Why You Can’t Get Equipment Financing With No Credit Check & What To Do Instead

What is no credit check financing? Is there such a thing as no credit check tractor financing (or no credit check financing for other large pieces of equipment)? Can I rent a computer with no credit check? All great questions (among others) that we see a lot of here at Merchant Maverick. In this post, we’re going to tackle the overarching matter of no credit equipment financing head-on.

Credit scores are a frequent roadblock for businesses when it comes to looking for financing in general, and equipment financing is no exception. Whether you’re concerned that you won’t qualify, or you just want to avoid hard pulls on your credit, you may be wondering if you can get equipment financing with no credit check.

Can I Get Equipment Financing With No Credit Check?

It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to get no credit check equipment financing. This applies both to equipment loans and to equipment leases.

Equipment loans are a type of secured installment loan that uses the equipment you’re financing as collateral. This means that, should you default, the lender can repossess the piece of equipment to cover their losses. Because they’re secured with an asset, these loans generally have better rates and terms than if you’d get if you took out a similar unsecured working capital loan. Equipment loans typically cover 80% to 85% of the equipment’s cost, although some do cover 100% of the cost.

Equipment leases are rental or sales agreements designed to help you own or rent a piece of equipment. Just as with equipment loans, the equipment itself serves as a kind of collateral. Leases fall under one of two broad categories. Capital leases are sales agreements that function similarly to loans in that they’re designed to give you ownership of the equipment. Operating leases, on the other hand, allow you to rent the equipment from the lessor. At the end of an operating lease, you generally have the option to buy or return the equipment.

Despite this security, both lenders and lessors almost always check credit as a part of their application process. A no credit check lease to own program is a rare find (if you can find one at all).

Why Equipment Lenders & Lessors Check Credit

Equipment lenders and lessors use credit checks to gauge how likely you are to pay back your loan. This has traditionally been the role of credit checks in all kinds of loans.

But shouldn’t the collateral reduce the need for a credit check? You’d think so, but in practice, your credit score still matters. Collecting and reselling the equipment takes time and labor. The equipment’s value will often depreciate over time.

In comparison, loans that don’t involve credit checks usually depend more on your business having a reliable cash flow and the lender’s ability to frequently and automatically extract payments. Equipment loans and leases typically last for years and involve monthly payments, making them a poorer fit for this lending model.

What To Do If You Need No Credit Check Equipment Financing

So what do you do if you aren’t able to get no credit check leasing or lending? You may be surprised to learn you have a number of options.

Check Your Credit In Advance

The idea of “good” and “bad” credit tends to be poorly and inconsistently defined. Many prospective borrowers may be ruling themselves out before they even get to the application process.

If your credit score is over 600, you don’t have bad credit. If it’s 620 or higher, there are lenders who will work with you. If it’s over 640, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a lender who will approve your application (so long as everything else checks out). If it’s over 670, you should have no problem at all.

Improve Your Credit Score

If you really need an equipment loan or lease and your credit score won’t allow it, you may want to make a project out of improving your score. As noted above, your score doesn’t need to be fantastic, just “good.”

Avoiding late payments, utilizing less of your credit, and opening a credit card account that you use responsibly can all help to heal your credit score. If you don’t have a credit score at all, consider getting a secured credit card. Check out our 5 Ways To Improve Your Personal Credit Score for some tips.

Avoid A Hard Pull On Your Credit

Some prospective borrowers looking for no credit check equipment financing don’t actually have bad credit. They even know they have good credit. However, they are afraid of the negative effect that a hard pull on their credit can have on their score. Soft pulls, on the other hand, have less of an impact.

If you’re concerned about what type of pull a lender or lessor might do when you apply for an equipment loan or lease, don’t be afraid to ask. You can also check our lender reviews. We make an effort to note the type of credit check a lender makes when you apply. Keep in mind that a single hard pull on your credit is unlikely to have a huge impact, so the danger comes more when you’ve recently applied for financing.

Use A Different Kind Of Loan To Get Your Equipment

You may be surprised to learn that you can finance equipment without getting an equipment loan or lease. In fact, there’s (usually) nothing stopping you from using a cashflow loan or a line of credit to buy equipment.

There are some downsides to this strategy in that you probably won’t have as long to pay off your loan as you would if you’d gotten equipment financing. Additionally, the equipment won’t be collateral, meaning there’s a higher chance you’ll have to sign a personal guarantee, which puts more of your assets at risk.

Get The Right Equipment Financing For Your Small Business

A credit check doesn’t necessarily have to mean the difference between getting the equipment you need and having to do without. With a little research, there’s a very good chance you can find a way to finance the equipment you’re looking for.