Before you make a decision to lease or purchase equipment or products (e.g., copier, computer, phone or software system), there are a number of factors to consider.

More than a financial decision.

Leasing equipment is almost always more expensive than purchasing the equipment, even if you have to borrow the money to buy the equipment.

For example, if the purchase price of equipment is $3,500, the lease is likely to be about 40% higher (simply multiply the per-month lease payment times the number of months, e.g., $130/month times 36 months is $4,680). This is a basic way to see the relative costs.  A more accurate calculation should include the cost of borrowing money and the option to buy at the end of the lease term.

Leasing companies make large profits on equipment leases.

Leasing companies are not pleasant, or even reasonable, to deal with. They want their money every month whether or not the equipment works. So, if you have problems with leased equipment, be prepared for a fight.

However, there are times when leasing equipment makes sense.

• Consider Cash flow.
  
  Purchasing equipment requires cash up front (this consumes cash that may be needed for other purposes). Leasing allows an affordable monthly payment (which is essentially financing by the leasing company).
  
  
• Consider Service/Repair Requirements.
  
  How complex is the equipment? How frequently is service likely to be required?
  
  I decided to lease my copier, although it was the more expensive option, because service was included in the lease price. I knew from prior experience that copiers with auto-feed and collating capabilities require service on an on-going basis, and that service calls are expensive.
  
  I thought that leasing would assure me the service that I needed, all included in the monthly fee.
  
  Even so, I had to fight the leasing company when my copier was out of service for two months because the repair people did not replace the feeder in a timely manner. I refused to pay for equipment that was not working. It was a battle. I won because the copier company interceded with the leasing company and my account was credited.
  
  If I had purchased the equipment, I would have had a warranty. I would still have had to make arrangements for repairs under the warranty, which can be difficult and expensive. So, availability of repair services is an important factor, depending on the size and location of the equipment. Checking on the repair history of your product may help you decide whether lease or purchase is the better option for you.
  
  
• Consider life of equipment.
  
  How likely is the equipment to become obsolete in a few years? The shorter the useful like of the equipment, the more attractive the leasing option. You can usually upgrade under a lease, replacing the old equipment.