How can CNC machine dealers offer financing that sells more machines?
Most businesses finance at least some of the equipment they buy, so the number a shop owner wants from your quote is the monthly payment. Here’s how CNC machine dealers can put that number on every quote, finance used machines and soft costs with the sale, and why it’s worth running those deals through a free Five West partner program.
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Why do CNC machine sales stall without financing?
Because a machine is a big one-time purchase, and an owner who sees only a price has to figure out the cash before deciding on the machine. That’s where quotes sit. The owner waits for the next contract, holds the cash for tooling and payroll, or says they’ll look again next quarter.
Most of your customers would finance anyway. In the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s 2024 Horizon Report, 82% of businesses that acquired equipment or software in 2023 used at least one form of financing, and cash flow was the top reason.
And tickets keep growing. The Association For Manufacturing Technology counted $732.9 million in U.S. metalworking machinery orders in August 2026, the third-highest month it’s recorded, and says order values have grown nearly three times faster than units since September 2024. Orders from contract machine shops grew faster than the overall market in August, too.
Bigger tickets make the monthly number matter more. I’d put it on the quote before the customer asks.
What should a CNC dealer’s financing program cover?
Everything on the quote. Five West finances the machine, new or used, plus tooling, rigging, installation and freight on qualifying deals, from a usual minimum of about $15,000 to $5 million and above:
- Machines: CNC mills and lathes, vertical and horizontal machining centers, EDM machines, grinders, saws, CNC routers, fiber lasers, plasma tables, waterjets, press brakes, shears, welding equipment and robotic welding cells.
- Any source: new, used, refurbished, auction and private-party.
- Tooling and workholding: in the machine’s payment, or on their own once the package reaches about $15,000.
- Rigging, installation and freight: included on qualifying transactions, so there’s one payment for the whole job.
- Automation cells: integration, tooling, programming and commissioning on qualifying deals.
- Imported machines: can be financed when you invoice them from U.S. stock (more below).
Our machine tool financing page has the details, and our guide to financing automation shows why the robot is often only about a quarter of a cell’s cost.
What does a CNC machine cost per month?
As a rough guide, every $100,000 financed with nothing down comes to about $2,076 a month over 60 months, or $1,609 over 84. Here’s how that works out on machines listed in October 2026:
| Machine | Seller | Listed price | 48 months | 60 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical machining center: Haas VF-2, new, starting price (30 x 16 x 20 in. travels, 8,100 rpm 40-taper spindle, 20-tool changer) | Haas Automation | $70,995 | About $1,767 | About $1,474 |
| CNC lathe: Haas ST-20, new, starting price (8.3 in. chuck, 2.5 in. bar capacity, 12-station turret) | Haas Automation | $77,995 | About $1,941 | About $1,619 |
| 5-axis: Haas UMC-750, new, starting price (30 x 20 x 20 in. travels, dual-axis trunnion table) | Haas Automation | $192,995 | About $4,803 | About $4,006 |
| Fiber laser: Piranha SP510, new, starting price (5 x 10 ft. table, 3 kW) | Piranha | $173,900 | About $4,328 | About $3,610 |
| Press brake: Gator G-Advanced, new (250 tons, 12 ft. overall, 4-axis CNC) | Gator Fabrication Technology on Surplus Record | $129,000 | About $3,210 | About $2,678 |
| Used lathe: 2020 DMG MORI NLX 3000/1250 (12 in. chuck, 3.5 in. bar capacity, CELOS control) | The Equipment Hub | $195,000 | About $4,853 | About $4,048 |
Listed prices checked October 19, 2026. Haas and Piranha figures are the builders’ published U.S. starting prices. These are listed asking prices, not appraisals or offers, and Five West has no affiliation with these sellers. Payments are estimated examples for established businesses only (two or more years in business), with no money down and payments in arrears. Actual payments depend on the customer’s credit, the machine and the term. Used machines from a dealer usually take 10% to 15% down and get a term that fits their remaining useful life. Illustrative, not a quote or an offer.
On qualifying deals, the options, tooling, freight, rigging and installation can all go in the same payment. Another $12,000 of tooling and workholding comes to about $249 a month over 60 months.
New machining centers can go to 84 months on qualifying deals. That takes the UMC-750 down to about $3,105 a month, though the longer term costs more over the life of the deal, so I’d show both terms and let the customer pick.
How do used and rebuilt CNC machines get financed?
Much like new ones, with the control and the machine’s age at payoff setting the term. The control generation matters more than the build year, so a current or still-supported control gets a longer term than one the builder no longer supports. The age that counts is the machine’s age when the term ends, so a shorter term can open up an older one. Underwriters also look at the builder and whether software licenses transfer.
Here’s what to tell customers:
- From a dealer: usually 10% to 15% down.
- At auction: the lot listing with the serial number and control is usually all a first response needs, so send it in before they bid.
- Refurbished or rebuilt: refurbished machine tools are among the most common lease deals we see.
Take a used lathe. In October, The Equipment Hub in Decatur, Georgia, listed a 2021 Haas ST-25 at $57,500. Put 10% down, or $5,750, and finance $51,750, and it’s about $1,646 a month over 36 months, as an example.
Whatever you’re selling used, send the control model and serial number with the quote. Our guide to buying a used CNC from a private party lists what buyers should check.
How do deposits and long lead times work on a financed machine?
Where the machine requires a deposit, deposit funding can be released once your customer signs the documents, with the balance on delivery. Otherwise you’re paid 100% of the invoice when the deal funds, after the customer signs and the machine is delivered and accepted. Standard deals can fund in as little as 24 to 48 hours after signing. You don’t carry a receivable or do any collecting, because the customer’s obligation runs to the funder.
On a machine that’s months out, get the application in when the order is signed, so the approval is in hand early. If the machine, price or seller changes after approval, the approval is updated before your customer signs. For a cell or line where the integrator bills in milestones, progress and pre-funding arrangements are available on qualifying transactions.
Selling imported machines? Invoice them from U.S. stock. U.S. equipment finance companies pay a U.S. vendor for a machine that’s already here and delivered to the buyer, and they generally don’t fund one shipped straight from an overseas factory. Overseas builders can start with our guide for overseas manufacturers.
Why should CNC dealers work with Five West?
Because it doesn’t cost you anything, answers come back in hours, and a borderline file gets worked on before anyone calls it a decline. Here’s why:
- Two funding paths, one submission. Each deal goes to the program that fits: the sharpest pricing when price matters most, or the Five West direct lending program when speed, certainty or structure matters more.
- A restructure before a decline. Money down, a shorter term, a co-signer or corporate co-guarantor, or a different program can turn a borderline file into an approval. If a file can’t be placed, we’ll say so plainly so your rep can move on.
- Answers in hours. Applications start with a soft credit inquiry. Most get a first response within 1 to 2 business hours, and clean application-only files can be approved in as little as 30 minutes.
- No financials on qualifying files. Application-only decisions go up to $500,000, enough for every machine in the table above.
- Payments that fit the work. Deferred and seasonal payments on qualifying deals, and no prepayment penalty on many programs.
- Paid in full. 100% of the invoice when the deal funds.
Every tier also comes with a dedicated finance rep. The restructure is what I’d show a sales manager first. That’s how a file that starts out looking like a no can still end in a signed order.
Which partner tier fits a CNC dealer?
It’s the one that matches the application volume you already do. All three tiers are free, with no setup fee, no monthly fee and no application fee for your customers, and each starts with a 90-day trial.
| Tier | Monthly applications | What you get | In machine terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Party Financing | No minimum | A dedicated finance rep and nothing to sign. Send customers to support@fivewestfinancial.com or a named point of contact. | Start with your next quote |
| Co-Branded | About $100,000, plus one funded deal a quarter | Your logo on a payment calculator and financing page, an apply-online link, the Partner Portal, 100% funding upfront on orders and ongoing training | About two $57,500 used lathes a month |
| Private Label | About $500,000, under a partner program agreement | Everything in Co-Branded, plus a program built under your brand, CRM integration, annual sales meeting sponsorships, and in-person trade show and event support | About seven $70,995 VF-2s a month |
Volume counts what customers apply for, whether or not every deal funds. Moving up a tier doesn’t restart anything, and plenty of partners start on 3rd Party. Our partner tier comparison goes through all three.
How do you put a payment on every machine quote?
Print an estimated monthly payment under the price on every quote, with the term and “estimated and subject to credit approval” beside it. Your reps shouldn’t have to do math in front of a customer. The lines can sound like this:
- New VMC: “The VF-2 starts at $70,995, or about $1,474 a month over 60 months, estimated and subject to credit approval.”
- Fiber laser: “The SP510 with a 3 kW source starts at $173,900. That’s about $3,610 a month over 60 months, estimated and subject to credit approval.”
- Used lathe: “This 2021 ST-25 is $57,500. With $5,750 down, the other $51,750 is about $1,646 a month over 36 months, estimated and subject to credit approval.”
Three tools help. The Quote Builder turns a price and term into a payment, with no credit pull. Our partner widgets put a payment estimate, an apply button or a full financing page on your site with one short snippet, and you don’t need to be a partner to use them. On Co-Branded and Private Label, Submit App in the Partner Portal takes about a minute, with no documents and no SSN. The Partner Portal demo shows how reps track each deal from a phone.
One caution: don’t put a payment on quotes for shops under two years old. Their pricing depends on the full file. Our guide to quoting a monthly payment has more rep lines.
Will a machine ordered now count for Section 179 this year?
Only if it’s delivered, rigged, installed and ready to use by December 31, 2026. The IRS says equipment is placed in service when it’s ready and available for its specific use, so a machine delivered in December but not running until January counts next year.
On an equipment finance agreement or a $1 buyout lease, the shop generally deducts the machine like a cash purchase, up to the 2026 Section 179 limit of $2,560,000, and bonus depreciation is 100% for property acquired after January 19, 2025. New and used machines both qualify. On a fair market value lease, the payments are deducted as rent.
So check which machines can ship and be rigged before the holidays, and get approvals before you book the riggers. Your reps can say a machine may qualify, and the customer’s CPA decides what it’s worth. Our Section 179 playbook for dealers has wording reps can use.
Can a startup machine shop finance its first CNC machine?
Yes, through select startup programs, with a stronger file than an established shop needs. A shop that’s under a year old is underwritten as a startup, which typically means 700+ personal credit, experience in the industry, working capital left after the purchase and usually a down payment. Between one and two years in business the field narrows, but deals stay workable.
What makes a new shop’s file stronger:
- Time on the machines: years running, setting up or programming CNC equipment for another shop.
- A machine that holds its value: a recognized builder with dealer support and a control the builder still supports.
It’s best to leave the pricing on these deals to the application. Our startup equipment financing guide explains what those files need.
Frequently asked questions
How can a CNC machine dealer offer financing to customers?
Join a partner program and put an estimated monthly payment on every quote. Five West’s three partner tiers are free: 3rd Party Financing has no minimum and nothing to sign, Co-Branded adds a co-branded payment calculator, financing page and the Partner Portal, and Private Label runs the program under your brand. Customers apply with a soft credit inquiry, and most get a first response within 1 to 2 business hours.
What does it cost a CNC dealer to offer financing?
Nothing. It’s free on all three Five West partner tiers, with no setup fee, no monthly fee and no application fee for your customers, and each tier starts with a 90-day trial. 3rd Party Financing has no minimum volume. Co-Branded asks for about $100,000 a month in applications and one funded deal a quarter, and Private Label about $500,000 a month.
What is the monthly payment on a CNC machine?
As an example for an established business with nothing down, every $100,000 financed is about $2,076 a month over 60 months, or about $1,609 over 84. A new Haas VF-2 at its $70,995 starting price is about $1,474 a month over 60 months. Actual payments depend on credit approval, the machine and the term.
Can a used or auction CNC machine be financed?
Yes. Used, refurbished, auction and private-party machines are all financed. The control generation matters more than the build year, and the age that counts is the machine’s age when the term ends. Expect 10% to 15% down from a dealer and 15% to 25% on a private-party sale.
Can tooling, rigging and freight be financed with the machine?
Yes, on qualifying transactions. Rigging, installation and freight can be included, and tooling and workholding can go in the machine’s payment or be financed on their own once the package reaches about $15,000.
When does the dealer get paid on a financed machine sale?
When the deal funds. Five West pays you 100% of the invoice after your customer signs and the machine is delivered and accepted. Where the machine requires a deposit, deposit funding can be released once documents are signed, with the balance on delivery. You don’t carry a receivable or do any collecting.
Does a CNC machine have to be installed by December 31 for Section 179?
Yes. To count for 2026, it has to be placed in service, meaning delivered, installed and ready to use, by December 31. On an equipment finance agreement or a $1 buyout lease, it’s generally deducted like a cash purchase, up to the 2026 limit of $2,560,000. The buyer’s CPA should confirm.
Can a startup machine shop get CNC financing?
Yes, through select startup programs. A shop under a year old is underwritten as a startup, which typically means 700+ personal credit, relevant industry experience, working capital left after the purchase and usually a down payment. Two or more years in business opens the broadest set of programs.
Start a partner program.
Put a payment on every machine quote, get answers within hours, and get paid 100% of the invoice when deals fund. The partner application takes about 10 minutes, and it’s not a credit application.
This article is general information about financing machine tools and fabrication equipment sold by CNC machine dealers, not tax, legal or accounting advice or a commitment to finance. Prices shown are sellers’ listed asking prices, not appraisals or offers. Order data and tax limits change, so check the current figures before relying on them. Tax and accounting treatment depends on the contract and the business; confirm with a CPA. All financing is subject to credit approval and underwriting.