As medical technology is ever changing and new equipment enhancements are developed, renting equipment is a logical choice for a variety of reasons. Medical equipment leasing can keep their balance sheet intact, as monthly equipment lease payments can be classified as operating expenses. This would also allow the provider to benefit from tax deductibility.

Medical equipment leasing is an excellent way for providers to allow their practices to acquire state of the art equipment. The medical profession is constantly changing, so in order to remain competitive, providers must continually upgrade their equipment packages.

Unfortunately, to outright buy or get a standard loan on the equipment requires a huge outlay of cash.

Vendors who offer a properly structured equipment leasing program are giving the customer a viable financing option. In addition,they are taking a major step to increase sales, market share, and profits. Yet it's surprising how many companies will not provide a leasing program. Some say it's because their customers have their own sources. Others say their customers pay cash.

Healthcare providers, particularly those with a large mix of Medicare related transactions, could be in for a cash and profit squeeze. Refinancing existing medical and office equipment leases can be a way to ease the pressure. According to AMA President Jeremy Lazarus, 45% of physicians in the American Medical Association plan to decrease or stop the acceptance of new Medicare beneficiaries if Congress does not act to stop a 5% decrease in Medicare payments.

Many Chief Financial Officers and other finance executives view asset based loans as a financing outlet of last resort. While that may sometimes be the case, such a view is a one-dimensional perspective. But as companies confront a tight credit market coupled with lower than expected results, many CFO's are viewing asset based lending as a viable option in the financing tool kit.

There are a wide range of options that healthcare providers can utilize to acquire much-needed equipment. This article summarizes these choices and offers advantages and disadvantages to each option.

Options for equipment acquisition:

1. Cash Payments
This option assumes that there is enough cash available.

Advantages:
* It's simple and quick.

Accounts receivable factoring may not be the world's oldest profession, but not far from it. This financial practice can be traced back to the Roman Empire. Invoice factoring was the dominant form of finance in the American colonies before the Revolution (mainly textile firms). Over the past few decades, consolidation has created two distinct types of factoring companies.

Freight bill factoring can be utilized in the following all too common scenario. You suddenly find that your business is in a cash squeeze. You started your small trucking company with five units and a lot of industry experience. Things started out well, with revenues per mile on an upward trend, and an addition of two units the first year. But the expense pressure of higher fuel costs, driver settlements, permits, insurance, and repairs have begun taking its toll.

Some business owners look over equipment leasing contracts carefully. They make notes and question obscure language. They then send the document to their lawyer for review and request that changes be made. The attorney then contacts the leasing company to negotiate the most favorable terms. How often does this chain of events occur? Very rarely.

If you are considering using accounts receivable factoring as a financing tool, you should carefully consider the type of billing arrangement you have with your customers. Invoice factoring relies on important considerations concerning your business model that could make it easier to get funding.

When you initially set up your agreement with the customer, you should specifically outline the work to create deliverables or milestones that allow you to invoice.