When your business needs new equipment, leasing can be a powerful tool to acquire the items you need. You can lease nearly anything including medical equipment, furniture & fixtures, HVAC, computers & software, phone systems, audio visual & sound equipment, specialty trucks & construction equipment, printing equipment, dry cleaning equipment, diagnostic equipment, manufacturing equipment, fitness equipment, office equipment, etc. Basically, if it’s equipment that is the backbone to your business, you can probably lease it. The list goes on. Upon executing a lease, it is important that you ask the right questions. This is important so that you know exactly what your future holds regarding that equipment and so that you don’t encounter any unwelcomed surprises.

First, what type of lease is it? Most small businesses opt for an operating lease. When executing this type of lease the leasing company retains title to the equipment and the user of the equipment (you) can reap the tax benefits. The payment is considered an operating expense instead of a depreciable asset. Another basic type of lease is a capital lease. This is actually very similar to a loan and the user of the equipment retains title to the equipment and it’s therefore considered an asset on your balance sheet. The tax advantages are normally better with an operating lease and you also don’t need to worry about getting stuck with obsolete equipment. Again, just ask the right questions when executing a lease.

Another excellent question would be, can I terminate the agreement early. If so, at what point can you do so and would there be any kind of penalty? This is important to know if you need to update your equipment or just simply get rid of it.

How long is the lease term? Typical lease terms are for 24, 36, 48 or 60 months (sometimes longer). It should be fairly obvious that payments are lower on the longer lease terms. Keep in mind that while the payments are lower with the longer terms, you end up paying more after all is said and done. Also, when pondering what term works best don’t forget to consider your expected equipment usage lifespan. If you think you’ll need to upgrade in 3 years, don’t opt for the 5 year term without carefully considering the implications.

Also, find out about the buyout option. Some leases are set up so that at the end of the term, you can buy the equipment for one dollar. These are usually referred to as a buck out lease. When you choose this option, satisfy your lease term and execute the one dollar buyout you become the titled owner. Not bad. Normally, the monthly payments are a tad bit higher for a buck out lease than if you select one with a buyout at FMV or fair market value. This is exactly what it sounds like it is. You can buy the equipment for its current market value at the end of the lease term (really similar to a car lease). This will usually yield a lower payment than the buck out option. This is the best option if you know that you won’t be keeping the equipment and will need to upgrade.

Leasing can be an excellent way to finance your business equipment needs. When using this approach, it’s all about leverage. You have better tax advantages, you usually don’t need to tie up as much of your valuable operating cash when you initially acquire the equipment, and you don’t need to worry about being stuck with obsolete equipment. Equipment leasing is a fantastic way to finance your business, just be sure to ask the right questions upon executing the lease.

Used exercise equipment is widely available on the market today. New exercise machines cost several thousands dollars, and used exercise equipments is a viable alternative to costly new machines. Commercial grade refurbished exercise machines are available for a fraction of the original cost. You can save a lot of money on used equipments.

There are various used exercise equipment companies serving commercial and corporate gyms, institutions and residential clients. Everything from treadmills, exercise bikes, steppers, elliptical trainers to free weights and floor matting can be found at a discounted price. These fitness-remanufacturing companies purchase old exercise equipments, rebuild them and resell them at a lower price. These equipments are refurbished according to factory specifications before they go on sale. Some companies even offer a warranty on the refurbished materials.

A quick browse on the Internet lists a number of companies who specialize in used exercise equipment. Global Fitness, Fitness Equipment Depot and Kacor Inc are some of the famous fitness remanufacturing companies. They buy pre-owned equipment from health clubs and renovate them as good as new. Certain points are to be kept in mind in buying used exercise equipment. First, you have to choose a company with a good reputation. You have to research the price and quality of the product. It is advisable to study all the features of the renovated used exercise equipment in detail. Also, it is a good idea to consult people who use such exercise equipment, such as fitness trainers, who can offer you tips on care of the equipment and how to use it properly.

How many infomercials have you seen on TV that really tout a specific piece of equipment?

If you’re like me, then you’ve seen equipment and gadgets come and go each and every year.

So, if that is the case and the latest and greatest piece of equipment most likely isn’t going to be here next year, what pieces of fitness equipment do you actually need?

Necessary Fitness Equipment

Are you ready for the list?

Did you see it just then?

You didn’t. Maybe because there isn’t one. I can’t think of a single piece of equipment that is going to be absolutely necessary to get in shape.

What about shoes?

I’ve seen people exercise barefooted before. The used to do it all the time in the “old” days. Think about running on the beach in the sand. Do you need shoes for that?

What about weights?

People get in shape all the time without using any type of weights other than body weight. Push ups, pull ups, body squats - these all can be done with nothing but your own weight. You don’t need a specific piece of fitness equipment to see results.

The best advice: go join a gym.

They have all the fitness equipment you need (other than shoes) and you don’t even have to pay thousands of dollars for one measly piece of equipment.

Most gyms and health clubs will carry all sorts of fitness equipment plus, you now don’t have to find a place in the house to keep it.

Remember, most home fitness equipment never gets used based on it’s convenience. You don’t need anything to get in shape… other than some heart and a little creativity.

Indoor playground equipment can keep a child busy for hours while it develop her strength, agility, dexterity, balance and concentration.

Indoor playground equipment can be single-unit or multi-unit; the material used may be metal or wood; special requirements such as disabilities, the number of children who may use the equipment at the same time and the type of activities to be included should be considered in providing accessories like stools, tables, racks or litter bins .

Indoor playground equipment can be installed in malls, retails outlets, hospitals, schools or homes and can be customized to suit children of all age groups from infants to teens.

There are various aspects to be considered while buying playground equipment: is there enough room for the equipment? What is the size and shape? Is the surface under the equipment safe and resilient? Is there enough space between the pieces of the equipment? Is the equipment suitable for the child? Does it seem risky or unsafe in any way? Are there any protruding objects that might poke or hanging ropes that can strangle or cause the child to trip or fall? Is it easy to maintain? Is it environment friendly?

Manufacturers are designing indoor playground equipment very innovatively. This includes theme-based equipment like play systems that look like castles, forts, barns, planes, ships, trains and cars. One manufacturer even recreated a whole forest theme complete with caves, trees, tree houses, mountains, water falls and slides.

The Internet is a source for locating as well as ordering indoor playground equipment. There are several web sites so you can compare prices. Most manufacturers offer online designing, which would not only save time but also enable you to get the best deal at the best price.

EMTs and paramedics are the first on the scene in any accident or other incident where a person is injured. EMTs not only provide immediate emergency medical treatment—more specialized care can be provided by EMTs with extra training. All of this care is usually performed while transporting the patient to the hospital.

Once an EMT arrives at the scene of an incident, their primary focus is to determine the injured persons condition and medical history. They then provide medical care based on pre-established norms. When possible, emergency medical personnel provide care at the patient’s home or at the scene without taking them to the hospital. However, when more serious medical attention is required, specialized doctors may talk the EMTs or paramedics through the procedures over the radio en route to the hospital.

EMTs and paramedics usually work in teams—one drives the ambulance while the other takes care of the patient, who has been placed on a stretcher and secured to the ambulance. In some situations EMTs and paramedics work as part of a helicopter crew that rushes patients to hospitals when extreme medical attention is required more quickly. Once they transport their patient to the hospital, emergency medical personnel report what care they have provided, as well as information regarding the patient’s condition and injuries. They then prepare their vehicle for the next call by replenishing their supplies and cleaning the interior.

There are several levels of EMTs and paramedics that determine the level of care they may provide. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) designates four levels:

o First Responder
o EMT-Basic
o EMT-Intermediate
o EMT-Paramedic

Many emergency professionals like police and firefighters are certified first responders. They provide the most basic level of medical care because they usually are the first people to arrive at the scene.

EMT-1s, or EMT-Basics, are trained in basic cardiac, respiratory, and traumatic injury emergency care. They care for the patient en route to the hospital.

EMT-Intermediates, comprising EMT-2s and EMT-3s, have additional training that allows them to use defibrillators to restart a heart that has stopped, give fluids intravenously, and clear the airway using sophisticated techniques and equipment.

EMT-Paramedics, or EMT-4s, may perform all of the procedures the lower levels can plus give oral or intravenous drugs, read EKGs (electrocardiograms), do endotracheal intubations, and use a variety of complex equipment.

Emergency medical care is required 24 hours a day and is in high demand, so choosing a career as an EMT means wonderful job security.

How Do You Become An Emergency Medical Technician?

Formal training and certification is needed to begin a career as an Emergency Medical Technician. All 50 states have a certification procedure. EMT Training programs are available at many colleges across the country, and training typically takes about two years. Basic coursework typically emphasizes emergency skills such as managing respiratory trauma and cardiac emergency and patient assessment. Formal courses are often combined with time in an emergency room or ambulance. Programs often also provide for instruction and practice dealing with bleeding, fractures, airway obstruction, cardiac arrest, and emergency childbirth. Students learn how to use and maintain common emergency equipment such as backboards, suction devices, splints, oxygen delivery systems, and stretchers. Once you are certified as an Emergency Medical Technician, you must also meet continuing education requirements.

A major hospital and nursing home company just reported a 14% drop in net income for the fourth quarter of 2006 from the same period last year. The company’s CFO said the drop was attributed almost exclusively to lower Medicare reimbursement rates. Although still very profitable, the company expects continued erosion of profits as further reimbursement rates are expected.

For smaller groups, the problems are magnified. The Medicare reimbursement decreases, along with skyrocketing malpractice insurance premiums and slow time-to-collection waiting periods from third party payors have placed many providers in a precarious position. A large percentage of doctors have postponed much needed equipment purchases and laid off staff or are planning layoffs in the near future.

These providers have no ability to change the laws regarding Medicare reimbursements, but they can take matters into their own hands by using their assets more efficiently. Medical receivables funding, or factoring, allows the provider to receive immediate cash for their third party billings. Third party payors are commercial insurance companies, HMO’s, PPO’s, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medicare, Medicaid, and state entitlement programs. Ordinarily, the provider must wait anywhere from 30 to 90 days to collect their payments after the service has been performed. Factoring changes all that.

Factoring is not a loan: it is the sale of your medical third party receivables. It is not an asset based loan or a debt facility that banks offer. Unlike bank lines that can tie up all your assets, factoring only encumbers your medical receivables. In addition, it is an off balance sheet transaction. In other words, your balance sheet does not reflect debt as a result of factoring. This can be important in the event the practice is for sale or new partners are being added.

The advantages of factoring medical receivables are numerous:

• It provides a stable and dependable cash flow

• There is no predetermined limit of funding. The amount funded is only limited by the pool of your third party receivables

• No personal guarantees are required

• No collateral other than medical receivables

• Capital is made available for expansion, equipment, or just paying bills on time

Which providers are candidates for factoring?

• MRI Centers

• Home health agencies

• Rehab centers

• Durable equipment suppliers

• Medical labs

• Substance abuse clinics

• Dialysis facilities

• Hospitals

• Physician Groups

• Physical therapy centers

• Outpatient facilities

One of the criticisms of factoring is the cost. However, increased competition has allowed providers to enjoy a lower cost of capital, which makes factoring medical receivables even more attractive.

Kent Harlan has been a CPA since 1984 and has provided consulting, accounting and financial services to several industries. He is the owner of Ozarks Capital Funding, LLC, a Springfield, MO based company offering financing in the areas of accounts receivable factoring, equipment leasing, asset based lending, and healthcare provider. He is an active member in the Missouri Society for Certified Public Accountants and has written several articles for the Springfield Business Journal.

Whether it is a start-up or an established concern, medical equipment leasing is a preferred alternative to equip your medical business with state of the art equipments. Since medical profession is constantly growing and high-priced modern equipments are introduced in the market each day, a considerable cash outlay is required to obtain these equipments. Rather than a purchase or loan, leasing enables to free up a large amount of capital, by saving millions of dollars. Usually, lease cycles range from 24 to 60 months, and this offers flexibility to upgrade the equipments as and when required with minimum of capital investment.

Medical equipment leasing ensures 100% equipment financing with low rates. Further, this system does not involve down payments, cross-colleterizaion and restrictive borrowing covenants. Advantages also include tax deductions, immediate write-offs, balance sheet management, easy upgrades, improved cash flow, better asset management, and fast processing. Above all, depending on the lease structure, you get an option to either purchase these equipments at a stated amount or at a Fair Market Value. In certain circumstances, options are also provided to renew the lease at a reduced monthly payment.

Medical equipment leasing always brings newer and updated equipments, such as x-ray, lab equipment, laboratory equipment, examination tables, physical therapy equipment, office equipment, CAT scan machines, and diagnostic equipments. Medical office furniture can also be acquired through medical equipment leasing. Thus, an ordinary set up can be transformed to a state of the art medical care center. This allows medical professionals to deliver the highest level of medical care and services possible to its patients.

A host of leasing companies is there to provide services in medical equipment leasing. Capital Solutions LLC, LeaseSource, and Keystone Equipment Leasing are just few among them. Most of them assist to upgrade and install medical equipments, and some even provide custom tailored programs. There are also companies providing medical equipment leasing along with medical financing and commercial mortgage financing.

When someone needs medical oxygen equipment they should always get advice from his or her doctor. Always make sure you are aware of all of your options here. In order to assess what medical oxygen equipment you will need to be aware of the way you body will react to certain medications, side effects and chemical issues can get in the way of your treatment. We suggest that you get a second opinion if there is any hesitation in your medical treatment or the medical oxygen equipment you are using.

There are all kinds of portable oxygen supplies available for you to enjoy. Many people are able to gain mobility, feel better, and best of all—they can spend time with people they have not been able to see because of his or her condition. Friends and family members are what you miss the most when you are bound to the medical oxygen equipment at home. But

The very best treatment for you may not be the first kind of medical oxygen equipment you purchase. Make sure you visit you doctor for a medical consult—do not just choose the medical oxygen equipment you would like to try—or that a friend of yours recommended etc. Discuss the many possibilities for you that will best suit your needs.

Your doctor and yourself should choose the right medical oxygen equipment and course of treatment for your condition. From simple air filters to continuous flow oxygen concentrators, to backpack portable oxygen, even heart-rate monitors—there are multiple types of medical oxygen equipment of the highest quality and the very best design. Find medical oxygen equipment that will be long lasting and that will make a real difference in your life.

Advancing technology is bringing with it new medical innovations. We are certainly benefiting from these innovations, as in the case of new scanning equipment. This equipment is at the forefront of research and is very costly. To keep up with the technology, hospitals have to update their expensive equipments regularly; otherwise, they cannot offer the best health care to their patients. Every time a medical establishment upgrades the equipment, it has to sell off the old equipment.

Advantages of leasing medical equipment

Doctors starting a new practice might have modest capital and therefore not be able to afford to buy the best, new equipment. This will certainly hamper their business prospectus. Who will go to a new doctor with obsolete equipment? By leasing, the doctors can get the latest equipment and can use their cash to run the practice efficiently.

Large hospitals might have the capital required to buy the latest equipment, but they are in danger of getting burdened by the obsolete, costly equipment in near future. By leasing, the risk of ending up with an obsolete machine is minimized, as you can build, upgrade, or add-on to the lease. In the process, hospitals also save lot of cash, as there is hardly any upfront amount required for leasing the medical equipment. As a result, the hospitals can expand their business with the saved money.

Used medical equipment has become a growing trend as the demand for quality medical equipment increases and the costs of purchasing medical equipment at full price becomes more difficult to do.

Keep in mind that our economics are changing all the time and not all companies have a budget to spend as they please these used medical equipment for doctors, hospitals, non profit organizations and more need a way to provide up to date technology without the high costs of purchasing new medical equipment.

The problem with used medical equipment is finding a reliable source that offers not only used medical equipment but takes the time to test and restore the used medical equipment to insure full functionality. Before you purchase from any company make sure they offer some kind of guarantee package and maintenance package.

It is also important to find a company that can work with your budget. In most cases the facilities that require the used medical equipment have a low budget to work with so finding a company that can offer financing or even leasing used medical equipment can be very helpful.

There are a few companies that offer the best used medical equipment to fit all your needs. Proving customer satisfaction on every item they sell you can be sure that when you purchase your used medical equipment from them it will be working properly and can even lease or buy outright these equipments. You can also opt in for a service agreement and receive maintenance on your used medical equipment.

These companies can also repair your used medical equipment and bring them back to full working order. Offer them to trade in or sell your used medical equipment and rest assured they will fully repair and re-sell the equipment to make sure it continues to get use from others who are in need of great working medical equipment.

We want to make sure you understand the benefits of using restored medical equipment:

- The used medical equipment should be fully repaired and guaranteed to be in full working order when you receive your purchase
- You should also be able to buy used medical equipment or lease from them
- Sell your used medical equipment or trade in your used medical equipment
- repair or maintain your equipment