Soft Asset Finance: Funding for the equipment your business depends on

Your soft assets include your IT and Communications equipment, your software, your security equipment, telecoms and video conferencing equipment, furniture & fittings, and office equipment. There are many more examples throughout your business.

They might represent a large investment and substantial capital cost, but they may not have a large resale value. Because of this, it can be difficult to get the funding you need for soft assets through conventional asset funding schemes.

At Rangewell we have the solution. By working with specialist funding suppliers we can provide cost-effective leasing and hire purchase arrangements for your soft assets.

It can mean a better equipped, more efficient business - and save you money.

Discover Soft Asset Finance

Soft Asset finance can provide an effective answer to your needs for all the incidental items that go to equip your business.

It works like conventional asset finance, allowing you to obtain the items you need for your business and to spread the cost, with either hire purchase or lease arrangements. The funding is secured by the assets themselves, which means that if you fail to keep up repayments, the lender will only repossess the assets to cover their costs. This reduces the risk to the lender which, in turn, means reduced rates for you.

To be suitable for soft asset finance, assets must have a minimum economic life of 3 years and have a secondary market value, which will allow the asset to be resold if necessary.

Assets must have a unique identifier, such as a serial number permanently attached.

IT and Communications equipment

Technology evolves rapidly. Your business must have the latest tools to remain competitive - or even to work with other businesses who are using the latest software versions. Remember, PCs more than three years old are responsible for approximately 40% more downtime than newer machines. Most large corporations recognise this and replace them before the three-year limit is reached, and you can’t afford to compromise on your IT hardware, either, when you want to finance new assets.

Software is also important. Your business needs to licence an operating system and each user and may need specialist software for HR and sales. These can represent considerable additional costs - which, again, can be hard to finance under traditional asset finance plans.

Soft Asset finance recognises this rapid obsolescence and provides a solution funding based on a high purchase cost and a short period of ownership.

IT equipment suitable for soft asset finance includes:

• Laptops and handhelds
• Servers
• Software
• Printers
• Storage
• Specialised hardware - CAD/CAM and image rendering equipment
• Duplicators
• Printers
• Electronic point of sale
• Phone systems
• Voice and data
• Video conferencing
• Datacomms

Security equipment

Any business which holds cash or stock, or which works with valuable IT or tools, is at risk of theft and every business is at risk of malicious vandalism. Security equipment is vital for deterring criminal activity and protecting your business, staff and premises, and may even be stipulated by your insurance providers.  

The equipment you need will vary according to your business. It can vary from simple alarms and intruder detection to sophisticated zoned access control and complete manned CCTV installations covering your entire premises.

Security equipment suitable for Soft Asset finance includes:

• Alarm systems
• Fire systems
• Access controls
• CCTV

Furniture and office equipment

Furniture and fittings are vital to make the most of your business space and help your staff get down to work.

A smart, stylish and comfortable office space can deliver huge rewards by boosting employee morale and impressing clients. You may also need to consider air conditioning, heating or dehumidifiers to create your optimum working environment.

Office equipment suitable for soft asset finance includes:

• Chairs
• Desks
• Cabinets
• Air conditioning units
• Heaters
• Carpet tiles

What are your soft asset needs?

If your business needs equipment of any kind, from hand tools to installed machinery or furniture, it may be suitable for soft asset finance. If you are in doubt, simply call us to discuss its suitability for this new type of business funding. 

Lease Finance or Hire Purchase?

Soft Asset Finance provides a range of funding solutions. They include Hire Purchase, which lets you acquire an asset right away and spread the costs in instalments over an agreed period of up to 5 years.

It also provides several leasing solutions. It means you’re protected from equipment depreciating in value or being outdated by technological innovations. Instead, your business can simply update to the latest technology or the latest style for every item you work with.

There are several types of leasing arrangements with particular benefits for IT needs:

Contract Hire

Contract Hire can provide turnkey solutions ideal for IT installations, incorporating ongoing support, maintenance and licence upgrades with the initial purchase.

Finance Lease

With a Finance Lease, the equipment you need is hired to you by the finance company and remains their property. Monthly payments and interest rates are fixed for the duration of the contract - and although you do not own the equipment, you may receive a proportion of any value when the assets are sold at the end of the agreement.

Sale & Leaseback  

Sale & Leaseback, or soft asset refinance, can release the value tied up your existing business investments and allow you to use it elsewhere in your business. The finance provider can buy your assets, providing you with cash and lease it back to you, or sell it back to you under an HP agreement.

Why you need Rangewell to set up Soft Asset Finance that’s right for you

At Rangewell, our team of finance advisors is pioneering new solutions for Soft Asset Finance that are unavailable elsewhere. They can help you find the right kind of finance arrangement from these new, innovative solutions to financing new assets and equipment and even intangible asset finance.

Our service is personal – we can work with you to find Soft Asset Finance, scaled to fit your turnover and your other obligations. When you call us, we can explain the options – and find you the solutions you need.