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Lease or Buy – Which Way for Office Equipment Procurement? (Page 1 of 2)

On the subject of how best to acquire office equipment and supplies, for the small to medium sized business enterprise the first step must always be to contact a financial adviser to discuss how best to make the acquisition. In this summary, however, I offer some pointers to outline possible routes to a cost-effctive acquisition. Outright purchase or leasing are broadly speaking, the usual choices, with hire-purchase schemes making a third route to explore.

Purchasing an asset is nearly always the most convenient method of acquisition. However, in some cases, especially for some high-end multifunctional office equipment purchases, purchasing may be seen as impossible because of lack of funds in the current finacial year, or in any case a high cost which discourages those all-important upgrades toward a more efficient, productive business.

However, many companies have found that Leasing becomes a favourable option, if necessary by funding from an agreed budget deficit against under spending in future years. Several options now exist where leasing can provide the best overall value for money.

To expand on this, some different ways of obtaining higher-cost equipment are outlined below. This is a brief summary only, designed to assist with conversations with suppliers or with internal finance departments.

Office Equipment Leasing vs. Hiring or Rental

The Equipment Leasing Association defines a lease as “A contract between lessor and lessee for hire of a specific asset selected from a manufacturer or vendor of such assets by lessee”. In this scenario, ownership stays with the lessor. The lessee has possession and use of the goods over a period on payment of the specified rentals.

This system is different from hiring (including rental and contract hire). Hiring requires the user to select from specialised stock already held by the hiring organisation which usually charges a fixed tariff. Leasing enables the user to select the goods from a manufacturer or other supplier of the required goods.

A lease is negotiated usually on terms specific to the deal, with the lessor. The lessor acquires the goods chosen by the lessee. Uniquely, this can allow the lessee to use the goods by making payments out of revenue. Office equipment (including photocopiers and fax machines) and furniture, cars and commercial vehicles, computers, machine tools, laboratory equipment and contractors’ plant are allcandidates for leasing.

Some Advantages of Leasing:

– All costs are fixed in advance, so budgeting is exact – Goods cannot be wihdrawn once the contract is signed (as long as agreed conditions are complied with. – Removes the need to tie up capital. – Allowances, depreciation and other calculations are not required – Leasing is simply about the rental cost. – Leasing releases capital which may not be available elsewhere. – Leasing is inflation-proof as payments are made out of future funds, in fixed money terms. Hence real costs fall against any inflation. – Possibility of immediate use of cost-saving equipment.

Common Signs of Loan Modification Scams and How to Avoid Them

For those considering loan modification, times have likely been better. Generally, people only seek information on modifying their loans after having some difficulty keeping up with their mortgage payments and other bills. They see this as an option to stay in their homes and continue getting their finances back on track.

Unfortunately, some loan modification companies are preying on these individuals with false promises and guarantees that are too good to be true. Since the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP, began many opportunistic individuals, including some loan modification attorneys, have attempted to profit.

Here are some warning signs that one of these loan modification companies is attempting to add you to their list of victims.

1) They ask for upfront payments. This is one of the most important flags because of its predatory nature, and also because it is illegal to ask for money before their work on the modification has begun. Also, you should never make your monthly payments to the loan modification attorney or any other third party. Your loan is still serviced by the lender and that’s where your payments should be sent.

2) They offer results that are too good. While the purpose of the program is to reduce your monthly payments to an affordable amount, either through spreading out the repayment period, reducing interest rates or reducing the principal, if the offer sounds exceptional then be wary. Any “guarantee” or “promise”, whether it is an end to foreclosure proceedings or even acceptance into the program, should be approached with caution.

3) They can’t, or won’t, explain the services they are going to do. While the loan modification process can sometimes seem difficult or tedious for homeowners, the process is relatively straightforward. Your lender supplies a packet that must be filled out, generally including an authorization to release tax information, proof of income and bank statements, as well as an explanation of why you are having difficulty making the payments. There is no mystery or secret to the process and any reputable loan modification company should be able to explain the process to you.

Loan modifications can be confusing to many people but guard yourself against potential scams by watching out for upfront payments, too-good-to-be-true results, and mysterious methods.