Leasing vs Buying Heavy Construction EquipmentMasood
10/09/2019
By Michael S.,
Buying Equipment When you buy something, it’s yours! You own it. That can be a big factor, and it allows you to customize or modify it to suit your needs. You can keep it for as long as you want, and sell it when you don’t need it or want to upgrade. And buying is ultimately cheaper over the long term. Interest rates are currently low, and you might even find a 0 percent financing offer. Leasing Equipment The industry is seeing a shift toward more leasing of equipment. There are several reasons for this. For me, a major reason is that you do not risk obsolescence. This is true now more than ever as computer technology is making equipment safer and more efficient each year. There is a lot more technology in today’s equipment than there was just five years ago. Another reason more contractors are leasing is the cost. Yes, leasing does cost more over the long run, but it is often structured in a more palatable way. There usually is no up-front cost, and some leasing companies offer flexible lease payments so you can pay more when the jobs are coming in and less during slower parts of the year.
When you are faced with this decision, my advice is to consider the pros and cons of each option carefully. Also, keep in mind not only the potential lower cost option of buying the equipment, but the fact that the equipment could be obsolete in a few years. Finally, be sure to talk to your accountant—we weren’t kidding about that. ![]()
Michael S.
Michael S. is a construction market analyst who has worked at Acuity over 26 years. He has been heavily involved in the construction industry since 2009. His love for construction started at a young age, which motivated him to get more involved in construction business at Acuity. In his spare time, Mike likes to be outside and enjoy nature by hiking and running. If he could pick any travel destination in the world it would be somewhere with trees, mountains, rivers, lakes, wildlife, and hiking trails.
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