Rowanwood Lenders, a small-business funding broker in Santa Fe, New Mexico, arranges equipment financing and leasing through lending partners for dental chairs, kitchen lines, compact loaders, work vans and store systems. Typically the chair, oven or loader is the collateral. Partners review the quote, the asset's useful life and cash flow, then decide and set terms.
| Pays for | Machines, chairs, ovens, vehicles, registers |
|---|---|
| Collateral | The equipment itself |
| Forms | Loan, lease, equipment finance agreement |
| Used gear | Fundable case by case; hours, age and condition count |
| Partners review | Quote, useful life, cash flow |
| Decision | The partner's alone |
Loans, leases and finance agreements
Three structures dominate. An equipment loan funds the purchase; you own the item and the partner holds a lien until the loan is paid. An equipment finance agreement works much like a loan in practice, with fixed payments and ownership at the end. A lease lets you use the equipment for a term; at the end you may return it, renew, or buy it, depending on the lease type.
| Structure | Title while payments run | End of term | Fits when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment loan | Your business, with the lender's lien attached | Lien released when paid | You want to keep the asset for its full life |
| Finance agreement | The business, with the partner's security interest | You own it outright | You want loan-like payments with simpler paperwork |
| Fair market value lease | The lessor | Hand back, extend, or buy at market value | The gear goes out of date fast |
| Finance (capital) lease | The lessor, but built toward ownership | Buy for a nominal or set amount | You plan to keep it but want lease-style payments |
Equipment financing vs leasing
Leasing usually means lower payments and easier upgrades, at the cost of not building ownership (or paying a buyout at the end). Financing costs more per month but leaves you owning an asset. Technology that ages quickly, such as imaging systems or point-of-sale hardware, often suits a lease; a commercial range or a compact loader expected to work for a decade often suits a loan.
Equipment loan vs business loan: an equipment loan is secured by the item, which can make it easier to obtain than a general term loan of the same size. Equipment loan vs line of credit: a line suits repeated small purchases; financing suits one larger item with a long working life.
Assets common in Santa Fe County, NM sectors
The four sectors our partners have confirmed show up in the county's counts: construction had 547 employer establishments in 2023, food services and drinking places 400, ambulatory health care (including physicians and dentists) 446, and retail 793 (County Business Patterns 2023). Each leans on different equipment:
- Construction: compact loaders, trailers, work vans and specialty tools; we do not arrange trucking or fleet hauling funding.
- Restaurants: ranges, hoods, refrigeration and dish lines.
- Medical and dental: chairs, imaging, sterilization and practice software.
- Retail: point-of-sale systems, display cases and shelving.
Each sector page goes deeper; start at the industry overview or see the Santa Fe County business figures.
Down payments, soft costs and the end of the term
Some equipment deals require a down payment; others finance the full price. Ask whether delivery, installation, training and software, often called soft costs, can be included or must be paid separately, since they can add a meaningful share to the quote. For a lease, find out exactly what happens at the end of the term: whether you return the equipment, renew, or buy it, and at what price.
Compare offers on the total paid over the term, including any buyout, rather than on the monthly payment alone. A lower lease payment with a large end-of-term purchase price can cost more than a loan for the same machine.
Used equipment
Partners often finance used equipment, but age, hours, condition and resale value all affect the decision. A dealer invoice with a serial number and model year helps; a private-party sale needs more documentation, such as a bill of sale and proof that no lien remains on the item.
Equipment for a new space
Fitting out a newly leased storefront usually combines equipment with build-out costs. Our retail lease checklist sorts which costs suit equipment financing and which suit a term loan, before you sign the lease.
What partners review
- The vendor quote with make, model, year and price
- The asset's expected useful life
- Business bank statements and cash flow
- Credit history and time in operation
- Any existing liens on business assets
See how the process runs from the first call to a partner decision.
By Rowanwood Lenders · Updated
