Education
8 Jul 2025
Need to buy business equipment but aren’t sure whether to lease or purchase it? This decision could save or cost your business thousands of pounds, so it's worth getting it right.
Need to buy business equipment but aren’t sure whether to lease or purchase it? This decision could save or cost your business thousands of pounds, so it's worth getting it right.
There are lots of ways to buy business equipment, and choosing the right method could save or cost your business thousands of pounds.
Two of the most popular ways are hire purchase and finance lease. These two financing options might seem similar, but they work very differently when it comes to ownership, costs, and tax benefits.
Whether you’re looking to buy your first fleet of vans, plan to replace important machinery, or want to optimise your company’s balance sheet, understanding the suitability and consequences of choosing between finance lease and hire purchase is incredibly important.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know to make the right choice for your business.
Key points:
Hire purchase lets you own the asset at the end of the agreement and claim capital allowances. Monthly payments are typically higher, but you build equity in the equipment
Finance lease lets you use equipment with lower monthly payments and minimal upfront costs. You don’t automatically own the asset but get more flexibility to upgrade or return it
Funding Options by Tide can help when optimisation of working capital isn’t enough, offering access to business finance up to £20 million
Hire purchase is essentially buying equipment in instalments. You pay a deposit (typically around 10-20% of the asset’s value), then make fixed monthly payments that cover the cost, interest, and any fees.
The asset(s) will be owned by the lender until you make the final payment, at which point ownership can be transferred to you in exchange for a small ‘option to purchase’ fee.
When you sign the agreement, the equipment and the loan both show up in your business accounts. This allows you to reduce your business tax bill by:
Claiming tax relief for equipment losing value over time (depreciation)
Claiming tax relief for the interest you pay on the loan
For example, if you buy a £100,000 CNC machine on hire purchase with a 10% deposit, your accounts immediately show a £100,000 asset and £90,000 liability. In the first year, you might claim £20,000 in depreciation and £5,000 in interest deductions – reducing your taxable profit by £25,000.
Budgeting is straightforward, since the monthly payments are fixed throughout the term (usually several years). And once you’ve made the final payment, you can keep, modify, or sell the asset.
If you want to own your equipment long-term, hire purchase could be the right choice. It can be particularly suitable if you need long-lasting assets like machinery, commercial vehicles, or property improvements.
It can also work well if your business has steady cash flow and can handle slightly higher monthly payments in exchange for eventual ownership. If your business makes the most of capital allowances (i.e. the tax relief you get on business assets), hire purchase can often provide more attractive tax advantages than leasing.
A finance lease lets your business use equipment without owning it. You simply make monthly payments while the finance company will own the equipment.
At the end of the lease, you can usually:
Return the equipment
Extend the lease
Buy the equipment (if the finance company allows it)
Finance leases appear on your business accounts as both an asset you use and a debt you owe. This is similar to hire purchase, but you don’t become the legal owner unless you buy the asset at the end.
The monthly payments are often lower than hire purchase because you’re not paying for the full value of the asset upfront – just the depreciation and the finance company’s profit. This can help free up valuable cash flow.
Finance lease agreements often include maintenance, insurance, and sometimes even replacement services. So, for example, if your leased van breaks down, the leasing company might handle the repairs and, potentially, a temporary replacement.
Finance leases can work particularly well for businesses that prioritise cash flow over ownership. They’re also ideal if you operate in a fast-changing sector where equipment becomes outdated quickly (eg IT equipment, manufacturing machinery, or even commercial vehicles where you want the latest emissions standards).
Another reason to consider a finance lease is if you prefer someone else handling the maintenance of your equipment. And if you’re not sure about your long-term equipment plans, a finance lease can give you more options to consider at the end of the term.
The main differences come down to ownership, costs, and what happens when the agreement ends.
Ownership structure:
Hire purchase: You become the legal owner of the asset after making all the payments (including any final fee)
Finance lease: The leasing company remains the legal owner of the asset. You usually have the option to buy the asset at the end, but this isn’t automatic
Monthly payments:
Hire purchase: Monthly costs are often higher, since payments cover the full cost of the asset plus interest and any fees
Finance lease: Monthly costs are often lower, since payments mainly cover the asset’s depreciation and the finance company’s profit margin. But you won’t automatically own the asset at the end of the term
End-of-term flexibility:
Hire purchase: You own the asset once you finish paying
Finance lease: You can usually choose to return the asset, extend the lease, or (sometimes) buy it at the end of the term. This flexibility can be useful if your needs change or if you want to upgrade to newer equipment
Your choice should align with your cash flow needs, business stage, and long-term equipment strategy.
If you’re a startup or growing business, cash flow is likely to be your biggest concern. Since finance leases typically have lower monthly payments, this can be a good option to help keep more cash on hand. But consider that some investors prefer to see businesses that own their equipment (through hire purchase), as this builds up assets on your balance sheet.
For established SMEs, the choice often depends on your long-term plans. If you want to keep the equipment for many years and add to your business’s assets, hire purchase may be more suitable. You’ll own the asset at the end, and you can claim extra tax relief on depreciation and interest. Plus, if you want flexibility or expect to upgrade equipment regularly, finance leasing could suit you better since it offers lower payments and easier upgrades.
For larger businesses, the decision often comes down to how each option affects your accounts and tax. Hire purchase and finance leases both appear on your balance sheet, but the way they impact your financial ratios and tax position can be different. Larger firms will often choose based on what works best for their financial strategy.
If you’re managing tight cash flow or investing heavily in growth, the lower monthly payments of a finance lease could provide you with more breathing room. But if you’ve got solid cash flow and want to maximise the tax benefits by using capital allowances, hire purchase might be a more suitable choice.
Consider your tax position, too. Hire purchase gives you capital allowances (typically 18% or 6% annual allowances depending on the asset type) plus interest deductions. Finance leases let you deduct the full lease payments as business expenses, which can be simpler but might not provide as much total tax relief.
Think about how long you’ll actually need the equipment. If you’re going to use the asset for five years or more, hire purchase could work out cheaper overall. But if you have shorter-term needs (eg 2-4 years) or operate with fast-moving technology, a finance lease could provide more flexibility.
Also consider depreciation. Assets that lose value quickly (eg IT equipment or vehicles) may be more suited to a lease. But assets that hold their value well (eg property improvements or specialised machinery) might be better purchased through hire purchase.
The most suitable option will depend on your profit and tax situation, so check with your accountant before choosing.
| Tax relief | Ownership at end | Suitable for |
Hire purchase | Capital allowances and interest | Yes | Profitable, stable businesses |
Finance lease | Lease payments (expenses) | No (unless choose to buy) | Businesses with changing profits or wanting simplicity |
Both the asset and the loan appear on your balance sheet from the start.
You can claim:
Capital allowances (tax relief for the asset’s value – usually 18% or 6% per year – depending on the type of asset)
Tax relief on interest you pay on the loan
This can mean bigger tax savings for profitable businesses. And you’ll own the asset at the end, after a final payment.
The asset and the lease liability also appear on your balance sheet. But you don’t own the asset, so you can’t claim capital allowances.
Instead, your monthly lease payments are usually fully tax-deductible as business expenses. This can make tax simpler and could provide faster tax relief if your profits go up and down throughout the year.
You usually return the asset, extend the lease, or (if the leasing company allows) buy it at the end.
A startup needed £80,000 worth of servers and IT equipment. As a growing early-stage business focused on expansion, they wanted to preserve cash flow.
Finance lease choice: £2,400 deposit, £1,400 monthly payments with maintenance included. At the end of three years, they had the option to buy the equipment for £8,000 or return it
This worked well because cloud technology evolved faster than expected. They returned the equipment and moved to a cloud-based solution, avoiding the depreciation and ownership risks they’d have faced with a hire purchase.
An SME engineering manufacturer needed a £150,000 laser-cutting machine but had limited cash reserves. They compared both options:
Hire purchase option: 10% deposit (£15,000), then £2,800 monthly over five years. Total cost: £183,000. They would own the machine outright at the end and could claim capital allowances (eg £27,000 in year one at an 18% rate) plus interest deductions
Finance lease option: £1,500 deposit, then £2,200 monthly over five years. Total cost: £133,500. Lower monthly payments preserved £15,000 working capital, and the full lease payments were tax-deductible
The SME chose the finance lease because cash flow was tight and they planned to upgrade to newer technology within six years.
An established logistics business needed five delivery vans worth £200,000 total. With strong cash flow, they wanted to build asset value.
Hire purchase choice: £40,000 deposit, £3,200 monthly over five years. They’d own the vans outright at the end, could claim capital allowances and planned to use them for more than eight years
The tax benefits and long-term ownership made hire purchase the clear winner, even with slightly higher monthly payments.
The UK asset finance market grew steadily in 2024 and early 2025. Total new business increased by about 3% in 2024, supporting roughly a third of all UK investment in vehicles, machinery and equipment. In March 2025, new asset finance lending jumped 11% year-on-year, marking the strongest March in two years.
IT equipment finance grew strongly, up 43% in January 2025 compared to the previous year
Plant and machinery finance rose by 2% in the same period
Commercial vehicle finance fell by 3% in early 2025, reflecting shifting business priorities
Whether you’re looking for a standard business loan, a short-term business loan, or something a little more specialist, like auction finance for property developers, we’re one of the leading names in business finance in the UK, having helped facilitate over £1 billion in finance to more than 20,000 customers.
Checking if you’re eligible is free, only takes a few minutes, and while a full application would impact your personal or business credit score, checking eligibility won’t. Just submit your details via the link below to find out if you could be eligible to borrow up to £20 million.
Finance leases typically require lower deposits and have lower monthly payments, making them better for immediate cash flow. But hire purchase often costs less overall if you’re keeping the asset long-term.
It’s possible but it can be expensive. Some finance leases allow early purchase, and hire purchase agreements might be refinanced into leases. Both usually involve break fees, so it’s worth planning carefully from the start.
Finance leases often provide more flexibility since you can return equipment at the end rather than being stuck with a depreciating asset. Hire purchase commits you to ownership, but you can still sell the asset if needed.
Consider total payments, tax benefits, and end-of-term value. A £100,000 asset on hire purchase might cost £120,000 total but you own an asset worth £30,000. A finance lease might cost £90,000 total but you own nothing at the end.
Finance leases often suit seasonal businesses due to lower monthly payments during quiet periods. Some leasing companies even offer seasonal payment structures. But if you need equipment year-round for many years, hire purchase might be more cost-effective.
Finance leases can be more suitable for fast-changing technology since you can upgrade at the end of the term. IT equipment, in particular, often works better on finance leases due to becoming obsolete so quickly.
Many finance leases include maintenance, repairs and even replacement services. With hire purchase, maintenance is your responsibility (although you can negotiate separate service packages).
Possibly, particularly if you’re financing multiple assets or have strong credit. Competition can be intense in the current market, so it’s worth getting multiple quotes. Consider working with a broker who can access a broad range of deals across multiple lenders.
Investors often prefer businesses that build tangible asset value through hire purchase, especially for essential long-term equipment. But they also value cash flow management, so the ‘right’ choice depends on your overall financial strategy and growth stage.
Both appear on your balance sheet, so the impact is similar. What matters more is making payments on time and maintaining good cash flow. Some lenders prefer hire purchase as it shows your commitment to ownership, while others value the flexibility of leasing.
If you’re planning to sell your business, owned assets add value. If you’re planning to grow quickly or pivot, the flexibility of finance leases might be more valuable. So consider your long-term business plan when you decide.
It’s worth considering professional advice if you’re buying assets over £50,000, have a complex tax situation, or aren’t sure about the accounting implications. A good accountant can model both options and show you the real costs based on your specific tax position.
Please note that the information above is not intended to be financial advice. You should seek independent financial advice before making any decisions about your financial future.
It’s important to remember that all loans and credit agreements come with risks. These risks include non-payment and late-payment of the agreed repayment plan, which could affect your business credit score and impact your
Need to buy business equipment but aren’t sure whether to lease or purchase it? This decision could save or cost your business thousands of pounds, so it's worth getting it right.
There are lots of ways to buy business equipment, and choosing the right method could save or cost your business thousands of pounds.
Two of the most popular ways are hire purchase and finance lease. These two financing options might seem similar, but they work very differently when it comes to ownership, costs, and tax benefits.
Whether you’re looking to buy your first fleet of vans, plan to replace important machinery, or want to optimise your company’s balance sheet, understanding the suitability and consequences of choosing between finance lease and hire purchase is incredibly important.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know to make the right choice for your business.
Key points:
Hire purchase lets you own the asset at the end of the agreement and claim capital allowances. Monthly payments are typically higher, but you build equity in the equipment
Finance lease lets you use equipment with lower monthly payments and minimal upfront costs. You don’t automatically own the asset but get more flexibility to upgrade or return it
Funding Options by Tide can help when optimisation of working capital isn’t enough, offering access to business finance up to £20 million
Hire purchase is essentially buying equipment in instalments. You pay a deposit (typically around 10-20% of the asset’s value), then make fixed monthly payments that cover the cost, interest, and any fees.
The asset(s) will be owned by the lender until you make the final payment, at which point ownership can be transferred to you in exchange for a small ‘option to purchase’ fee.
When you sign the agreement, the equipment and the loan both show up in your business accounts. This allows you to reduce your business tax bill by:
Claiming tax relief for equipment losing value over time (depreciation)
Claiming tax relief for the interest you pay on the loan
For example, if you buy a £100,000 CNC machine on hire purchase with a 10% deposit, your accounts immediately show a £100,000 asset and £90,000 liability. In the first year, you might claim £20,000 in depreciation and £5,000 in interest deductions – reducing your taxable profit by £25,000.
Budgeting is straightforward, since the monthly payments are fixed throughout the term (usually several years). And once you’ve made the final payment, you can keep, modify, or sell the asset.
If you want to own your equipment long-term, hire purchase could be the right choice. It can be particularly suitable if you need long-lasting assets like machinery, commercial vehicles, or property improvements.
It can also work well if your business has steady cash flow and can handle slightly higher monthly payments in exchange for eventual ownership. If your business makes the most of capital allowances (i.e. the tax relief you get on business assets), hire purchase can often provide more attractive tax advantages than leasing.
A finance lease lets your business use equipment without owning it. You simply make monthly payments while the finance company will own the equipment.
At the end of the lease, you can usually:
Return the equipment
Extend the lease
Buy the equipment (if the finance company allows it)
Finance leases appear on your business accounts as both an asset you use and a debt you owe. This is similar to hire purchase, but you don’t become the legal owner unless you buy the asset at the end.
The monthly payments are often lower than hire purchase because you’re not paying for the full value of the asset upfront – just the depreciation and the finance company’s profit. This can help free up valuable cash flow.
Finance lease agreements often include maintenance, insurance, and sometimes even replacement services. So, for example, if your leased van breaks down, the leasing company might handle the repairs and, potentially, a temporary replacement.
Finance leases can work particularly well for businesses that prioritise cash flow over ownership. They’re also ideal if you operate in a fast-changing sector where equipment becomes outdated quickly (eg IT equipment, manufacturing machinery, or even commercial vehicles where you want the latest emissions standards).
Another reason to consider a finance lease is if you prefer someone else handling the maintenance of your equipment. And if you’re not sure about your long-term equipment plans, a finance lease can give you more options to consider at the end of the term.
The main differences come down to ownership, costs, and what happens when the agreement ends.
Ownership structure:
Hire purchase: You become the legal owner of the asset after making all the payments (including any final fee)
Finance lease: The leasing company remains the legal owner of the asset. You usually have the option to buy the asset at the end, but this isn’t automatic
Monthly payments:
Hire purchase: Monthly costs are often higher, since payments cover the full cost of the asset plus interest and any fees
Finance lease: Monthly costs are often lower, since payments mainly cover the asset’s depreciation and the finance company’s profit margin. But you won’t automatically own the asset at the end of the term
End-of-term flexibility:
Hire purchase: You own the asset once you finish paying
Finance lease: You can usually choose to return the asset, extend the lease, or (sometimes) buy it at the end of the term. This flexibility can be useful if your needs change or if you want to upgrade to newer equipment
Your choice should align with your cash flow needs, business stage, and long-term equipment strategy.
If you’re a startup or growing business, cash flow is likely to be your biggest concern. Since finance leases typically have lower monthly payments, this can be a good option to help keep more cash on hand. But consider that some investors prefer to see businesses that own their equipment (through hire purchase), as this builds up assets on your balance sheet.
For established SMEs, the choice often depends on your long-term plans. If you want to keep the equipment for many years and add to your business’s assets, hire purchase may be more suitable. You’ll own the asset at the end, and you can claim extra tax relief on depreciation and interest. Plus, if you want flexibility or expect to upgrade equipment regularly, finance leasing could suit you better since it offers lower payments and easier upgrades.
For larger businesses, the decision often comes down to how each option affects your accounts and tax. Hire purchase and finance leases both appear on your balance sheet, but the way they impact your financial ratios and tax position can be different. Larger firms will often choose based on what works best for their financial strategy.
If you’re managing tight cash flow or investing heavily in growth, the lower monthly payments of a finance lease could provide you with more breathing room. But if you’ve got solid cash flow and want to maximise the tax benefits by using capital allowances, hire purchase might be a more suitable choice.
Consider your tax position, too. Hire purchase gives you capital allowances (typically 18% or 6% annual allowances depending on the asset type) plus interest deductions. Finance leases let you deduct the full lease payments as business expenses, which can be simpler but might not provide as much total tax relief.
Think about how long you’ll actually need the equipment. If you’re going to use the asset for five years or more, hire purchase could work out cheaper overall. But if you have shorter-term needs (eg 2-4 years) or operate with fast-moving technology, a finance lease could provide more flexibility.
Also consider depreciation. Assets that lose value quickly (eg IT equipment or vehicles) may be more suited to a lease. But assets that hold their value well (eg property improvements or specialised machinery) might be better purchased through hire purchase.
The most suitable option will depend on your profit and tax situation, so check with your accountant before choosing.
| Tax relief | Ownership at end | Suitable for |
Hire purchase | Capital allowances and interest | Yes | Profitable, stable businesses |
Finance lease | Lease payments (expenses) | No (unless choose to buy) | Businesses with changing profits or wanting simplicity |
Both the asset and the loan appear on your balance sheet from the start.
You can claim:
Capital allowances (tax relief for the asset’s value – usually 18% or 6% per year – depending on the type of asset)
Tax relief on interest you pay on the loan
This can mean bigger tax savings for profitable businesses. And you’ll own the asset at the end, after a final payment.
The asset and the lease liability also appear on your balance sheet. But you don’t own the asset, so you can’t claim capital allowances.
Instead, your monthly lease payments are usually fully tax-deductible as business expenses. This can make tax simpler and could provide faster tax relief if your profits go up and down throughout the year.
You usually return the asset, extend the lease, or (if the leasing company allows) buy it at the end.
A startup needed £80,000 worth of servers and IT equipment. As a growing early-stage business focused on expansion, they wanted to preserve cash flow.
Finance lease choice: £2,400 deposit, £1,400 monthly payments with maintenance included. At the end of three years, they had the option to buy the equipment for £8,000 or return it
This worked well because cloud technology evolved faster than expected. They returned the equipment and moved to a cloud-based solution, avoiding the depreciation and ownership risks they’d have faced with a hire purchase.
An SME engineering manufacturer needed a £150,000 laser-cutting machine but had limited cash reserves. They compared both options:
Hire purchase option: 10% deposit (£15,000), then £2,800 monthly over five years. Total cost: £183,000. They would own the machine outright at the end and could claim capital allowances (eg £27,000 in year one at an 18% rate) plus interest deductions
Finance lease option: £1,500 deposit, then £2,200 monthly over five years. Total cost: £133,500. Lower monthly payments preserved £15,000 working capital, and the full lease payments were tax-deductible
The SME chose the finance lease because cash flow was tight and they planned to upgrade to newer technology within six years.
An established logistics business needed five delivery vans worth £200,000 total. With strong cash flow, they wanted to build asset value.
Hire purchase choice: £40,000 deposit, £3,200 monthly over five years. They’d own the vans outright at the end, could claim capital allowances and planned to use them for more than eight years
The tax benefits and long-term ownership made hire purchase the clear winner, even with slightly higher monthly payments.
The UK asset finance market grew steadily in 2024 and early 2025. Total new business increased by about 3% in 2024, supporting roughly a third of all UK investment in vehicles, machinery and equipment. In March 2025, new asset finance lending jumped 11% year-on-year, marking the strongest March in two years.
IT equipment finance grew strongly, up 43% in January 2025 compared to the previous year
Plant and machinery finance rose by 2% in the same period
Commercial vehicle finance fell by 3% in early 2025, reflecting shifting business priorities
Whether you’re looking for a standard business loan, a short-term business loan, or something a little more specialist, like auction finance for property developers, we’re one of the leading names in business finance in the UK, having helped facilitate over £1 billion in finance to more than 20,000 customers.
Checking if you’re eligible is free, only takes a few minutes, and while a full application would impact your personal or business credit score, checking eligibility won’t. Just submit your details via the link below to find out if you could be eligible to borrow up to £20 million.
Finance leases typically require lower deposits and have lower monthly payments, making them better for immediate cash flow. But hire purchase often costs less overall if you’re keeping the asset long-term.
It’s possible but it can be expensive. Some finance leases allow early purchase, and hire purchase agreements might be refinanced into leases. Both usually involve break fees, so it’s worth planning carefully from the start.
Finance leases often provide more flexibility since you can return equipment at the end rather than being stuck with a depreciating asset. Hire purchase commits you to ownership, but you can still sell the asset if needed.
Consider total payments, tax benefits, and end-of-term value. A £100,000 asset on hire purchase might cost £120,000 total but you own an asset worth £30,000. A finance lease might cost £90,000 total but you own nothing at the end.
Finance leases often suit seasonal businesses due to lower monthly payments during quiet periods. Some leasing companies even offer seasonal payment structures. But if you need equipment year-round for many years, hire purchase might be more cost-effective.
Finance leases can be more suitable for fast-changing technology since you can upgrade at the end of the term. IT equipment, in particular, often works better on finance leases due to becoming obsolete so quickly.
Many finance leases include maintenance, repairs and even replacement services. With hire purchase, maintenance is your responsibility (although you can negotiate separate service packages).
Possibly, particularly if you’re financing multiple assets or have strong credit. Competition can be intense in the current market, so it’s worth getting multiple quotes. Consider working with a broker who can access a broad range of deals across multiple lenders.
Investors often prefer businesses that build tangible asset value through hire purchase, especially for essential long-term equipment. But they also value cash flow management, so the ‘right’ choice depends on your overall financial strategy and growth stage.
Both appear on your balance sheet, so the impact is similar. What matters more is making payments on time and maintaining good cash flow. Some lenders prefer hire purchase as it shows your commitment to ownership, while others value the flexibility of leasing.
If you’re planning to sell your business, owned assets add value. If you’re planning to grow quickly or pivot, the flexibility of finance leases might be more valuable. So consider your long-term business plan when you decide.
It’s worth considering professional advice if you’re buying assets over £50,000, have a complex tax situation, or aren’t sure about the accounting implications. A good accountant can model both options and show you the real costs based on your specific tax position.
Please note that the information above is not intended to be financial advice. You should seek independent financial advice before making any decisions about your financial future.
It’s important to remember that all loans and credit agreements come with risks. These risks include non-payment and late-payment of the agreed repayment plan, which could affect your business credit score and impact your ability to find future funding. Always read the terms and conditions of every loan or credit agreement before you proceed. Contact us for support if you ever face difficulties making your repayments.
Funding Options, now part of Tide, helps UK firms access business finance, working directly with businesses and their trusted advisors. Funding Options are a credit broker and do not provide loans directly. All finance and quotes are subject to status and income. Applicants must be aged 18 and over and terms and conditions apply. Guarantees and Indemnities may be required. Funding Options can introduce applicants to a number of providers based on the applicants' circumstances and creditworthiness. Funding Options will receive a commission or finder’s fee for effecting such finance introductions.
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