How Startups Can Obtain and Pay for Equipment
When you have a startup, you’ll need to think about purchasing equipment at some point. Whether it’s desktop computers, printers, laptops, or other items, tech can go a long way toward ensuring the success of your new company long-term. But you’ll have some tough decisions to make first.
Deciding Whether to Lease or Buy
There are several advantages of both buying and leasing, and the right choice for you depends on your finances and needs. Remember, some kinds of tech are outdated in a few years. For example, computers eventually are outdated, and better ones will be on the market. If you decide to lease, you’ll be able to keep getting better updates.
If you decide to purchase, you will have a bit of an upfront cost, so you’ll want to determine whether you have the funds to do so. At the same time, you don’t want to sink all your money into equipment and then be held back in other places. You should also decide if you can maintain the equipment yourself since leasing allows you to have that taken care of.
Getting Used vs. New Equipment
If you decide you want to purchase some of the equipment, you’ll want to determine whether you get it used or new. One of the benefits of used items is that you can often find them at a much lower price. You could end up saving hundreds of dollars. Still, if you want to get state-of-the-art tech, you likely will not find it used right away.
There are some risks if you decide to get used items, but you can reduce your risk with a few steps. First, you’ll want to look over the fine print to determine whether the things are coming with a warranty. It is also essential to see if this is transferred when purchasing the items since you could spend a lot on repairs later down the road. Make sure you find a reputable company when purchasing anything used. If you have a bad feeling about something, it is best to avoid it. And testing things out ahead of time can help you avoid making a wrong decision.
Paying for Equipment
No matter how you decide to obtain the items, the first step is to determine how you will pay for them. There are several ways to do so, but you might decide to start by putting some of your own funds into the company. For instance, you could try selling your life insurance policy, which will provide you with a lump sum. You can receive the cash while alive instead of having it go to your beneficiaries.
Another way of covering equipment costs is to get a loan. It can sometimes be challenging to get a traditional one from the bank. Still, there are many other options there today. Some companies specialize in offering loans to small businesses. They have these companies in mind and might be more willing to work with you to develop the best terms.
