Material handling equipment finance

How much finance do you need?

$
Success

Thanks for registering.

We'll get back to you straight away

Iulia Popescu
James has been absolutely fantastic throughout the entire funding process. He guided us with clear, straightforward advice and was always quick to respond to any questions we had. Thanks to his support, we were able to secure the funds we needed swiftly and without any unnecessary complications. His professionalism, efficiency, and deep understanding of the funding landscape made what could have been a stressful experience feel smooth and manageable. I would highly recommend Swoop—and especially James—to any business looking for reliable, expert support in securing finance.
Aug 5, 2025
Mr B
Simple- Helpful - Accurate
Aug 5, 2025
Jodie Marshall
At a time when I needed some extra funding for my business, I went to SWOOP. They were absolutely amazing. My business is a social enterprise, we so have a not for profit clause which often means mainstream lenders don't like to lend. But these guys found me a company willing to lend at an amazing rate and with amazing terms (better than any social investor I've come across). I gave them what I thought was an impossible task on the off chance, and they delivered! So impressed with their professionalism, friendliness and super quick turn around! Thank you SWOOP!
Aug 5, 2025
Neil Jones
Just when you need that additional business boost, Swoop have you covered. Fantastic turnaround from Adrian and team. They kept me fully informed from start to finish, and with a follow up to make sure everything went well and all is good. Fantastic, highly recommended.
Aug 4, 2025
susan allan
had an amazing experience with BEN nicest taxi driver ever . helped us with a stressful end to the night and couldn’t thank him enough staying with us until we were all safe . if anyone needs a taxi i would recommend ben with swoop .
Aug 3, 2025
Jack
Absolutely brilliant company to deal with. Farhan was extremely helpful, friendly and very efficient from start to finish and have helped us get funding with minimal interest rates which will help the company repay quicker and expand faster. Thanks so much Swoop
Jul 21, 2025
Canada Business Leasing
Love working with this group.
Jul 17, 2025
Lindsay
Cynthia made the process really easy, the customer service was great through out the whole process. Would definitly recommend talking with Swoop and Cynthia!
Jul 11, 2025
Jamal Ogungbola
Great experience from start to finish, helped us secure funding for a new dryer for an independent care home. Very grateful to Adrian and Nichola for their support throughout.
Jul 8, 2025
Darpan
Awesome Service! Very professional and quick processing .Thank you !
Jul 6, 2025
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    Page written by Chris Godfrey. Last reviewed on January 29, 2025. Next review due October 1, 2026.

    Factories, warehouses, airports, seaports, logistics centers and more – in many types of location you’ll see specialized machinery keeping business humming. Material handling equipment is designed to move all kind of goods and materials from A to B, but for smart business owners, these expensive machines all have one thing in common: The best way to buy them is with an equipment lease or loan. 

      Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

      What is material handling equipment finance?

      Material handling equipment finance is a form of equipment financing, Suitable for businesses in many different industries – manufacturing, agriculture, food processing, construction, logistics and more – this type of financing allows companies to acquire specialist machinery without making a major dent in cash reserves. By spreading the cost of expensive machinery over time, material handling equipment finance helps businesses preserve working capital and better manage their cash flow while ensuring access to essential machinery. 

      What equipment can I finance?

      If it’s used to move goods and materials from one place to another, you can almost certainly finance it with a material handling equipment loan. Finance machinery as varied as:

      • Forklifts
      • Automated Guided Vehicles
      • Robo Trains
      • Conveyors
      • Lifts and Racking systems
      • Airport and Port handling equipment
      • Scrap handling equipment
      • Logistics systems
      • and more

      Can I finance used material handling equipment?

      Yes, although some lenders may place restrictions on the types of used materials handling equipment you can finance and may also set a limit on the number of operating hours the machine has worked.

      How to get material handling equipment finance

      Depending on the type of loan you are seeking, material handling equipment finance can be complicated. The sum 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 financing offers from a range of 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.

      What you’ll need to get material handling equipment finance:

      Although every lender will have their own qualifying requirements, borrowers will usually need the following to obtain a material handling 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

      Can I get material handling equipment finance with bad credit?

      Yes. Although it’s never easy to obtain business loans with less-than-stellar credit, it’s not impossible. Three options to consider:

      • You may stand a better chance of being approved if you provide collateral with a value that is at least equal to the amount you wish to borrow. Collateral can be real estate, land, or other major assets. Lenders typically ask for this type of security when businesses have weak trading results or when the business owner or principal has poor personal credit. 
      • If you don’t have sufficient collateral to support a loan, you could consider bringing a co-signer into the deal. This would be someone you know who has good credit and/or assets and who is prepared to backstop the loan in case of your default.

      Lastly, if you lack collateral and cannot bring in a co-signer, you may be able to obtain funding from lenders who specialize in loans for borrowers with bad credit. However, be aware that this type of borrowing is usually more costly than regular business lending and the sums you may be able to borrow will often be much smaller.

      Alternatives to material handling equipment finance

      Just because you can’t qualify for standard equipment finance, it doesn’t mean you can’t obtain funding for your business. 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 material handling 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 equipment financing from a choice of lenders. Let us carry the load for you. 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.

      Swoop promise

      At Swoop we want to make it easy for SMEs to understand the sometimes overwhelming world of business finance and insurance. Our goal is simple – to distill complex topics, unravel jargon, offer transparent and impartial information, and empower businesses to make smart financial decisions with confidence.

      Find out more about Swoop’s editorial principles by reading our editorial policy.

      Create your free Swoop account to apply easily for material handling equipment finance

      Ready to grow your business?
      View more Get quote

      Clever finance tips and the latest news

      Delivered to your inbox monthly

      Join the 95,000+ businesses just like yours getting the Swoop newsletter.

      Free. No spam. Opt out whenever you like.

      Looks like you're in . Go to our site to find relevant products for your country. Go to Swoop