·        Get a flexible payment structure to fit your business needs. If your business has a slow season, ask for seasonal payment plans. 
 
·        Consider a leasing program that provides for lease expiration at or near warranty expiration. 
 
·        With an operating lease, if you think you’ll keep the equipment after the lease term, ask for a cap on the purchase price, such as “fair market value (FMV) not to exceed 20% of the equipment’s cost.”
 
·        Use your existing equipment to generate cash. With a sale and leaseback, a leasing company buys your existing equipment and leases it back to you. You get the cash that is locked up in your equipment while still continuing to use it.
 
·        Refinancing your existing equipment with a capital or finance lease can lower payments by as much as 50%. 
 
·        Understand the fine print. Most leases contain a termination value schedule, detailing the amount that will need to be paid to terminate the lease.
 
·        Don’t be afraid to ask for references when shopping for an equipment leasing company.