Why leasing needs to feel as seamless as using a credit card

As small and medium-sized businesses navigate the current market, confidence may be wavering, but investment appetite is not.

Recent research by Acquis shows that while optimism among SMBs has fallen over the last year (from 65% to 59%), 84% of those surveyed still plan to invest in new equipment.

Businesses are cautious, but the data shows they are not pulling back. Instead, they are being more selective and deliberate about how they invest. This is where equipment leasing has a clear opportunity.

Investment is holding, but how it’s funded is changing

Despite strong investment intent, the way businesses are funding that investment tells a different story.

Cash remains the most common route, followed by credit cards, both of which are perceived as quick, easy, and accessible. Meanwhile, leasing, despite a slight upward trend, remains underutilized in comparison.

That gap matters.

On one hand, businesses widely recognize leasing as a more cost efficient way to fund equipment, matching payments to the asset life cycle, preserving cash flow, and offering flexibility. On the other hand, many business owners still default to convenience over structure.

The perception gap: convenience vs. value

Credit cards, in particular, offer immediacy and convenience, which helps explain why they remain a go-to option for many SMBs. For many SMBs, speed and simplicity are critical. Time spent navigating finance options is time away from running their business.

However, if businesses perceive leasing as slower, more complex, or harder to access than cash or credit, it will inevitably lose out, regardless of the long-term value it provides.

This leaves the leasing industry with a clear question: how can it make equipment leasing feel as easy to access as the other options businesses already use?

Making the equipment leasing journey easier

The real competitive advantage isn’t explaining the value of leasing. It’s making it effortless to use.

Businesses want finance that keeps pace with their decisions. Streamlined applications, lower administrative burden, and responsive service all help remove barriers to investment and improve the customer experience.

For small businesses in particular, any complexity can become a barrier. Time spent considering funding options is time away from doing the work.

Education and understanding

Alongside convenience, there is also a need for greater clarity. Many SMBs still view leasing as simply another finance product, rather than a useful tool.

That matters because businesses are more likely to choose the right option when they understand how it works. Therefore, helping businesses see leasing not just as another finance product, but as a practical business tool, can change perceptions and encourage wider use.

The role of the equipment leasing industry

For the leasing industry, this is a chance to better support businesses. According to industry bodies such as the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, asset finance underpins a significant share of business investment each year.

By helping SMBs access leasing solutions that protect cash flow, reduce risk, and align with their operational needs, the industry can play a central role in enabling investment, even in uncertain conditions.

But achieving this at scale will depend on more than just strong propositions. It will require a continued focus on simplicity, education, and customer experience, so that leasing feels easier to understand and easier to use.

To read and download the full report, please visit here.