7 Best Equipment Leasing Companies for 2026
The best equipment leasing company for your business will depend on your financing needs, budget, and qualifications. While every provider is different, the strongest options typically offer competitive rates, flexible repayment terms, reasonable fees, and customer-friendly qualification requirements.
To help you narrow down your choices, I reviewed equipment leasing companies that stand out in these areas. Below are the best equipment leasing companies based on factors like cost, flexibility, funding speed, and overall borrower experience:
I selected the best equipment leasing companies based on factors that would yield the best overall experience for borrowers. Criteria I considered included the following:
- Funding amount: I looked at each provider’s minimum and maximum funding amounts to determine whether it can support both small equipment needs and larger purchases.
- Rates, fees, and estimated APRs: I reviewed advertised rates, estimated APRs, and common fees to assess the total cost of leasing.
- Lease repayment term: I considered the available repayment terms and whether they offer enough flexibility for different cash flow needs.
- Flexibility of qualification requirements: I evaluated minimum credit score, time in business, and revenue requirements to determine how accessible each provider is.
- Minimum required down payment: I looked at whether borrowers need to provide money up front and how that affects affordability.
- Eligible equipment and industries served: I reviewed the types of equipment each company finances and the industries it commonly works with.
- Loan approval and funding speeds: I considered how quickly borrowers can apply, get approved, and access funds.
- Customer reviews and ratings: I reviewed borrower feedback and third-party ratings to assess overall customer experience.
My knowledge spans five years as a financial professional, working in various roles within the banking industry.
I am committed to delivering expertise-led answers to your small business questions and helping you understand all things business finance.
I ensure that the best answers I provide are based on accuracy, clarity, authority, objectivity, and accessibility. These are aligned with the Fit Small Business Editorial Policy.
Staff Writer – Finance at Fit Small Business
Best equipment leasing companies at a glance
Smarter Finance USA: Best overall for flexible qualifications, competitive rates, and customer service
Why I like Smarter Finance USA
Smarter Finance USA specializes in business vehicle and equipment financing, making it a strong option for companies that need funding for heavy machinery, commercial vehicles, or industry-specific equipment. It works with a wide range of equipment types, including bulldozers, backhoes, cranes, and excavators, and serves businesses in industries like healthcare, food service, and vending.
Because Smarter Finance USA is a broker with access to nearly 40 lending partners, it can give borrowers a better chance of finding financing with competitive rates and terms. That broader lender network is also helpful if your business has unique qualifications or needs a more flexible financing structure. Its strong mix of customer service and lending options is also why it made our list of the best business loan brokers.
While Smarter Finance USA does not list strict minimum qualification requirements, I generally recommend a credit score of at least 600 to improve your approval odds. Lower scores may still be considered, but approval can be more difficult unless you have other strengths, such as strong revenue or time in business.
To learn more or apply, visit the Smarter Finance USA website.
SBG Funding: Best for customized payment options
Why I like SBG Funding
SBG Funding stands out for its flexible repayment options, which can be tailored to fit your business’s cash flow. This may include adjusting your lease term or structuring payments in a way that better aligns with your revenue cycles. In some cases, qualified borrowers may also be able to defer payments for up to three months.
The lender can finance a wide range of business equipment across industries. Whether you’re replacing outdated equipment, expanding your vehicle fleet, or upgrading machinery, SBG Funding offers versatility in how funds can be used.
SBG Funding reports a high approval rate, but meeting the minimum requirements doesn’t guarantee funding. If your application has weaker areas, you may need to show compensating factors like strong financials or a solid credit profile.
To get started, visit the SBG Funding website. The application takes just a few minutes to complete and won’t impact your credit score.
Lendio: Best for multiple financing options
Why I like Lendio
Lendio gives you access to a large network of 75+ lenders, including several that offer equipment financing. Because each lender has different rates, terms, and qualification requirements, you may not know your exact options upfront. However, working with Lendio means you’ll have guidance in being matched with the provider best-suited for your needs. You can also save time, as a single application means you’ll be able to get considered for financing from multiple providers simultaneously.
Through Lendio, you can get equipment financing for nearly any industry. Items it has commonly financed for other businesses include vehicles, machinery, restaurant appliances, medical equipment, office furniture, and technology systems.
To get started, visit the Lendio website. The application takes about 15 minutes, and you’ll be connected with a funding specialist who can also walk you through other financing options, including lines of credit, SBA loans, accounts receivable financing, cash advances, and commercial mortgages.
National Funding: Best for personalized service
Why I like National Funding
National Funding stands out for its hands-on approach and strong customer service. It consistently earns high ratings and works closely with business owners to tailor financing solutions based on their specific needs and goals.
That said, its qualification requirements are more strict than those of some competitors. You’ll need a minimum credit score of 600, strong annual revenue, and at least two years in business. While rates can vary, the most competitive terms are typically reserved for borrowers with stronger financial profiles.
National Funding offers flexibility in the types of equipment it can finance, with few restrictions across industries. Common use cases include commercial vehicles, medical equipment, restaurant equipment, farm machinery, and construction equipment.
You can apply online in just a few minutes. After submitting your application, you’ll be paired with a funding specialist who will walk you through your options and help you choose the best financing structure for your business.
eLease: Best for borrowers with low credit scores
Why I like eLease
eLease is a strong option if you have a lower credit score or have had trouble qualifying with other lenders. While some providers advertise flexible credit requirements, eLease tends to offer more realistic approval opportunities for borrowers with less-than-perfect credit.
It can finance a wide range of business equipment across industries, although approval may depend on how easily the equipment can be resold. In some cases, you may be required to provide a personal guarantee based on the strength of your application.
One of eLease’s biggest advantages is its flexible underwriting. It works with startups, businesses that have gone through bankruptcy, companies recovering from financial challenges, and even business acquisitions, making it accessible to a broader range of borrowers.
To get started, visit the eLease website and fill out a short form to request a quote and learn the next steps for submitting a full application.
Crest Capital: Best easy application process for low financing amounts
Why I like Crest Capital
Crest Capital stands out for its simple application process, especially for businesses seeking $250,000 or less in financing. For smaller requests, it offers an application-only process with minimal paperwork, which can lead to faster decisions and, in many cases, same-day approval.
Because of this streamlined process, you typically won’t need to submit documents like tax returns or detailed financial statements. Instead, Crest Capital focuses on factors such as your industry, time in business, credit history, and the type of equipment you’re financing.
If you need more than $250,000, Crest Capital can still be a good option, but you should expect to provide more standard documentation. This may include tax returns, balance sheets, and profit and loss statements as part of the review process.
To apply, you can complete an online application through the Crest Capital website.
Triton Capital: Best for industry-specific equipment financing
Why I like Triton Capital
Triton Capital is a strong option if you need to finance new or used equipment for your business. It works with a wide range of industries, including construction, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and restaurants, making it a flexible choice for businesses with specialized equipment needs.
It also offers repayment terms of up to five years, with rates starting at 5.99% for qualified borrowers. Depending on your business and equipment type, you may be able to choose from monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, seasonal, or deferred payment schedules.
One of Triton Capital’s biggest advantages is its fast approval and funding timeline. Applications can be approved in as little as a few hours, and funding may be available within 24 to 48 hours after approval.
To get started, visit the Triton Capital website and submit an online application. You can review your financing options and work with a financing specialist to determine the best structure for your equipment purchase.
Types of equipment leasing
Equipment leasing can be structured in one of several ways, and you’re likely to encounter multiple options if you shop rates with different lenders. We cover this in greater detail in our guide on equipment leasing, but I’ve also summarized below the options you may come across.
- $1 buyout lease: Upon expiration of this lease type, you can choose to purchase the equipment for $1 and gain the benefits of equipment ownership.
- 10% option lease: When this type of lease ends, you’ll have the option to purchase the equipment for 10% of its value.
- 10% PUT lease: This is similar to a 10% option lease but instead requires you to purchase the equipment. In other words, you can’t simply return the equipment if you decide you do not want to buy it.
- Fair market value (FMV) lease: At the end of this type of lease, you can choose to purchase the equipment for its current assessed FMV.
- Terminal rental adjustment clause (TRAC) lease: This is usually used only for vehicles and can allow for flexibility in payments depending on what you choose the final lump-sum balloon payment to be.
How to choose an equipment leasing provider
Choosing the right equipment leasing company can help you secure affordable payments, faster funding, and terms that better fit your business needs. Before applying, compare lenders using the factors below.
- Know how much funding you need: Make sure the lender offers enough financing for your equipment purchase, whether you need a few thousand dollars or a much larger amount.
- Compare total costs: Look beyond the starting APR. Review fees, down payment requirements, repayment terms, and whether the lease has a buyout option.
- Check the qualification requirements: Compare minimum credit score, revenue, time in business, and personal guarantee requirements before applying.
- Match the lender to your equipment type: Some lenders specialize in certain industries or equipment, such as construction, healthcare, restaurant, or transportation equipment.
- Review repayment flexibility: Look for payment schedules that fit your cash flow, especially if your business has seasonal or uneven revenue.
- Consider funding speed: If you need equipment quickly, choose a provider with a fast application, approval, and funding process.
- Read customer reviews: Look for lenders with strong customer service, transparent terms, and a smooth application experience.
Alternatives to equipment leasing
If you’re looking for more competitive rates than what equipment leasing can offer, I recommend first heading over to our guide on how to get a small business loan, as we provide some recommendations on how you can get better rates and fees. Otherwise, you can also consider the following alternatives:
- Equipment loan: This allows you to retain possession and ownership of the equipment once the repayment period has ended. You can learn about the differences between a lease and a loan in our guide on equipment financing.
- Small Business Administration (SBA) loan: SBA loans typically require good credit and solid financials over the past two years. These loans can also take between one and two months to fund. A big benefit of these loans, however, is that they often come with highly competitive rates.
- Small business line of credit: A revolving line of credit that allows you to get funding on an as-needed basis. The flexibility of this type of loan also makes it a good option to cover unexpected expenses or cash flow shortages. You can see our list of the best small business lines of credit for some options.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Generally, yes. Since the equipment serves as collateral, equipment leasing is often easier to qualify for than other types of business financing. That lowers the lender’s risk since it can repossess the equipment if you default.
An equipment lease is usually the better choice if you only need the equipment for a limited time or plan to upgrade it regularly to avoid obsolescence. An equipment loan may be a better fit if you want to own the equipment outright and expect it to provide long-term value for your business. Our equipment financing guide breaks down the differences between leasing and buying in more detail.
Common equipment lease structures include a $1 buyout lease, a 10% option lease, and a fair market value lease. Each option can affect your monthly payment, end-of-lease purchase terms, and tax treatment differently. Our equipment leasing guide explains how each structure works and what to consider before choosing one.
Bottom line
Equipment leasing can be a practical way to get the equipment your business needs without the higher upfront cost of buying it outright. Depending on the terms of your lease, you may have the option to renew the lease, purchase the equipment, or return it once the term ends. The companies on our list stand out for their competitive rates, fast funding speeds, flexible qualifications, and strong customer service, making it easier to find an option that fits your business needs.
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