Startup costs for a retail business can affect your earnings for many years to come. To offset these costs, you should consider saving money by renting equipment, including leasing a cash register or point-of-sale (POS) system.

Companies that offer cash register leasing work with business owners to give them the latest technology needed to succeed in their industry. Furthermore, when you lease a cash register, you don’t have to tie up funds to finance the equipment.

However, leasing cash register systems is a bit unusual -- most POS systems, including cash registers, are sold outright. So if you want to lease a POS register, you will have to:

1. Find a company that offers cash register lease services. Examine the different leasing and payment options proposed by the company.
2. Apply for cash register equipment financing. After choosing the equipment that you wish to lease, you’ll have to go through a credit approval process.
3. Insure the equipment after leasing cash registers. Once you lease a cash register, you want to make sure that you are protected in the case of breakage.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Work a cash register leasing deal through a cash register distributor

Many POS system and cash register resellers will help you finance a cash register through a third party finance company.

I recommend: POSNation.com promises a 24-hour turnaround on inquiries about leasing cash register systems. POSGuys.com offers a range of flexible terms, from 25 days same-as-cash to 36-month stretch pay.

Request a quote from a company with cash register lease services

After you start the process of leasing a cash register, you need to go through the different leasing options with the selected company. Many companies offer cash register leasing services that have a buyout option or short term low cost leases.

I recommend: Get a quote from Capital Fund Leasing to find out the cost of cash register equipment leasing. The company can let you know the price to finance a cash register with their different leasing options.

Pick a cash register leasing payment plan that's perfect for you

You have to take a look at your cash flow as well as budgets to decide how to finance a cash register. Many businesses allow you to lease a cash register by making monthly, quarterly or deferred payments.

I recommend: With Business Direct Capital you have flexibility while leasing cash registers. You can make a monthly or quarterly fixed payment on the equipment or sign up for the step plan. While financing a cash register, your payments will gradually increase over the lifetime of the lease.

Insure a cash register equipment lease

Many cash register leasing companies have clear guidelines on how they expect their equipment to be returned at the end of the lease. If the cash register breaks during the lease period, you're likely responsible to cover the cost of repair. Protect yourself by getting insurance on the cash register leasing service.

I recommend: With Tiger Leasing, your cash register lease services include an insurance policy. The Equipment Lessors Protection Association (ELPA) provides their equipment leasing insurance policy.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most cash register leasing companies will not require a down payment to acquire the equipment that you need. However, you may have to pay the first and last month of the lease before they release the equipment to you.