Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are not stepping back from growth, new research shows. But they are taking more care over where they spend, as tighter cash flow, rising costs and economic uncertainty put investment decisions under greater scrutiny. 

Acquis’ latest US Business Sentiment Report captures this change in mood. Optimism is still widespread, but it has softened: 59% of SMBs feel positive about the long-term future of their business, compared to 65% in 2025. 

Despite this, businesses are not retreating. Intent to invest is still strong, but SMBs are asking harder questions about how purchases will be funded, when they will start to pay back and whether they will help the business cope with disruption. For equipment lessors, this creates an opportunity to make leasing easier to understand, easier to access and more clearly connected to business resilience. 

Investment remains essential 

For many SMBs, delaying investment carries its own risks. New equipment and technology can support expansion, and are needed to maintain productivity, replace aging assets and keep pace with competitors. 

The report backs this up, with 84% of SMBs intending to invest in new business equipment within the next year. And when asked about their growth opportunities, technology ranks highest, selected by 52% of businesses. Ultimately, businesses still believe they can grow, but any purchases now face more scrutiny.

Funding and supply chain pressure are changing decisions 

That willingness to invest sits alongside several day-to-day pressures. Competition now tops the list of concerns, and supply chain issues remain close behind. Funding has also become a bigger worry, with concern about securing capital rising 7% year over year to 40%. 

Capital may be available, but businesses are thinking carefully about how they use it. SMBs want a choice of funding routes, so they can match finance to the purchase, hold on to cash and avoid commitments that may not suit them if conditions change. 

The report shows that convenience and access still have a strong influence, with 52% of SMBs expecting to use cash in the bank for equipment investment and 45% expecting to use a credit card, while 30% intend to use leasing or hire purchase. Cash and cards are familiar and quick, although they may be an expensive or inefficient way to fund an asset with a long working life, as Acquis explores here.

Making equipment finance easier to use 

For lessors, the priority is not to explain why equipment finance matters, but to make it as straightforward to choose as the alternatives. A quicker, clearer process can show customers that leasing is more than another funding route. It can help keep cash in the business and spread payments over the period in which the asset is earning its keep. 

The difference needs to be clear at the point of decision. Customers need to understand when a lease may make more sense than using cash, a credit card, a working-capital facility or another form of finance. With cash flow and supply chains under pressure, the choice can have a lasting effect on the business. 

When the process is simple and customers have room to adapt, they can go ahead with necessary investment more confidently. Good support after the agreement is signed can also deepen the customer relationship, particularly when problems with the equipment put operations at risk.

Supporting the business beyond the finance agreement 

This latest report asks how leasing can develop from a funding product into a service that helps businesses stay operational. 

This means combining suitable finance with good service, equipment protection and quick repair or replacement when something goes wrong. An asset only earns money when it is working, so if essential equipment goes out of service, productivity, customer service, revenue and cash flow can all suffer. 

SMBs are ready to invest, but they want reassurance that the finance and insurance around the equipment will help them continue trading if conditions change or something goes wrong. Lessors that offer practical support before and after the agreement is signed, including support with repair and replacement, can help customers grow while building stronger, longer-term relationships. 

Download the full Acquis US Business Sentiment Report to explore the findings and what they mean for equipment lessors in 2026.