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Used Equipment Leasing: Does it make sense for a start-up?
I am trying to set up our office with equipment and furniture, but am severly cash strapped right now. Would leasing used equipment make sense from a cash flow perspective?
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2 Answers
When cash-strapped, cash is more kingly than ever. For office furniture etc., recent bankruptcies have filled used dealers with nearly-new items. Take advantage.
In the area of IT, look to SaaS or Software as a Service for all your application needs. Don't buy an email server but used a hosted Exchange or other e-mail provider. Those people often include group calendars etc. Need SFA or CRM? Hosted. Web server? Hosted. The more applications are hosted, the less horsepower each client computer needs. Don't buy full Microsoft Office packages for each user but download the free OpenOffice productivity suite - you'll get 98 percent the same product for zero dollars. The client computers you do need should be leased laptops so employees can work at home or on the road.
Alvin,
I would look into dealers that lease or sell used equipment and furnishings. Since the value of office equipment tends to drop sharply on the second hand market, you might find some great deals. Also check out Craigs List as many businesses trying to shed equipment for cash would be good places to get what you need. If what you are looking for are systems support, do some local networking to find smaller companies that provide package deals that offer all the online support functions at a reasonable, month-to-month, price. Try and stay away from any long term contracts that would cause financial problems should your business take longer to reach stability.
Steve Smith- Business Advisor
OneCoach of Saddleback Valley
http://www.BusinessCoachingThatWorks.com
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