The Complete Commercial Equipment Resource

Commercial Machinery & Equipment Financing Guide

From a $15,000 CNC lathe to a $3,000,000 MRI machine. From wood chippers to combine harvesters. From forklifts to forestry mulchers. This guide covers financing options, manufacturer comparisons, licensing requirements, and income potential for every category of commercial equipment.

Explore Equipment Financing → Browse All Equipment
70+ Equipment Categories
500+ Manufacturers Covered
15 Industries

What This Guide Covers

  • Financing options for every equipment type
  • Manufacturer brand comparisons and specs
  • New vs used equipment analysis
  • Licensing and certification requirements
  • Income potential by equipment category
  • Section 179 tax deduction guidance
  • Credit requirements and approval tips
  • Startup and bad credit financing options

Equipment Categories

Browse by Industry

Select your equipment category to find detailed financing guides, manufacturer comparisons, and licensing requirements.

🏭

Manufacturing Equipment

CNC, laser, press brake, injection molding

Financing for CNC machining centers, laser cutters, press brakes, lathes, mills, robotic systems, injection molding machines, welding equipment, and industrial presses. Covers Haas, Mazak, DMG Mori, Trumpf, Amada, and 80+ manufacturers.

Haas Mazak Trumpf Amada DMG Mori Fanuc
🏗️

Construction Equipment

Excavators, dozers, cranes, lifts, compactors

Financing for excavators, bulldozers, skid steers, wheel loaders, motor graders, mobile cranes, aerial work platforms, compactors, asphalt pavers, concrete equipment, and trenchers. Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere, Volvo, and 50+ brands.

Caterpillar Komatsu John Deere Volvo Bobcat Case
🌾

Agricultural Equipment

Tractors, combines, planters, sprayers

Financing for tractors of all sizes, combine harvesters, planters, self-propelled sprayers, hay balers, tillage equipment, grain handling equipment, and irrigation systems. John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, Kubota, and 40+ brands.

John Deere Case IH New Holland Kubota Massey Fendt
🌲

Forestry & Tree Equipment

Chippers, grinders, mulchers, skidders

Financing for wood chippers, stump grinders, forestry mulchers, log skidders, feller bunchers, tree spades, aerial lifts for arborists, and logging equipment. Vermeer, Morbark, Bandit, Rayco, Tigercat, and 30+ brands.

Vermeer Morbark Bandit Rayco Tigercat Carlton
🏥

Medical & Dental Equipment

MRI, CT scanners, dental, surgical

Financing for MRI systems, CT scanners, X-ray equipment, ultrasound machines, surgical robots, dental chairs, dental imaging, ophthalmology equipment, sterilization equipment, and physical therapy equipment. Siemens, GE, Philips, and 50+ manufacturers.

Siemens GE Healthcare Philips A-dec Midmark Intuitive
🍽️

Food Processing Equipment

Ovens, mixers, packaging, refrigeration

Financing for commercial ovens, industrial mixers, packaging lines, slicers, walk-in coolers and freezers, commercial dishwashers, fryers, and complete food processing systems. Hobart, Vulcan, Blodgett, True, Manitowoc, and 40+ brands.

Hobart Vulcan True Manitowoc Blodgett Multivac
📦

Warehouse & Material Handling

Forklifts, conveyors, racking, ASRS

Financing for counterbalance forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, electric pallet jacks, conveyor systems, pallet racking, automated storage systems, and dock equipment. Toyota, Crown, Raymond, Hyster, Yale, and 30+ brands.

Toyota Crown Raymond Hyster Yale Dematic
🖨️

Printing & Signage Equipment

Wide format, digital presses, cutters

Financing for wide format printers, digital production presses, offset presses, screen printing equipment, UV flatbed printers, vinyl cutters, laminating equipment, and finishing equipment. HP, Epson, Heidelberg, Roland, Mimaki, and 35+ brands.

HP Latex Epson Roland Mimaki Heidelberg Xerox
🍳

Restaurant Equipment

Full kitchen packages, individual pieces

Financing for complete restaurant kitchen buildouts, individual commercial equipment, walk-in refrigeration, point-of-sale systems, and specialty food service equipment. Covers new restaurant startups and equipment replacement for existing operations.

Vulcan Hobart True Hoshizaki Manitowoc Frymaster
❄️

HVAC Equipment

Commercial units, chillers, boilers

Financing for commercial rooftop HVAC units, chillers, boilers, cooling towers, air handlers, variable refrigerant flow systems, and industrial ventilation. Carrier, Trane, York, Lennox, Daikin, and 30+ manufacturers.

Carrier Trane York Lennox Daikin Rheem
⛽

Oil & Gas Equipment

Pumps, compressors, separators, tanks

Financing for oilfield pumping units, gas compressors, separators, storage tanks, wellhead equipment, pipeline equipment, and surface production equipment. NOV, Weatherford, Baker Hughes, Halliburton, and 40+ manufacturers.

NOV Weatherford Lufkin Ariel Exterran Gardner Denver
⛏️

Mining Equipment

Drills, crushers, conveyors, haul trucks

Financing for surface and underground mining equipment including drilling rigs, jaw crushers, cone crushers, vibrating screens, conveyor systems, and mining haul trucks. Caterpillar, Komatsu, Sandvik, Atlas Copco, and 30+ brands.

Caterpillar Komatsu Sandvik Atlas Copco Metso Terex
💪

Gym & Fitness Equipment

Commercial cardio, strength, flooring

Financing for commercial gym equipment including treadmills, ellipticals, rowing machines, cable systems, free weight packages, and complete gym buildouts. Life Fitness, Precor, Technogym, Matrix, Cybex, and 25+ brands.

Life Fitness Precor Technogym Matrix Cybex Hammer Strength
👕

Laundry Equipment

Commercial washers, dryers, dry cleaning

Financing for commercial laundry equipment including industrial washers, dryers, dry cleaning machines, ironing equipment, and complete coin laundry or on-premise laundry system buildouts. Speed Queen, Maytag Commercial, Milnor, UniMac, and 20+ brands.

Speed Queen Milnor UniMac Huebsch Electrolux Pro Maytag Comm.
📋

All Equipment Directory

Complete index of every equipment type

Can't find your equipment category? The complete directory covers aviation ground equipment, car wash systems, telecommunications equipment, salon and spa equipment, dry cleaning, salon equipment, coin-operated equipment, and dozens more specialty categories.

500+ Brands 70+ Categories All Industries

Equipment Financing Process

How Commercial Equipment Financing Works

Equipment financing uses the equipment itself as collateral, making it more accessible than unsecured business loans. Here's the typical process.

1️⃣

Choose Your Equipment

Identify the equipment you need — new or used, specific model or general category. Get a quote or invoice from the dealer or seller. This determines your financing amount.

2️⃣

Apply for Financing

Submit a financing application with basic business information, bank statements, and the equipment invoice. Many lenders can approve in 24-48 hours for straightforward equipment deals.

3️⃣

Get Approved

Lender reviews your credit, business revenue, and the equipment's collateral value. Equipment with strong resale value often earns better rates. Approval amounts are typically 80-100% of equipment value.

4️⃣

Acquire Your Equipment

Lender pays the seller directly. You take delivery of the equipment and begin making monthly payments. The equipment generates revenue that services the loan. At payoff, you own it free and clear.

Full Financing Guide →

Most Searched Equipment

Popular Equipment Financing Guides

CNC Machine Financing

$20,000–$1,000,000+. Haas, Mazak, DMG Mori, Okuma, Fanuc. Rates, terms, and what lenders look for.

Excavator Financing

$80,000–$1,200,000. Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere, Hitachi, Volvo. Mini to large excavator financing.

Forklift Financing

$15,000–$100,000. Toyota, Crown, Raymond, Hyster, Yale. Electric, LP, and rough terrain forklifts.

Wood Chipper Financing

$20,000–$200,000. Vermeer, Morbark, Bandit, Dempster. Drum and disc chippers for tree services.

Tractor Financing

$15,000–$600,000. John Deere, Case IH, Kubota, New Holland, Massey Ferguson. All sizes and types.

Crane Financing

$100,000–$10,000,000+. Manitowoc, Liebherr, Grove, Tadano. Mobile, tower, and overhead cranes.

Laser Cutter Financing

$30,000–$1,500,000. Trumpf, Bystronic, Amada, ESAB, IPG Photonics. Fiber and CO2 laser systems.

Skid Steer Financing

$25,000–$90,000. Bobcat, Caterpillar, John Deere, Case, New Holland. Wheeled and track loaders.

Combine Financing

$250,000–$800,000+. John Deere S/X series, Case IH, New Holland CR. New and used combines.

MRI Machine Financing

$500,000–$3,500,000. Siemens, GE, Philips, Canon. New, refurbished, and used MRI systems.

Manufacturer Financing Guides

Financing by Brand

Looking to finance a specific manufacturer's equipment? Our brand-specific guides cover models, pricing, resale value, and lender preferences for each major brand.

Caterpillar

Construction, mining, ag equipment

John Deere

Ag, construction, lawn equipment

Komatsu

Construction and mining equipment

Bobcat

Compact equipment specialists

Haas CNC

US-made CNC machining centers

Trumpf

Laser and sheet metal fabrication

Vermeer

Tree, underground, surface equipment

Morbark

Wood processing equipment

Toyota Forklifts

#1 forklift brand worldwide

Hyster-Yale

Forklifts and material handling

Business Income Potential

What Businesses Earn With This Equipment

Equipment financing makes sense when the revenue the equipment generates exceeds the loan payment. Here's what different equipment-based businesses earn.

Tree Service — Entry $80K–$150K

Annual revenue, 1 crew

A single-truck tree service with a chipper and stump grinder. One crew, local residential work. Equipment investment: $150,000–$300,000.

Full income breakdown →
CNC Shop — Growing $300K–$800K

Annual revenue, 2-4 machines

Job shop with 2-4 CNC machining centers. Contract manufacturing for local industries. Equipment investment: $200,000–$800,000.

Full income breakdown →
Excavating — Established $500K–$2M+

Annual revenue, 2-5 machines

Site prep contractor with 2-5 excavators and dozers. Commercial and residential site work. Equipment investment: $500,000–$2,000,000.

Full income breakdown →

Licensing & Certification

What Licenses Do You Need?

Operating commercial equipment often requires specific licenses, certifications, and insurance. Here's what different industries require.

🌲 Tree Service

  • ISA Certified Arborist (recommended)
  • State contractor's license (varies by state)
  • General liability insurance ($1M+ minimum)
  • Workers' compensation insurance
  • Chipper/equipment operator training
  • OSHA 10/30 certification recommended

🏗️ Construction / Excavating

  • State contractor's license (most states require)
  • Heavy equipment operator certification
  • OSHA 10/30 required on many job sites
  • General liability insurance ($1M-$5M)
  • Commercial auto for equipment transport
  • Environmental compliance certifications

🏭 Manufacturing / CNC

  • Business license (state and local)
  • OSHA machine guarding compliance
  • Quality management (ISO 9001 for contracts)
  • Fire safety and sprinkler requirements
  • Environmental permits if applicable
  • Electrical permits for installation

🌾 Agriculture

  • Pesticide applicator license (if spraying)
  • Commercial driver's license (CDL) for large loads
  • USDA farm registration
  • Organic certification (if applicable)
  • Food safety certifications (GAP, GFSI)
  • State ag department registrations
Complete Licensing Guide →

Equipment Financing

0% Down Available on All Brands

Axiant Partners finances all major equipment brands — Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere, XCMG, SANY, and 200+ more. 0% down available for qualified borrowers regardless of brand. Terms 36–84 months.

  • ✓ 0% down for qualified borrowers
  • ✓ All brands including XCMG and SANY
  • ✓ New and used equipment
  • ✓ Startups and established businesses
  • ✓ Decision in 24–48 hours

Get a Free Quote in 60 Seconds

Common Questions

Equipment Financing FAQ

What is commercial equipment financing?
Commercial equipment financing is a loan or lease used to purchase business equipment. The equipment typically serves as collateral, which means you can often get approved with lower credit scores than unsecured business loans. Payments are spread over the useful life of the equipment — typically 2-7 years — while the equipment generates revenue to service the debt. At the end of the loan term, you own the equipment outright.
What credit score do I need to finance equipment?
Traditional bank lenders typically require 650+ credit scores. Equipment-specific lenders and alternative financing companies often work with scores as low as 500-550, especially when the equipment has strong collateral value. The condition, age, and resale value of the equipment matters as much as your credit. A newer Caterpillar excavator is much easier to finance than a 20-year-old specialty machine.
Should I finance new or used equipment?
Both have advantages. New equipment comes with manufacturer warranties, the latest technology, and typically better financing rates. Used equipment costs significantly less upfront and can be financed too, though rates may be slightly higher and loan terms shorter. For equipment that depreciates quickly (like technology), buying used often makes sense. For heavy iron that holds value (like Caterpillar or John Deere equipment), new financing with a long warranty is often worth the premium.
What is the difference between an equipment loan and a lease?
With an equipment loan, you own the equipment from day one and build equity in it. Monthly payments may be slightly higher, but you own a depreciating asset that can be sold or used as collateral. With a lease, you use the equipment for a set term and may have an option to purchase at the end. Lease payments are often lower, and you can upgrade to newer equipment more easily. Loans make more sense for long-lasting equipment; leases work better for technology that becomes obsolete quickly.
Can new businesses or startups finance equipment?
Yes, though it's harder than for established businesses. Most traditional lenders want 1-2 years of business history. However, equipment financing companies that specialize in startup situations exist. They typically require stronger personal credit (680+), a larger down payment (20-30%), and may require additional collateral or a personal guarantee. The equipment's value as collateral often compensates for the lack of business history.
What is Section 179 and how does it apply to equipment financing?
Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment in the year it's purchased, rather than depreciating it over several years. For 2024, the deduction limit is $1.22 million. This means you can finance equipment, receive the tax deduction upfront, and use the tax savings to help make payments. Many equipment purchases qualify, making financing even more attractive on an after-tax basis. Consult your tax advisor for specifics.
How long does equipment financing approval take?
Simple equipment deals under $150,000 can often be approved in 24-48 hours with basic documentation. Larger transactions, used equipment, or complex credit situations take longer — typically 3-7 business days. Having your last 3-6 months of bank statements, a copy of your driver's license, and an equipment invoice or quote ready speeds the process significantly.
How much down payment is required for equipment financing?
Many equipment financing programs offer 0% down — 100% financing — for qualified borrowers with strong credit and established businesses. More commonly, lenders ask for 10-20% down. The down payment requirement depends on your credit score, time in business, the equipment's collateral value, and the lender's program. Startups or lower credit situations typically require 20-30% down.

Ready to Finance Your Equipment?

Whether it's a $15,000 wood chipper or a $2,000,000 CNC machining center, explore financing options for your specific equipment. No obligation to see what you qualify for.

Explore Equipment Financing → 📞 Call (919) 907-2611

Informational resource only. Not an offer of credit or guarantee of approval. Terms vary by lender and equipment type.