Australia-Wide Equipment Leasing for Business
Flexible equipment leasing solutions for Australian businesses. Access vehicles, machinery, technology and commercial equipment with manageable repayments and flexible end-of-term options.
Equipment leasing is a flexible finance solution that allows Australian businesses to access vehicles, machinery, technology and commercial equipment without purchasing the asset outright.
Instead of owning the asset from day one, your business leases the equipment for an agreed period and makes regular lease payments. At the end of the lease term, you may have options to upgrade, extend, return or purchase the equipment depending on the lease structure.
Tigris Finance brokers equipment leasing solutions across a panel of 74+ lenders, including major banks, specialist equipment financiers and non-bank lenders. We help businesses compare options and structure leases that align with operational requirements, cash flow and long-term business goals.
Why businesses choose equipment leasing
Equipment leasing is particularly popular for assets that depreciate quickly or require regular upgrades, such as technology, IT infrastructure, vehicles, medical equipment, hospitality equipment and specialised machinery.
Leasing can help preserve working capital, improve cash flow management and provide flexibility when equipment needs change over time.
Common assets financed through equipment leasing
Equipment leasing with Tigris Finance
Tigris Finance is a Brisbane finance brokerage helping businesses across Australia access tailored equipment leasing solutions. With access to more than 74 lenders, we compare multiple options to find the right rate, structure and lease term for your circumstances.
Whether you're upgrading technology, fitting out a business, replacing ageing equipment or preserving working capital for growth, we help structure a leasing solution that supports your objectives.
Process at a glance: complete a simple enquiry, provide equipment details, compare lender options, choose the lease structure that suits your business, and we'll manage the approval and settlement process from start to finish.
What you'll find on this page: how equipment leasing works, common lease structures, advantages and considerations, frequently asked questions and alternative finance options available to Australian businesses.
Common uses for equipment leasing
Fast-depreciating tech
IT hardware, laptops, servers, AV equipment, point-of-sale systems. You want to upgrade every 2-4 years, not own obsolete kit.
Long-term project plant
Equipment needed for a finite project (construction, mining contract, infrastructure). Lease term matches project duration, then hand it back.
Off-balance-sheet preference
Businesses wanting to keep leased assets off the balance sheet for covenant or reporting reasons. Note that AASB 16 has changed treatment for many lease types; check with your accountant.
Test before you commit
Specialised or unfamiliar equipment where you want operational use before deciding whether to own. Lease and convert to chattel mortgage later if it works.
Operating expense preference
Where your accountant prefers lease payments as operating expense rather than asset depreciation.
Types of equipment lease in Australia
Operating lease
Pure rental with no obligation to buy at end of term. Lessor takes residual value risk. Most common for IT, AV and short-term plant.
Finance lease
Lease with a residual buyout at end. You take residual value risk; payments amortise toward ownership.
Hire purchase
Hybrid where you 'hire' the asset and automatically take ownership at end of term once the final payment is made. Less common in 2026 than chattel mortgage.
Novated lease
Salary-packaged vehicle lease for PAYG employees. See our dedicated novated lease page.
Equipment Leasing FAQs
Are equipment lease payments tax deductible?
Yes. Lease rentals are operating expenses and fully tax deductible as a business expense. This is one of the main attractions of leasing over owning.
Do I have to buy the equipment at the end of the lease?
Depends on the lease type. Operating leases give you the option to walk away. Finance leases and hire purchases typically have a residual buyout. We structure the right one for your intent at end of term.
Can I claim GST on lease payments?
Yes, GST is claimable on each lease payment (rather than upfront as with a chattel mortgage). This can be a cashflow advantage or disadvantage depending on your BAS position.
Does an equipment lease appear on my balance sheet?
Under modern accounting standards (AASB 16), most leases longer than 12 months now appear on balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability. The old 'off-balance-sheet operating lease' treatment is largely gone for reporting entities. Smaller businesses may have different effective treatment.
Can I terminate a lease early?
Yes, but usually with a termination fee covering the lessor's residual exposure. Early termination is rarely cheap, so model the realistic minimum lease term carefully upfront.
Related services
Where equipment leasing isn't quite the right fit, one of these probably is:
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