Keelhollow Capital Group, a Kissimmee, Florida company that matches small businesses with funding partners, arranges equipment financing for new and used equipment through funding partners. This page covers used equipment, restaurant kitchens, contractor trucks and machines, the difference between a loan, a lease and an equipment finance agreement, how long equipment can be financed, and what partners usually ask for.
| Typical use | Machines, vehicles, kitchen lines |
|---|---|
| Usually secured by | The equipment |
| Structures | Loan, lease, EFA |
| County construction employers | 1,134 (CBP 2023) |
How Equipment Financing Works
The partner pays the seller and you repay over a term, with the equipment itself as the main collateral. Because the asset backs the deal, a partner reads the equipment's value alongside the business's own records. A business loan to buy equipment can also be a general term loan; tying it to the asset keeps the structure tied to what it buys.
Used Equipment Financing
Used equipment can be financed: a three-year-old excavator or a reconditioned walk-behind mower, for example. Partners will want to know the age, the hours or mileage, the seller (dealer or private), and a fair value. Expect shorter terms on older equipment, since the collateral has less life left in it.
For used construction equipment financing, have the serial number, an inspection or service record, and the bill of sale ready; private-party sales may need a title or lien search before a partner will fund.
Restaurant and Kitchen Equipment
Restaurants finance hoods, ranges, cold-room coolers, ice machines and point-of-sale systems. Osceola County, FL had 700 restaurant employer establishments in 2023 (CBP 2023), and kitchen equipment wears out and needs replacing. A remodel can mix equipment with build-out; our restaurant renovation post shows how to split the two.
Contractor Trucks, Trailers and Machines in Osceola County, FL
Contractors and builders finance work trucks, trailers, skid steers, compressors and lifts. The county counted 1,134 construction employer establishments in 2023 (CBP 2023), and 7,366 new residential units were authorized by building permits in 2025 (Census Building Permits Survey), down from 8,813 in 2024. A crew that adds a second truck is one use of equipment financing.
Auto repair shops finance lifts, diagnostic scanners and alignment machines on the same basis.
Equipment Loan vs Lease, and the Equipment Finance Agreement
| Point | Equipment loan | Lease | Equipment finance agreement (EFA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who owns it during the term | You, with a lien | The lessor | You, with the financer's security interest |
| End of term | Lien released | Return, renew or buy, per the lease | Owned outright |
| Good fit | Long-life equipment you will keep | Equipment you will upgrade | Ownership without a traditional loan |
Tax treatment differs between these structures; ask your accountant which suits your books.
How Long Can You Finance Equipment, Machine by Machine?
Terms can track the equipment's useful life, so a laptop and a backhoe will not get the same schedule. The partner sets the term; a sound rule is to finish paying before the equipment needs replacing. Illustration only: a $48,000 reconditioned skid steer expected to work seven more years fits comfortably on a five-year schedule, leaving two years of use with no payment.
Down Payments, Soft Costs and Delivery
The price on the quote is rarely the whole bill. Delivery, installation, a hood's ductwork, training, sales tax and the first service visit can add a meaningful share. Some partners will finance part of these soft costs with the equipment; others fund only the hardware and expect the rest from you. Ask before you order, so the install crew is not waiting on a gap you did not plan for.
A down payment lowers the amount financed and can widen the set of partners willing to look at an older machine. Whether to put cash down depends on what else that cash needs to cover in the next few months.
Chairs, Tables and Treatment Rooms
Equipment financing is not only for heavy machines. Dental and medical practices finance imaging units and operatory chairs; chiropractors and therapists finance adjusting tables and rehab equipment; salons finance styling stations, shampoo units and pedicure chairs. The same questions apply: what is it worth, how long will it last, and how will the payment be met from the revenue it helps earn.
What Partners Ask For
- A quote or invoice with make, model, year and condition
- Business bank statements and time in business
- For used equipment: serial number, hours or mileage, and the seller's details
- Any down payment you plan to make
Stock and supplies belong under other options, and card-heavy businesses sometimes compare a merchant cash advance (not a loan). See the industry pages, the Kissimmee, FL page and how it works for more.
