Purchase or Lease

What you don’t know could help you. Case in point: the option to lease farm equipment.

There is more than one way to get behind the wheel of this machine. Which option is best for you?

Not that there’s anything wrong with making a purchase, but a relatively small number of producers and custom operators are familiar with the benefits of a lease.

According to Clancey McCray, AGCO senior marketing specialist for high-horsepower tractors, programs and promotions, only about 10% of Massey Ferguson customers utilize the lease option. However, a lease may be a better fit for producers who want to preserve their capital resources, including credit, for other investments or prefer to trade in their equipment frequently.

“People who lease are generally those who want to have more capital available,” McCray says. “A lease allows you to use a piece of equipment without owning it. In essence, you’re only paying for the cost of use,” she adds, noting that leases are especially appealing to custom operators. “Of course, you don’t have any equity at the end of the lease period.”

That’s not to say a producer can’t have the best of both worlds—leasing a machine to try it out or acquire it when times are a little tight and then purchasing it later. “Most leases we offer are for a term of three years, but the customer always has the first option to buy,” McCray explains.

Leasing versus buying isn’t a decision you need to make by yourself, though. Consider the list of benefits below, then consult your tax adviser, talk to your Massey Ferguson dealer, and compare the offers from AGCO Finance. A little knowledge could go a long way to making you even more successful.

Consider a purchase if:

• You want the security of owning a physical asset like a combine or tractor, knowing that your payments result in direct ownership of collateral.
• You plan on keeping the machine for a few years (usually at least five).
• You keep your equipment well maintained, which helps retain its value and helps with resale or trade-in.
• The hours of use typically exceed the restrictions on a lease.
• You can benefit from tax credits that help offset the additional expenses of purchasing the tractor.

Consider a lease if:

• You want to preserve capital for other expenses or investments in your business.
• You have limited funds for a down payment or the higher payments a purchase would require.
• You like to trade often to benefit from the technology and efficiency available in new equipment.
• You plan to expand or reduce the size of your operation and need the flexibility to match equipment needs to farm size.
• You’re nearing retirement and don’t want to be locked into a large capital investment.
• You prefer to keep newer equipment in the fleet to reduce downtime.

Whether you purchase or lease, learn more about innovative Massey Ferguson equipment at myFarmLife.com.