My only "do" on financing is "DONT". Not until there is a steady record of work, 6 months expenses in the bank, and some repeat customers. Rent for a while. Let the yard deliver it. Make some money. Buy a used tag from a ritchie brothers auction ( I paid $950 for my 20 ton. It needed seals and new pads on one axle, and a rewire. It was ugly, but worked, and still does today). Then pick up your stuff from the yard with your LN8000 and your tag. Make some more money. Then buy something else. Always pay yourself first.
I'm probably being Debbie Downer here, but alot of people think that you cant do it without owning that big piece of equipment. I've spoke with a few people who have "re-structured" (gone bankrupt), and they usually can tell you that the large piece of financed equipment that was going to make them a million was actually the straw that broke the camels back when a job didn't come in like they were hoping. The payment was still due.
If I had to start over again, in hindsight, I would probably focus my efforts on acquiring support equipment before buying bigger items. Sounds backwards, but if I can buy a used jumping jack for 6 or 700, use it a dozen times (100 a day to rent from a yard, pays for the jj plus replacement), and now bank the rental that I'm paying to myself towards a hoe. If you used that jumping jack every day for a year, it'd put 26000 in your pocket for a hoe, and no interest payment.
Business is pot roast. cook it long and slow and its awesome. try to do it quick in the microwave and it gets really tough
