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A business with little or no time in business can sometimes finance equipment, often because the equipment itself secures the deal. Funders commonly look harder at the owner's personal credit, a down payment, and a written plan, and options are usually narrower than for an established business.
Why the equipment matters
Equipment lenders and lessors usually treat the machine as collateral — serial numbers, make and model, and resale depth all feed the file. A new unit with factory warranty and a dealer invoice often reads differently from a used asset bought at auction or from a private seller. Ask the seller or dealer for a written quote you can attach to an inquiry; our trusted financing partner reviews that document against their collateral policy.
Common routes a new owner can ask about
- Equipment loan or lease. Model payments with our equipment loan calculator and lease-vs-loan calculator using the quote you plan to sign — illustrative math only.
- Dealer or manufacturer programs. Ask whether the dealer offers in-house or captive financing on the quote; terms vary by brand and region.
- SBA microloans and 7(a) loans. SBA.gov describes microloans and 7(a) loans made by participating lenders — not by LoanHelp or the SBA directly.
- Used equipment from a private seller. See how to finance used equipment from a private seller for bill-of-sale, UCC search, and inspection steps before you send a deposit.
What to have ready
Gather documents before you submit an inquiry — our guides on what you need for business financing and credit score for business financing walk through typical files without asking for sensitive identifiers on LoanHelp.
- Written equipment quote from the dealer or seller
- Short plan for how the machine earns revenue — signed jobs, contracts, or pipeline you can describe
- Formation documents and EIN letter when your entity is already registered
- Business bank account with any revenue deposited so far
LoanHelp never asks for your Social Security number, date of birth, tax ID, or bank account numbers on this site.
Honest expectations
Personal guarantees and down payments show up often when the business itself has limited operating history. If a quoted payment looks out of reach, enter the same numbers in our compare financing offers tool to see total cash out on the structures you are weighing — educational math only.
Section 179 may apply to qualifying equipment placed in service per IRS Publication 946. LoanHelp does not estimate tax savings here — confirm rules and limits with your tax preparer before you elect a deduction.
By machine type
New owners often start with one revenue-driving asset. Browse payment math and lender questions for:
Dump truck financing · Food truck financing · Box truck financing · Skid steer financing
Related financing
Common questions
- Can a brand-new business get equipment financing?
- Sometimes — when the asset is identifiable collateral and your file includes a written equipment quote, a plan for how the machine earns revenue, and the business formation and banking records our trusted financing partner requests. A new business usually faces tighter review than a company with years of tax returns.
- Do I need a down payment for startup equipment financing?
- Many equipment files for newer businesses include an equity contribution or down payment, but amounts vary by partner, asset type, and credit. LoanHelp does not publish rate sheets or down-payment percentages — compare the cash each path requires on your specific quote.
- Does LoanHelp lend to startups directly?
- No. Our trusted financing partner sets eligibility, down payment, and term after reviewing your startup equipment inquiry.
- Can SBA loans help a startup buy equipment?
- SBA.gov describes microloans and 7(a) loans made by participating lenders for eligible small-business purposes that can include equipment, subject to program rules and lender underwriting. LoanHelp is not affiliated with the U.S. Small Business Administration.