Canadian Business Financing - 7 Park Avenue Financial: operating lease vs capital lease

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In 2004 I founded 7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL. At that time I had spent all my working life, at that time - Over 30 years in Commercial credit and lending and Canadian business financing. I believe the commercial lending landscape has drastically changed in Canada. I believe a void exists for business owners and finance managers for companies, large and small who want service, creativity, and alternatives.

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Friday, November 1, 2013

In Equipment Financing Here’s One Term You Need To Understand : Operating Lease Vs Capital Lease

Figured Out What’s Best ? Operating Or Capital Lease Equipment Financing

OVERVIEW – Information on the types of leases available to Canadian business owners, When it comes to equipment financing in Canada the owner/manager must know the difference between operating lease vs. capital lease

In equipment financing in Canada does the term ' operating lease vs. capital lease ’ mean something to you when it comes to financing assets? It should... so let's dig in.

That term specifically revolves around the type lease that you choose when you're acquiring fixed assets - i.e. computers, machinery, shop floor equipment, rolling stock, etc. Even your corporate jet applies here! Well, we can wish, can't we?

Knowing the differences in these two terms makes or breaks the ultimate finance strategy you choose when acquiring assets. And you thought it was all about the interest rate!

The type of lease you choose affects the ultimate profitability of your lease company, and that should be important as that profit is generated from dealing with your company.

Operating leases are all about ' using assets’... not owning them. So a significant part of the 'OPERATING LEASE' is the value of the equipment at the end of the lease - as in how it is recorded and how it is realized.

Clients are sometimes surprised at the low monthly payments in an operating lease - they shouldn’t be, as its all part of a waiting game that kicks into place at the end of the lease term. That’s when your lease document should provide you with 3 critical options on the asset - renew, return, purchase.

There is in fact a 4th option on occasion and that is ' upgrade' as many assets lend themselves to being upgraded to keep technology and use up to date. So that low payment we have just mentioned is simply because the lessors profit is going to come at the end of the lease.

Operating leases are perfect legal and widely in use. They have though lost some of their luster due to international accounting standards which has affect how they are recorded on your balance sheet. In past years they were a great way of hiding debt on the balance sheet unless the reader took the time to peruse footnotes in financials – which most people don’t/didn’t!

The capital lease on the other hand is all about owning assets... So profit generated by the lease company comes solely from the interest /finance rate on your transaction. So your capital ' lease to own' is all about fixed monthly payments.

However, capital leases can be structured in many ways to seem like a lower monthly payment - one of those strategies employed by both you and or your lease firm partner is creating a transaction that has a bargain purchase option - it’s in effect a balloon payment due at the end of the lease. Therefore monthly payments are low and the ' balloon payment' at the end of the lease term can be refinanced.

Many clients we meet are overwhelmed

by some of the confusion in terms around equipment financing. The reality though is that there are only 5 parts of any lease - the term, the rate, the payment , the end of term , and of course the $ value of your transaction. If you know 4 of those you can do a really good job at exactly or closely guessing the other components.

Don't get caught in the ' lease terminology' game. If you're financing assets seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor with a track record of success in financing the assets you need to keep your firm profitable, successful, and growing.

Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
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7 Park Avenue Financial = Equipment Financing Expertise

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