Frequently Asked Questions
The
following questions are some of the more common that we answer every
day. If you have questions that aren't answered here please call
or send us an e-mail. Use the Contact Us link on left. We will be
happy to try to answer any questions you have or clarify the answers
listed here.
- Why do you need my personal guaranty?
- Can you waive my personal guaranty?
- How do I get a copy of my personal credit bureau?
- How can I improve my personal credit score?
- How can I improve my business credit?
- Why should I lease?
- How is leasing different from renting?
- Who can lease?
- What can I lease?
- Can I get the brand of equipment I want?
- What if I don't have a vendor for the equipment
I need?
- Who pays for the maintenance and upkeep of leased
equipment?
- What are the tax advantages associated with leasing?
- Can I lease computer software?
- When will my lease payments begin?
- Do I lose my manufacturer's guarantees, warranties,
or services when I lease?
- What are my options at the end of the lease?
- How much do I pay if I choose to purchase the
equipment at the end of the lease?
- Who handles the termination of the lease?
- I already own my equipment. Can I use leasing?
- How long does it take to get approved?
- How long of a term can I get?
- Can I use multiple vendors?
- Are payment options flexible?
Why do you need my personal
guaranty?
With the exception of public corporations and long-established
companies with millions of dollars net worth, we will require a
personal guaranty from the majority owners to enhance the approval.
In most cases, this lease will not be reported on your personal
credit bureaus as a "trade line" unless your account becomes
seriously past due.
You've built up a successful business and we are asking you to
stand behind your company. This is especially true when there are
a few majority owners with a large personal stake in the business.
Typically, the way an individual conducts their personal affairs
will reflect how they conduct their business affairs.
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Can you waive my personal guaranty?
There are times when we are able to waive a personal guaranty,
especially when we are able to review the owner's personal credit.
This is strongly subject to credit approval. Generally your chances
of having a "PG" waived require the following criteria:
- Verifiable time in business of at least 7-10 years
- Minimum of 10 employees,
- Strong business credit reports with prompt pay history,
- Minimum low 5 figure bank account with no NSF activity in last
12 months,
- One (1) comparable "corp only" loan or lease reference
(not real estate or a
vehicle),
- Acceptable credit bureau information on owners,
- Strong net worth of company and widely held ownership will
also help us acquire a
"corp only" approval.
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How do I get a copy of my personal
credit bureau?
Reviewing your credit on an annual basis is strongly recommended.This
will help you stay on top of inaccuracies on your bureau and protect
you against identity theft.
The first thing to do is obtain a copy of all 3 of your credit
bureaus directly from the reporting agencies. You will need a copy
of your bureau to dispute any inaccuracies.
You may do this by going to their website or phoning them:
Experian
www.experian.com
Phone: 888-397-3742
Equifax
www.equifax.com
Phone: 800-685-1111
Trans Union
www.transunion.com
Phone: 800-888-4213
As a result of the 2003 Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act,
all consumers will be entitled to a free copy of their credit report
annually. The free credit-report access began Dec. 1, 2004 in the
Western US, with staggered dates for the rest of the country. Access
to your credit scores will cost a "fair and reasonable"
fee. We highly recommend business owners review their personal credit
quarterly for both errors and as a fraud-prevention tool.
For more information about this program, click here: https://www.annualcreditreport.com
If you have been denied credit, housing, or employment, or if
you are unemployed, your bureau is free. There are also several
states that require the credit reporting agencies to release a copy
of your report to you free of charge. Otherwise, the cost is about
$9.00 per report. There may be a higher fee to see your "score".
This score will be very helpful for you to know, as many credit
decisions, and subsequent financing rates, are based on your score.
Your credit bureaus should include instructions for disputing any
errors and we encourage you to dispute anything inaccurate.
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How can I improve my score?
- Pay your bills on time. Approximately 35% of your score is
based on pay history.
- Keep your borrowing in line. Approximately 30% of your score
is based on how much debt you have. Not all debt is bad. We like
to see a mortgage and good installment loan debt like vehicles.
Having a very high amount of credit card debt will bring your
score down. How much of your total debt you have paid down will
also be a factor in your score.
- Length of credit history. A longer credit history will generally
help your score, provided that lengthy history is paid as agreed.
- Don't take on too much new credit too quickly. Approximately
10% of your score is based on how many new accounts you have.
Additionally, you want to avoid having a lot of inquiries on your
credit.
- Don't close the credit cards you're not using. Doing so might
sound tempting, but it can reduce the total amount of credit card
debt available to you. We like to see at least 50% of your credit
card line available.
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How can I improve my business
credit?
- If you are just starting out or have been established for a
while, call Dun & Bradstreet (D & B) and let them know
you are in business. D & B is the business equivalent of a
personal credit bureau. They will assign you a "Duns"
Number that can come in handy when looking for credit. They will
probably try to sell you products and services. It is important
to remember that these are optional and getting listed with D
& B is free.
- Do NOT report financial information to Dun & Bradstreet
on your company. Simply give them your address, # of employees,
and the minimum amount of information required for their files.
The contact information for D & B is:
Dun & Bradstreet
www.dnb.com
800-234-3867.
- Set up a business phone line and get listed in the yellow pages.
It is not necessary to have an ad in the Yellow Pages to be listed.
Having a dedicated business phone number is important, even if
you are a sole proprietor working from home or on your cell.
- Register your business with the state. Even if you are a sole
proprietor, it's important to be registered. Additionally, check
with your local city and county to see if you need any additional
licenses to operate a business.
- Pay your suppliers on time. They may be reporting to D &
B your pay history, and paying slowly can lower your "Paydex".
A Paydex is a number that indicates how quickly you pay your bills.
Additionally, we may request trade references from your suppliers.
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Why should I lease?
Leasing offers many advantages over any other type of financing.
Leasing will not deplete financial resources like paying cash. Leasing
also offers 100% financing unlike a bank loan that will usually
require a large down payment. There are also tax benefits to leasing
that will usually save youmoney. Leasing allows most businesses
to have the equipment pay for itself.
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How is leasing different from renting?
While there are several differences between the two, leasing gives
you added flexibility by giving you the option to purchase the equipment,
return it, or renew the lease.
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Who can lease?
Computer Financing can provide leasing services for companies,
professional practices, non-profit organizations, government agencies,
and municipalities.
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What can I lease?
Computer Financing can help you lease computers, software, graphic
and audio equipment, fax machines, copiers, office furniture, printing
presses, machine tools, Point-of-Sale Systems, telephone/voice mail
systems, industrial equipment, construction equipment, and any other
equipment that your business uses.
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Can I get the brand of equipment I want?
Yes, because the equipment is obtained from the vendor of your
choice and you negotiate the best price. This allows you to obtain
the equipment that is right for your company, at the right price.
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What if I don't have a vendor for the
equipment I need?
In many cases we can refer you to vendors that have the equipment
you are looking to acquire for your business.
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Who pays for the maintenance and upkeep
of the leased equipment?
The business using the equipment is responsible for all maintenance
and services, unless a maintenance agreement was supplied by the
vendor. Maintenance and service can be included and added on to
your lease.
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What are the tax advantages associated
with leasing?
Your lease payments are usually 100% deductible as an operating
expense. So you pay for you equipment out of current, untaxed income
rather than out of already taxed profits.
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Can I lease computer software?
Yes! You're able to lease up to 100% on software!
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When will my lease payments begin?
Payments will be scheduled to begin only after you have received
and approved of the equipment.
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Do I lose my manufacturer's guarantees,
warranties, or services when I lease?
No, you will receive the same benefits as if you purchased the
equipment outright.
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What are my options at the end of the
lease?
There are three options at the end of the lease:
- You may renew the lease
- You may choose to return the equipment to us or
- You may purchase the equipment
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How much do I pay if I choose to purchase
the equipment at the end of the lease?
Based on the type of the equipment and the duration of the lease,
the purchase option will be decided upon at the beginning of the
lease. It could be a predetermined amount (either a $1.00 purchase
option or a fixed percentage of the amount financed) or the fair
market value of the equipment at the end of the lease.
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Who handles the termination of the lease?
Computer Financing will help you through every step of your leasing
process from your initial application through the termination of
the lease. I already own my equipment.
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Can I use leasing?
Yes, depending on the current condition of the equipment and the
reasons behind pursuing this option, it is possible to do a sale-leaseback.
We will buy your equipment and lease it back to you!
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How long does it take to get approved?
We can begin processing your lease once we receive an easy one
page application. After we receive your application, you will usually
receive approval in 8 hours under normal circumstances.
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How long of a term can I get?
Depending on your needs and the equipment you are leasing, terms
anywhere from 12 to 72 months are available. This will again depend
on the specific situation.
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Can I use multiple vendors?
Yes! You can also combine non related equipment on the same lease.
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Are payment options flexible?
Yes, we understand that not every business has the same operating
schedule or conditions. Seasonal businesses, for instance, may have
a hard time making payments in the off-season. We can work with
your business to schedule payments for times when you will have
the income to handle them.
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If you have any further questions or questions specific to your
business, please e-mail us at info@ComputerFinancing.com.
You may also call us at 772-978-1194 and we'll do our best to answer
your question.
© Computer
& Equipment Lease Financing, 2005
926 47th. Ave, Suite 101 Vero Beach, FL
32966 (772)-978-1194 FAX:
(772) 365-0263
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