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Equipment finance & leasing
Making the decision to lease business equipment could have a noticeable effect on the success of the business, so it is a choice worth considering with an adviser – and even worth the time for established business owners to re-consider as well.

Leasing (or ‘asset finance’) is a way of purchasing equipment, machinery or other assets without having to pay the full amount upfront. You are essentially paying a regular amount to ‘rent’ the equipment from the ‘lessor.’

	Almost anything can be leased or purchased as long as the asset will be used more than 50% of the time to earn assessable income. This includes vehicles, computers, machinery and other types of equipment.
	Applicants for a lease can be Companies, Individuals, Trusts, Partnerships, or Independent Traders.
	You must have home equity and produce tax returns for the last two years for your business to be eligible.

You can lease almost anything to do with your business. Here are some common examples:

Vehicles (new & used)	Office equipment
Cars 4WD’s Utes Trucks Buses	Computers Laptops Photocopiers Fax machines Phone equipment
Farming machinery	Commercial equipment
Tractors Air seeders Boom sprays Harvesting equipment	Cranes Dump trucks Bobcats Excavators

Leasing advice
Leasing through a Count adviser can help you:

	Free-up capital – Why buy equipment and pay the entire cost upfront when it could take years to reach its full earning potential? We can organise leases with a favourable repayment structure tailored to your needs.
	Avoid inflation and currency movements – fixed repayments / rentals allow you to purchase equipment at today’s prices and precisely plan your future budget.
	Save time and money – we compare quotes (and ensure there are no hidden fees) and do all the paperwork for you so you can obtain finance within days.
	Pre-approved credit limits can also be arranged. This is simply pre-arranged finance that enables you to effectively plan for your future finance needs so you can shop around for the asset you require with peace of mind.
	Maximise your depreciation and tax deductions - Your Count adviser will look at your business's overall circumstances to structure an equipment finance option that will help you minimise your tax bill and maximise your profits.
	Claim back the entire GST quickly in your next BAS - Your Count adviser is ideally positioned to advise you on the most tax-advantaged way to claim back the GST on the asset, quickly and efficiently.

What are the advantages of leasing?

It allows you to acquire assets with minimal initial expenditures and a lease rarely requires a down payment. Leasing can be a convenient way to minimise equipment expenses paid by the partners of a joint venture. Your lease payments can usually be deducted as business expenses on your tax return, which can often reduce the net cost of the lease. Leases are usually easier to obtain and have more flexible terms than loans for buying equipment. This can be a significant advantage if you have bad credit or need to negotiate a longer payment plan to lower your costs. Equipment that is continuously outdated, like computers, can simply be replaced for new, higher-end equipment after your lease expires. Flexibility to keep your business up-to-date with advances in technology.

Talk to a Count adviser to discuss your business needs today.

As at 29 August, 2008