and analysis of the product, and assessed and seconded by another subject matter expert on staff before publication. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone.
Get Started With A New Top Pick 🏆Get funding up to $3 million as fast as same-day from this loan marketplace.Our expert reviewers found BusinessLoans.com to have a quick and easy application process alongside excellent support and guidance for borrowers.Start A Quick ApplicationNo minimum credit score required