Equipment Leasing
Multiple lease structures.
One partner who knows which one fits.
Equipment leasing at United isn’t one product — it’s a set of structures designed around different business goals. Some of our clients want the lowest path to outright ownership. Some want lower monthly payments and flexibility at the end of term. Some are financing titled vehicles and need a structure built specifically for fleets. We offer capital leases, $1 buyout leases, and TRAC leases — and we’ll help you understand which structure aligns with your equipment, your tax situation, and how long you plan to keep the asset.
How Equipment Leasing Works
Simple, transparent, and built for your business.
Equipment Selection
You choose the specific equipment or vehicles your business needs.
Structuring
United designs a payment schedule around your revenue cycle — level payments, seasonal structures, or step-ups as your new equipment ramps up.
Acquisition
We purchase the equipment and lease it to your business for the agreed term.
Use
You make regular payments and operate the equipment as your own — with full use and operational control throughout the lease.
End of Term
Choose your next move: return the equipment, renew the lease, upgrade to newer equipment, or exercise a purchase option.
Lease Options
Lease Structures We Offer
Capital Lease
A capital lease is structured so that the economics of ownership transfer to your business over the lease term. The equipment appears on your balance sheet as an asset, and you may claim depreciation and the interest portion of your payments.
Long-life equipment you intend to keep, where building equity matters and you want ownership-style tax treatment.
- Equipment recorded as an asset on your balance sheet
- Depreciation and interest deductions available
- Terms structured to the useful life of the equipment
- Purchase option at end of term
$1 Buyout Lease
The most direct path to ownership. You make regular lease payments over the term, then purchase the equipment outright for one dollar. Functionally it works like a finance agreement — but structured as a lease.
Equipment you know you are keeping. If there is no scenario where you return it, the $1 buyout removes end-of-term uncertainty entirely.
- Guaranteed ownership at end of term for $1
- Potential Section 179 and depreciation benefits
- No residual risk or end-of-term negotiation
- Higher monthly payment than a residual-based structure, but full equity at the end
TRAC Lease
Titled vehicles onlyA TRAC (Terminal Rental Adjustment Clause) lease is available specifically for titled vehicles — trucks, tractors, trailers, vans, and other road equipment. You set the residual value at the start of the lease, which lowers your monthly payment. At the end of term you can purchase the vehicle at that residual, or sell it: if it sells above the residual you keep the difference, and if it sells below you cover the gap.
Titled vehicles and fleet equipment, especially where you want lower monthly payments and have a clear view of resale values.
- Available for titled motor vehicles only
- You set the residual — a lower residual means a higher payment, and vice versa
- Lower monthly payments than a $1 buyout
- Lease payments may be fully deductible as an operating expense
- You capture the upside if the vehicle sells above residual
Tax treatment varies by structure and by business. Consult your tax professional before making a decision based on tax outcomes.
Equipment Leasing FAQs
Both are ownership-oriented structures. A $1 buyout lease guarantees you own the equipment at the end of term for one dollar, with no residual and no end-of-term decision to make. A capital lease may include a purchase option at a stated value rather than a fixed dollar amount. The $1 buyout removes all end-of-term uncertainty; a capital lease can offer slightly more structuring flexibility.
A TRAC lease is a structure available specifically for titled motor vehicles — trucks, tractors, trailers, and similar road equipment. You set a residual value at lease inception, which lowers your monthly payment compared to a full-payout structure. At the end of term you can purchase the vehicle at the residual or sell it and settle the difference either way. TRAC leases are widely used by fleet operators and businesses running titled vehicles as revenue-producing assets.
It depends on three things: whether you intend to keep the equipment long-term, what kind of monthly payment fits your cash flow, and how your tax situation is structured. If you're definitely keeping it, a $1 buyout is usually the cleanest path. If you're financing titled vehicles and want lower payments, a TRAC lease is often the right fit. A ULF financing rep can walk through your specific situation — that conversation is free and there's no obligation.
Yes. All of our lease structures can be built with seasonal payment schedules, step-up payments, or other custom arrangements that align with how your business generates revenue across the year.