No two equipment buyers are exactly alike. Some have plenty of cash but tight credit. Others needed their equipment delivered yesterday. Many are still browsing, planning purchases months down the road.
Today’s buyers come armed with research. They know the required specs for their jobs. Your role isn’t just to explain products, it’s to help them choose you as their vendor.
While every buyer’s situation is unique, there’s one powerful way to stand out from your competition: offer financing upfront.
Most Buyers Want Financing, Even If They Don’t Know It Yet
Here’s a number worth remembering: “Nearly 8 in 10 U.S. companies (82%) use some form of financing when acquiring equipment,” according to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA).
At APPROVE, we’ve worked with thousands of equipment sellers and buyers across industries. Time and again, we see how offering financing upfront can transform a sales conversation.
Let’s look at how financing influences different types of buyers.
The Buyer Who Always Planned to Finance
Some customers walk in knowing they’ll finance. They might ask about it in the first conversation.
For these buyers, financing isn’t optional - it’s required! If you’re not offering financing options and presenting affordable monthly payment estimates upfront, you risk slowing down the deal or losing them to a vendor who does.
The Buyer Who Changes Their Mind Once They See the Numbers
Some buyers plan to pay cash until they see how affordable monthly payments can be.
When they compare financing costs to the potential revenue from newer or more efficient equipment, many decide to upgrade. Adding $10,000 to the total purchase price may only increase the monthly payment by a few hundred dollars. For buyers, that feels manageable, especially if they’re able to use the equipment to generate more revenue. For you as the equipment seller, it means closing a larger deal while keeping the purchase affordable for your customers.
The Cash-Rich Buyer
This buyer has cash on hand or has budgeted for the purchase well in advance. They might think they don’t need financing but showing them the option still matters.
Even cash buyers often prefer to leverage financing. It keeps reserves available for other expenses or lets them upgrade to more advanced equipment without tying up cash flow.
The Buyer Who Hadn’t Considered Financing
For some buyers, financing simply wasn’t on their radar.
But once they see the option, everything changes. Equipment that seemed out of reach suddenly becomes affordable. A delayed purchase turns into a completed deal.
The Price Shopper
Price shoppers focus on getting the best deal. But that doesn’t always mean the lowest sticker price.
If you’re the only vendor presenting financing upfront, you can win the sale even if your initial price is slightly higher, because you offer flexible, efficient, and affordable payment options.
The Buyer Looking for Equipment and a Trusted Vendor
Some buyers evaluate not just the product but the vendor relationship.
When you show compelling financing options upfront, it signals that you care about their experience and want to make the process easy and affordable. That small step builds trust and sets you apart.
Why Present Financing Up Front
The logic is simple: buyers want options.
Offering financing early in the process makes equipment feel more attainable and removes friction from the buying journey.
When you present financing upfront, you can:
How to Make It Easy: Finance My Quote
At APPROVE, we’ve built tools that let you place financing options anywhere you display pricing. One of the most effective places to do it is in your quotes, where your most serious buyers are actively evaluating their purchase.
That’s where Finance My Quote comes in.
With Finance My Quote, you can:
Our partners use this tool to present financing seamlessly. We’ve recently made it even easier to use and added a video walkthrough so you can get started quickly.
One Application, Multiple Lenders
When a buyer applies through APPROVE, they submit one simple application, which is instantly matched with their best-fit lenders.
This saves time for your customers and offers a smooth, streamlined financing experience that will keep your customers coming back to you.
Don’t Leave Money on the Table
Proactively presenting affordable financing estimates upfront is one of the easiest ways to increase sales, improve customer satisfaction, and stand out from your competition.
If you’re not already an APPROVE customer, contact us for a demo of Finance My Quote and all the other leading-edge innovations that set APPROVE apart from traditional lenders.