Forestry equipment finance

Lai A

I can’t speak highly enough of the service I received from Swoop, and in particular James Good. I first spoke to James on the Monday and the funds were in my account by Thursday. For any business owner who knows how slow funding processes usually are, that speed speaks for itself. What stood out just as much was how James worked. I had a lot of questions along the way, including some detailed ones about the loan terms, and he answered every single one properly and quickly, never once making me feel rushed or pressured. There was no pushiness at all, just clear guidance on what was needed and honest answers when I asked for them. By the end it genuinely felt like he was an extended part of my team rather than a broker on the other side of the table. The whole process was smooth, the communication was constant, and the outcome was exactly what was promised. Incredible service. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Swoop again and I’d recommend James to any business looking for funding.

Jul 9, 2026

James

I can't recommend Francis highly enough. From start to finish, he was professional, proactive and genuinely committed to finding a solution. My circumstances weren't straightforward, but he never gave up. He explored every available option, kept me updated throughout, and was always honest about where things stood. What really stood out was his persistence. Rather than accepting the first "no", he continued working behind the scenes, speaking with lenders and finding an alternative route that ultimately resulted in a successful outcome. If you're looking for someone who is knowledgeable, responsive and genuinely invested in helping his clients, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Francis. Thanks again for all your hard work and support.

Jul 3, 2026

Anthony Obi

I recently had reason to uses the services of SWOOP and found them to be most effective in sourcing and executing the required funding for my business. I particularly had great pleasure in dealing with Gareth Thompson the agent assigned to my case. I cannot recommend them highly enough especially the customer service.

Jun 29, 2026

Mark Lancaster

Working with Gareth Thompson at Swoop Funding has been nothing short of exceptional. From the outset, Gareth demonstrated an outstanding level of professionalism, precision, and commitment to supporting our application. His attention to detail was second to none, ensuring every aspect was managed thoroughly and efficiently. What truly stood out was his responsiveness immediate, proactive, and always solution-focused. In situations where timing and clarity are critical, Gareth consistently delivered beyond expectations. In all my years of dealing with financial services and customer support, I can confidently say his service ranks above the highest standards of customer excellence. His ability to combine expertise with genuine care for the client journey is rare. If every business had someone like Gareth managing their funding process, the experience would be transformational. A true asset to Swoop Funding and a benchmark for what world-class customer service should look like.

Jun 25, 2026

Joe Clark

Swoop has been excellent to work with and has played a major role in helping us secure funding for our business - Thrive Protein. Rather than spending countless hours approaching lenders individually, Swoop brought multiple funding options directly to us and helped simplify the entire process. Their support has saved us a huge amount of time and has helped us access the capital needed to continue scaling our business. I would highly recommend Swoop to any business looking for efficient, professional support in exploring funding opportunities.

May 27, 2026

Seamus

Really great company. Alex was brilliant. Very understanding to what my goals were and sourced me the perfect product. Will definitely deal with him again in the future

Apr 28, 2026

S O Kane

First class service. Alex has been so helpful and knowledgeable in understanding my goals. Will definitely be using for future projects

Apr 28, 2026

Umar Javed

Dino Federico is the man to deal with. His colleague Harvey initially contacted me so credit to him aswell and Harvey got the lending over the line. Great communication, everything was clear and funding was approved within a very quick timeframe!

Apr 23, 2026

Fari Fari

I highly recommend Lucas for the sterling work he did on our behalf as per our instructions.

Apr 23, 2026

Siraj Lebbe

Swoop team were very helpful. & very quick service.

Apr 11, 2026

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Page written by Chris Godfrey. Last reviewed on February 28, 2026. Next review due October 1, 2027.

The US forestry, logging and lumber industries are worth almost 4% of US GDP, generating hundreds of $billions in revenues every year. As you may expect, industries this big require big investments in big machines, some of which can cost hundreds of $thousands to buy. However, purchasing equipment like this out of cash flow rarely makes economic sense – which is why smart foresters, loggers and lumber yards use forestry equipment finance to buy the machines they need. Read on to find out more.

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What is forestry equipment finance?

Forestry equipment finance is a specialized form of equipment financing, Designed for businesses in the forestry, logging and lumber industries, this type of financing allows companies to acquire forestry management and production machinery without making a major dent in cash reserves. By spreading the cost of expensive machinery over time, forestry equipment finance helps businesses preserve working capital and better manage their cash flow while ensuring access to essential equipment.

What kind of forestry equipment can I finance?

You can finance almost every type of forestry machinery, including:

Skidders
Harvesters
Chippers
Feller Bunchers
Delimbers
Log Loaders
and more

How to finance forestry equipment

Forestry equipment finance falls into two general classes – business loans to buy the equipment, and leases that are long-term equipment rental agreements:

How to finance forestry equipment

Although many types of business loans are suitable for buying forestry equipment, they all work with the same basic format: You borrow a sum of cash and then repay it over time. Interest charges and fees are added to the principal amount you borrow, and the lender retains a lien on the machinery during the term of the loan. At contract end you’ve paid off the loan and you own the equipment outright.

Advantages of business loans to buy forestry machinery

Regular repayments can improve your financial planning
You own the equipment at contract end
May allow you to own better and more expensive machinery than buying with cash

Disadvantages of business loans to buy forestry machinery

Some loans may require added collateral or a personal guarantee
Interest rates on some business loans can be high
At contract end the machinery may still need replacing or upgrading
If you default on the loan, the lender can take back the equipment

Lease your forestry equipment with a finance or operating lease

Leasing works differently from business loans. With a lease, you’re not buying the equipment, you’re entering into a long-term rental agreement. Depending on the type of lease you choose, (finance lease or operating lease), you may have the option to buy your forestry machinery at contract end for a pre-agreed sum, (which could be as low as $1 but is typically the residual value of the machine – which means what it’s worth in used condition).

Because you’re not repaying the whole cost of the equipment, leasing usually requires lower monthly payments than a business loan. You may also pay a smaller down payment – perhaps equal to one or two month’s repayment instalments.

If you choose not to buy the machinery at the end of the lease, (or you have chosen an operating lease that forbids it), the equipment goes back to the lender. You would then need to take out a new lease and obtain new machinery. (Which could allow you to obtain more modern and up to date equipment).

Some lessors (lenders) may give you the option to extend the lease if you prefer to keep the equipment but do not wish to pay the residual.

Advantages of business loans to buy forestry machinery

Regular repayments can improve your financial planning
You own the equipment at contract end
May allow you to own better and more expensive machinery than buying with cash

Disadvantages of leasing forestry machinery

You may not own the equipment at contract end
There may be restrictions on the types of machinery you can lease
If you default on the lease, the lessor can take back the equipment

Who can qualify for forestry equipment finance

Forestry equipment finance is suitable for businesses that work in the US forestry, logging and lumber industries. Although every lender will have their own qualifying requirements, borrowers will usually need the following to obtain a forestry equipment loan:

Personal FICO credit score of +600
In business at least 6 months
+6 months revenues
Cashflow forecast
Business registration documents and any required licenses or permits
Bank statements – most recent 6 months

How to get forestry equipment finance

Depending on the type of loan you are seeking, forestry equipment financing can be complicated. The sums you can borrow, the interest rate you’ll pay and other terms and conditions will vary from one lender to another. It therefore makes sense to shop around before settling on a deal. You can do this by approaching banks, credit unions and online lenders one by one, or you can use the services of a loan marketplace that will immediately introduce you to a choice of forestry equipment financing from different lenders. Some marketplace platforms can also give you advice and help you with the application process. This can be especially useful for borrowers who have never taken out an equipment loan before.

Alternative ways to finance forestry equipment

Just because you can’t qualify for standard forestry equipment finance, it doesn’t mean you can’t obtain the funding you need. Alternative financing options include:

SBA microloan

Available from lenders who are part of the US Small Business Administration lender network, SBA microloans can be obtained up to $50,000 in value. Designed for organizations that have difficulty accessing traditional business finance, SBA microloans typically come with more relaxed qualifying rules and can be obtained with FICO scores as low as 500, or even with no credit score at all.

Business grants

Business grants are free money, they do not have to be repaid if you spend them properly and in most cases, funders do not consider credit scores when considering applications. The good news is, there are thousands of grants available across the US and they are provided by federal, state and local governments as well as foundations, non-profits and other organizations. The downside to this route is the fact that small business grants are usually highly competitive, slow to fund and often come with strict qualifying rules.

Get started with Swoop's business funding platform

No matter if you’re seeking your first forestry equipment loan or you’re a seasoned borrower, working with business finance experts can make all the difference when applying for funding. Contact Swoop to discuss your borrowing needs, get help with your application and to compare high-quality forestry equipment financing from a choice of lenders. Cut to the chase. Register with Swoop today.

Written by

Chris Godfrey

Chris is a freelance copywriter and content creator. He has been active in the marketing, advertising, and publishing industries for more than twenty-five years. Writing for Wells Fargo Bank, Visa, Experian, Ebay, Flywire, insurers and pension funds, his words have appeared online and in print to inform, entertain and explain the complex world of US consumer and business finance.

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