Choose the ownership outcome first
With a loan-funded purchase, your business generally buys the asset and the lender takes security. Under a lease, the lessor generally owns it during the agreement. Rental or hire may suit a shorter period of use, but the minimum commitment and return conditions matter.
| Your priority | What to compare |
|---|
| Keep the asset for its useful working life | Cash purchase versus a loan: initial cash, all payments, fees, operating costs and eventual sale. |
| Use capacity while demand is uncertain | Hire, rental or outsourcing: availability, minimum period, included servicing and exit charges. |
| Replace or upgrade regularly | Lease or purchase terms: ownership, residual or balloon, payout and replacement costs. |
| Buy used or privately | Condition, seller and security evidence, repairs, payment deadline and remaining useful life. |
Swipe or scroll the table sideways to see every column.
The product name alone does not settle who maintains the asset, what is secured or what happens at the end. Compare the actual agreements on those points.
Three amounts to bring into the conversation
Suppose an asset costs $80,000, the business contributes a $10,000 deposit and $4,000 of installation is paid separately. The proposed borrowing is $70,000 before fees or extras; the immediate cash requirement is $14,000. Operating cash needed before the asset earns is a further decision. These are illustrative budget figures, not an offer.
- Purchase and setup budget: the complete amount needed to make the asset usable.
- Amount financed: the items a provider actually agrees to fund, after the contribution.
- Cash contribution and reserve: deposits, separately paid items and cash left for the business.
How Atlas helps you assess the purchase
Tell us whether this is a replacement, extra capacity or a new service. We can help organise the quote, consider suitable funding categories and compare the repayment and ownership questions that matter to your business.
Your next step is a focused enquiry with the asset, budget and required timing. From there, the discussion can identify missing information and the options to investigate. A lender decides whether to offer finance and on what terms.
What to prepare
- Itemised supplier quote, asset description and delivery/payment dates
- Business use, current workload and a slower-use scenario
- Deposit, trade-in value and any existing finance payout
- Setup costs, operating cash and proposed end-of-term plan
Continue your preparation ↗Common questions
What assets can be considered?
Start with the specific vehicle, machine or equipment and its intended business use. New and used purchases raise different questions, and providers decide which assets and sellers they accept. The pages below help you prepare the relevant detail.
How much deposit will I need?
There is no single deposit rule to apply to every asset or business. Establish the requested contribution and separately paid costs together; a low deposit does not necessarily mean a low upfront cash requirement.
Does a low repayment mean the finance is cheaper?
Not necessarily. Compare the term, fees and final obligation as well as the regular payment. A balloon can leave a substantial amount due after the last regular repayment.
Can Atlas help before I have chosen the equipment?
Yes. Explain the work you want to do, the approximate budget and when you need the capacity. We can help you identify the information to obtain from suppliers before comparing funding options.
