About
This equipment financing guide is published by 1West, the small business financing company it covers.
1West helps US small businesses find and compare financing options through ABLE, its Automated Business Lending Engine, combined with expert guidance. This site exists to give owners who are buying or leasing equipment a plain, practical reference before they apply. It is a 1West resource, not an independent review publication.
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1West publishes it. This is one of a small number of websites 1West publishes, each focused on a specific question owners face. The company's main website is 1west.com, and applications go to the official ABLE intake at apply.1west.com/intro. Because 1West offers the products described here, this guide should be read as information from the company, not as a neutral comparison.
1West lists six financing types on its website:
Its homepage invites businesses to choose a funding amount from $5,000 to $1 million or more. More detail is on our 1West brand facts page.
Equipment purchases come with their own questions: loan or lease, new or used, what the vendor invoice must show and whether you are ready to apply. Answering them up front helps owners arrive at the application with a complete file, and helps them decide honestly when equipment financing is not the right fit yet.
Nothing here promises approval, rates, timing or outcomes. Eligibility and final terms depend on the financing product and the lender. How we write and compare is explained in our methodology.
Short answers here. Every question has a fuller home in the equipment financing FAQ.
ABLE is the 1West Automated Business Lending Engine. It lets businesses apply online 24/7 and matches them with lenders whose programs fit their credit, revenue and the asset being purchased. 1West pairs that automation with expert guidance, so you can compare financing options with a person available to explain them.
Read this answer in the FAQ1West generally asks applicants to have at least six months in business, four months of business bank statements, monthly revenue of $20,000 or more and a FICO score of 600 or higher. Individual lenders may ask for more, especially for large amounts, and meeting the general requirements does not guarantee approval.
Read this answer in the FAQThe 1West process is built around comparing offers: you submit one application and review rates, terms and any down payment side by side. How many offers you receive depends on your business profile and which lenders' programs fit. Some applicants may receive one offer or none, so it helps to know your numbers before applying.
Read this answer in the FAQStart at the ABLE intake at apply.1west.com/intro. Have your vendor quote, four months of business bank statements and basic business details ready. You submit one application, review the offers that come back side by side, and choose the structure that fits your cash flow. Final approval and terms come from the lender.
Read this answer in the FAQCompare both. Dealer financing is convenient and sometimes includes promotions on new equipment, while applying through 1West lets you see offers from several lenders in one place. Put each offer side by side on the same price, term, down payment and total of payments, then choose the one that fits your cash flow.
Read this answer in the FAQApply once through ABLE, the 1West Automated Business Lending Engine, any time of day, and compare the offers that come back. Eligibility, rates and final terms depend on the lender.
