Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing Equipment in the UK

As a business owner, you might lease equipment rather than purchase it outright. Leasing equipment, like machinery or vehicles, can be an effective way to save costs. However, equipment leasing has advantages and disadvantages, so it is helpful to be aware of these. This article will explain some advantages and disadvantages of leasing equipment for your business. 

Leasing Equipment

Leasing means you pay periodic payments to a lessor for the enjoyment and use of an asset. You may also refer to these payments as lease rentals or minimum lease payments. Once you no longer need to lease an asset, you will usually return it to the lessor unless you can purchase it.

Leasing equipment has several advantages and disadvantages for you as a business – we detail some below. 

Advantages   

Cashflow

Where you purchase your business items, you often have to pay a lot of money in one go. However, leasing means that you make smaller, regular payments, helping your cash flow over time. Also, knowing what costs to factor into your business can help with future budgeting. Leasing equipment also saves you from borrowing a large amount of money or using up all your business’ cash. The cash you do not use can be valuable elsewhere in your business.

Also, with leasing, you can still get your product almost immediately as if you were to purchase it, as there are few formalities before signing the lease agreement. 

Tax Benefits

When you lease assets for your business, you can claim on rental payments, which allows you to gain a tax benefit. However, you cannot lease products if your business is not VAT-registered. 

Avoid Ownership Risks

If you choose to lease, you avoid risks associated with ownership. Therefore, if the equipment breaks, it is a risk to the leasing company. Also, as the asset is not yours, you can record it as an off-balance sheet item. This means you can borrow money elsewhere if you need to.

High-Quality Goods

The option of leasing can give you access to better products than if you had bought them outright. The better the product quality often, the more expenses you incur. If you lease the product, you pay the cost over time, allowing you to choose a better product. 

Also, if you are in a position to purchase a business product up front, even where you can afford a good quality one, it could become outdated and hence obsolete. With leasing, you avoid the risk of obsolescence, as you do not keep the asset and can sometimes update it by adjusting the rental payment amounts.

Disadvantages

Lack of Ownership

Although leasing gives you access to a product in exchange for regular payments, you do not own the product at the end of the leasing period. This means you have no equity in it. 

However, if you had made those payments through another mechanism, such as a loan, you would own the asset eventually. Sometimes, the amount you pay throughout your lease agreement can be more than the costs if you purchase the item. This is a significant disadvantage of leasing.

Financial Disadvantages

Although leasing may have financial advantages, like regular monthly payments rather than one hefty upfront payment, it has some financial disadvantages, too. For example, the arrangement can burden your business for some time, and you may still have to make a large deposit upfront. If you can terminate the contract, you could incur early termination liability. Also, any equity shareholders in your business will see fewer returns as your lease payment reduces your net business income yet does not give you appreciation in value. 

In addition, when you lease a product for your business, you are responsible for the correct use of it and any maintenance costs you may incur. This is a disadvantage as considerable costs could arise for your business. 

Loan Opportunities

A disadvantage of leasing is that it may reduce your loan opportunities. This is because a long-term lease is seen as a debt to your business and might affect the lending options for your business. 

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Key Takeaways

If you decide to lease equipment for your business, ensure you weigh the advantages and the disadvantages. This will enable you to determine if it is the best option. For example, a benefit of leasing is that you do not need to pay a large sum of money all at once for the item. However, a disadvantage is that you may not wish to be part of a long payment agreement with early termination liabilities. 

If you need help understanding the advantages and disadvantages of equipment leasing, our experienced leasing lawyers can assist you as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on 0808 196 8584 or visit our membership page.