Who finances CNC machines?

Equipment finance companies, banks and some dealers' own programs. Funders that specialize in machine tools tend to value new and used machining centers closer to their resale value, which can mean better terms.

Can I finance used equipment?

Yes. Used machines are financed regularly, usually with a shorter term and sometimes a larger down payment, depending on the machine's age and condition.

How do I fund material for a large order?

A line of credit or an asset-based facility secured by receivables and inventory is the usual answer. For a single large order, some funders will advance against the purchase order itself.

What is a sale-leaseback?

The business sells equipment it owns to a funder and leases it back. The machines stay in use, and the cash that was tied up in them becomes working capital.

Guides

Financing for manufacturers and machine shops

Manufacturers usually finance machines with equipment finance secured by the machines themselves, often over five to seven years, and finance the material and labor that come before an invoice with a line of credit or a facility secured by receivables and inventory. The best terms tend to come from funders who know a machine's resale market, because that is how they value the collateral.

Updated October 29, 2026

Financing a machine

A machining center, a press or a coordinate measuring machine is financed against its own value. Funders that specialize in machine tools value it closer to what it would sell for, which can mean a larger amount or a smaller down payment than a general lender would offer. Terms commonly run five to seven years on new equipment.

Material and labor before the first invoice

Large customers, aerospace and defense especially, often pay on 60- to 90-day terms, and certified material has to be bought before production starts. A line of credit, or an asset-based facility secured by receivables and inventory, carries the business through that cycle and grows with it.

Equipment you already own

A sale-leaseback sells equipment the business owns outright to a funder and leases it back, which releases the cash tied up in it while the machines stay on the floor. It suits a shop with valuable equipment and a need for working capital.

What helps a file

The equipment quote, with make, model and year
The last two years of financial statements or tax returns
Receivables aging and a list of main customers
Purchase orders or contracts for the work the capacity is for

An engagement of this kind: Tooling up for aerospace work.

Questions owners ask

Who finances CNC machines?: Equipment finance companies, banks and some dealers' own programs. Funders that specialize in machine tools tend to value new and used machining centers closer to their resale value, which can mean better terms.
Can I finance used equipment?: Yes. Used machines are financed regularly, usually with a shorter term and sometimes a larger down payment, depending on the machine's age and condition.
How do I fund material for a large order?: A line of credit or an asset-based facility secured by receivables and inventory is the usual answer. For a single large order, some funders will advance against the purchase order itself.
What is a sale-leaseback?: The business sells equipment it owns to a funder and leases it back. The machines stay in use, and the cash that was tied up in them becomes working capital.

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