Copier Leasing: Terms, Rates and Buyout Options

How a copier lease is structured

You choose the equipment and we quote it. A funding source then buys the machine and leases it to you. Your monthly payment is the equipment price multiplied by a rate factor. The rate factor depends on three things: the length of the term, the type of buyout at the end, and your credit profile. Terms run 24, 36, 48 or 60 months. Most customers choose 60 months because it gives the lowest payment.

A lease cannot be cancelled. You commit to every payment in the term in exchange for the low monthly rate, and that commitment matters more than any other line in the contract. Read our guide to reading a copier lease agreement before you sign with us or with anyone else.

Fair market value versus $1 buyout

Every lease ends in one of two ways, and your choice sets the monthly payment.

A fair market value (FMV) lease has the lowest payment. When the term ends, you return the machine, renew, or buy it at its market value at that time. Choose FMV if you plan to upgrade on schedule and have no interest in owning a copier that is five years old.

A $1 buyout lease costs more each month, and the machine becomes yours for one dollar at the end. Choose it if you usually keep equipment well past the term, or if your accountant wants the lease treated as a capital purchase. Our comparison of FMV and $1 buyout leases works through the arithmetic.

Plan for one extra cost on an FMV lease. The leasing company owns the machine and wants it back, so you pay the return freight, usually $300 to $500 per unit, and you insure the equipment during the term. When you upgrade with us, we usually cover the return cost.

Financing through JR Copier when a bank says no

Commercial lease programs decline many sound businesses. Companies under two years old, businesses with seasonal revenue, a thin credit file or a past restructuring all get turned away. We run our own financing program for those situations. If an outside funder declines you, ask us directly. The answer is often different.

What the payment covers

The payment covers the equipment, delivery, installation, network setup and staff training. Service labor, parts, preventative maintenance and automatic toner shipments can go on the same invoice or stay separate.

Ask for service quoted separately, even if you want one invoice later. A single blended number hides how much goes to the machine and how much goes to service, so you cannot compare dealers or renegotiate at renewal. Paper, finisher staples and anything used outside the machine are never included.

Credit and timing

A one page application covers most transactions. Decisions usually come back the same business day. Larger amounts and newer businesses may need bank statements and one more day. After approval, most installs happen within five to ten business days, depending on stock and whether your site is ready.