What is business hire purchase?

The upfront cost of purchasing new tools, machinery, vehicles and other assets for your business can put a strain on your cash flow. But if you choose to finance them using hire purchase, you can spread the cost of accessing these assets over an affordable number of months or years. You'll have full, unrestricted use of the asset as long as you keep up with your repayments and, once your final instalment has been made, you'll have the option to buy them.

How does hire purchase work? 

A hire purchase agreement works by the lender buying the asset on behalf of your business. They will then charge you monthly repayments which are calculated using the initial cost of the asset, projected residual value and interest. The term is usually structured over 1-5 years, however some lenders may have varying and flexible terms.

At the end of the agreement, you'll have the option to buy the asset, or simply hand it back to the lender who’ll sell it on your behalf. In some instances, you may even receive a rebate on your payments depending on the final sale value of the equipment.

Here’s a step-by-step look at how hire purchase works:

1. You select the asset you want for your business, which can range from machinery and vehicles to office equipment.
2. Apply for hire purchase from your Capitalise account. We’ll match you with the lenders most suited to your needs and help you to package up your application to multiple lenders. 
3. If approved, you’ll receive the terms of the hire purchase agreement, such as how long the term will be and how much interest you’ll pay. 
4. You’ll pay an initial deposit to the lender, typically ranging from 10% to 20% of the asset's value.
5. The remaining balance, plus interest, is paid through fixed monthly instalments over the agreed-upon term.
6. Upon completion of all payments, ownership of the asset is transferred to your business.

Who is business hire purchase for? 

Business hire purchase is an ideal choice if your business wants to acquire an asset, but doesn’t have the full purchase price available in cash. You'll typically gain ownership of the asset upon the hire purchase agreement's completion. This makes it a great option if you want to customise an asset, or don’t want to have restrictions on its use, which you might have with a leasing agreement. 

Additionally, since the asset serves as collateral, it can be easier for younger businesses or those without a good business credit score to obtain hire purchase financing compared to unsecured loans.

Hire purchase calculator

To help you estimate the costs involved in financing an asset using hire purchase, you can use our business loan calculator. This will take into account factors such as the asset’s purchase price, deposit amount, term length, and interest rate to provide an estimate of monthly repayments.

What type of vehicles can I get using business hire purchase?

Hire purchase can be used to fund almost any asset purchase for your business.
Some common examples include vans, cars, electric vehicles, plant and machinery.

Van hire purchase

Vans are indispensable for businesses involved in logistics, transportation, and delivery services. With hire purchase, your business can acquire vans while spreading the cost over manageable monthly instalments, ensuring smooth operations without significant upfront investment.

Car hire purchase

If your business requires vehicles for corporate use, sales teams, or executive transportation, car hire purchase offers an accessible financing solution.

Electric car hire purchase

With the UK having a Net Zero target by 2050, businesses are increasingly focusing on sustainability, making electric vehicles (EVs) a popular option. With hire purchase, your business can transition to electric fleets, benefiting from lower operating costs, reduced emissions, and potential tax incentives, while spreading the cost over time.

Best hire purchase deals

There are a number of specialist lenders that can provide you with hire purchase agreements to fund your vehicle or asset purchase.

At Capitalise, we work with 100+ UK lenders. This means you can use Capitalise to find, compare and apply for hire purchase with multiple lenders, all in one application. When you search for funding with Capitalise, you’ll receive support from a dedicated funding specialist who’ll work closely with you to understand your business needs and help you find a business hire purchase provider that works best for you. Just sign up for free to get started.