Equipment Financing for Retail Businesses: POS, Fixtures, Displays and Security

Equipment That Makes Retail Work

Modern retail requires significant equipment investment—point-of-sale systems, inventory management, fixtures, displays, security, and more. Equipment financing makes these investments possible without depleting the working capital you need for inventory.

The right equipment improves customer experience, operational efficiency, and loss prevention—investments that typically pay for themselves.

Common Retail Equipment

POS System Financing

Modern POS systems do far more than ring up sales—inventory tracking, customer data, analytics, and integrations make them essential investments. Costs range from a few thousand for basic systems to $20,000+ for comprehensive solutions.

POS providers often offer financing or leasing programs, sometimes with promotional rates.

Fixture and Display Financing

Store fixtures and displays significantly impact customer experience and sales. A well-merchandised store sells more than a poorly presented one.

Fixtures are excellent candidates for equipment financing—they have long useful lives (10-20 years), hold value well, and directly impact revenue.

Leasing vs. Buying

Retail equipment financing comes in two primary forms:

For fixtures with long lives, purchasing often makes sense. For technology that changes quickly (POS, digital signage), leasing provides flexibility to upgrade.

• Equipment loans: Own the equipment, build equity, claim depreciation
• Equipment leases: Lower payments, upgrade flexibility, may be fully deductible

Security System Investment

Retail shrinkage (theft, fraud, errors) averages 1.5-2% of revenue. For a store doing $500,000 annually, that's $7,500-10,000 in losses. Security systems that reduce shrinkage by half pay for themselves quickly.

Security systems typically finance well—they protect both your business and the lender's collateral.

Section 179 Benefits

Equipment purchases may qualify for Section 179 immediate deduction, potentially significant tax savings. POS systems, fixtures, and even some leasehold improvements can qualify.

Consult your accountant about timing equipment purchases to maximize tax benefits.

Financing Sources

• Equipment vendors: Often offer financing with equipment purchase
• Banks and credit unions: Best rates for established retailers
• Online equipment lenders: Faster approval, flexible requirements
• SBA loans: For larger combined equipment needs
• Leasing companies: Specialize in retail equipment leasing

Strategic Equipment Investment

Prioritize equipment that increases sales (better displays, customer experience), improves efficiency (POS, inventory systems), reduces losses (security), and enhances brand presentation.

Every equipment decision should tie to measurable business outcomes.