It is almost incomprehensible these days to imagine a business running without computer equipment. Yet small businesses may not have enough capital to afford computers, especially when there are a number of employees. For a business need which is only short term, outright purchase of equipment can be a waste of money. But there are other means by which small scale businesses can cope with these circumstances. They can rent a computer, lease it or finance it.

Rent

If the computer or laptop is needed only for a short period of time, like say, two or three months, then renting would be a viable option. Even in other situations like travel, setting up a temporary office, making a presentation, or for other similar short term purposes, renting would be the best option. Computers can be rented on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Contact the nearest rental stores and find the best rates on the computers. Some stores also have a ‘rent-to-own’ option, very similar to the monthly installment plan, where you own the laptop after several months’ payment.

One of the advantages of a rental plan is its flexibility- one can extend or reduce the rental period without any penalty fee or cancellation charges. Also rented computers come with updated technology so that you don’t have to worry about updating it yourself.

Lease

Leasing computer equipment is best for businesses where the investor does not have enough capital for outright purchase of the equipment. Leasing computers can save capital and there are no extra charges for installation. Also, a lease is considered a business expense and can be claimed for a tax deduction. Very similar to the case where you rent a computer, leased equipment are always updated with the latest software. However, a lease is for a fixed period of time. Any changes in it or cancellation would involve severe penalty charges. Unlike renting, you cannot possibly own the equipment- after the period of the lease the equipment goes back to the company. Certain leasing plans can also be very expensive- in fact, over the term of the lease, they may sometimes turn out to be even more expensive than buying the equipment.

Finance

Another option that would be worth considering is financing your equipment. You can approach a vendor or a bank for a loan and pay the debt over several monthly installments. A bulk purchase gives you the possibility of a significant percentage of discount. As with renting, you come into complete possession of your equipment after a period of time. This is a viable option only if the equipment has a long service life. It also means that you pay extra for installing the equipment and own responsibility for any damages that occur to it. Also, a business loan is recorded in your books as debt and could reduce your company’s net worth. This is unsuitable for short term business plans.

So those venturing into a new business will not need to worry about investing a large sum on expensive equipment. The plans given above could make things easier for your business. They may have certain shortcomings, which is natural. Depending on your priorities, you could choose the plan that best meets your needs.

Author Bio: For more information on Santa Barbara computer rental or Santa Barbara desktop rental, contact a technology professional at Vernon Computer Source.

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: computers, technology, hardware, computer rentals, desktops, desktop computer rental, desktop rental