Most used roll formers, folders and gutter machines sold through this site are financed rather than paid for in cash. Lenders will finance used machinery that has an established resale market, which describes most of what is listed here, but the terms are different from new-equipment financing and the paperwork starts with the listing itself. This page explains how it works in plain terms and lets you request a quote. Used Metal Roofing Machines is not a lender and does not arrange credit; we pass your request to financing partners who do.
How used-equipment financing works
An equipment loan or equipment finance agreement uses the machine as collateral. You pay a down payment, the lender pays the seller, and you make fixed monthly payments over a set term; the lender files a lien on the machine and releases it when you pay it off. A lease works the same way on the surface but the lender owns the machine until a buyout at the end. Because the machine secures the loan, lenders care about its age, condition and resale value as much as your credit, which is why they ask for a written quote or invoice that identifies the machine by make, model and serial number and states a real price. A listing marked call for price cannot be financed until the seller puts a number in writing.
Typical terms in 2026
These are ranges published by equipment lenders and small-business finance guides in 2026, not quotes. Your offer depends on your credit, time in business, revenue, the machine’s age and the down payment.
| Item | Typical range for used equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Interest rate (APR) | 8 to 18 percent | Banks publish 6 to 12 percent for strong borrowers; online lenders run 10 to 30 percent for fast approvals |
| Term | 2 to 5 years | Terms are matched to the machine’s remaining useful life; 12 to 84 months exists across all equipment types |
| Down payment | 10 to 25 percent | New equipment often goes at 0 to 20 percent; older used machines sit at the top of the range |
| SBA 7(a) | Up to 10 years for equipment, up to $5 million | Longer terms and lower payments; used equipment needs an appraisal and enough remaining life |
| SBA 504 | 10 years and longer, fixed rate | Only for equipment with 10 or more years of useful life used at a fixed location; not for portable machines on trailers |
A larger down payment or a shorter term usually lowers the rate, and lenders treat a 25 percent down payment on used equipment as the thing that turns a marginal application into an approval. Manufacturer promotions on new machines, such as sub-10 percent rates on select models, do not apply to used machines sold by a third party.
Tax treatment
Used equipment that is new to your business can qualify for the Section 179 deduction and for bonus depreciation in the year it is placed in service. For 2026 the Section 179 limit is $2,560,000 with a phase-out starting at $4,090,000 of equipment placed in service, and 100 percent bonus depreciation has been restored for qualifying property acquired after January 19, 2025. The used machine cannot have been used by you or a related party before, and the election is not automatic. Talk to your tax preparer before year end, because the deduction follows the in-service date, not the purchase date, and a machine still sitting on a flatbed on December 31 does not count.
What lenders ask for
- A written quote, invoice or bill of sale from the seller with make, model, year, serial number, price and what is included.
- Photos of the machine and the serial plate; some lenders want a third-party inspection or appraisal on older machines.
- Business details: legal name, EIN, time in business (most lenders want at least one year) and ownership.
- Three to six months of business bank statements; larger amounts add tax returns and financial statements.
- A personal credit check on the owner. Scores above 600 qualify broadly; 550 to 600 can work with a bigger down payment.
- A lien search on the machine and the trailer title, so the seller’s lender, if any, is paid off at closing.
- Proof of insurance on the machine once it is yours.
Before you apply
Get the seller’s written price first, including the trailer and tooling, because that is the number the lender finances. Inspect the machine or have it inspected; our inspection checklist covers what to look at. Compare at least two offers, one from your own bank and one from an equipment lender, and read the total cost over the term rather than the monthly payment. Check for prepayment penalties if you expect to pay it off early, and confirm whether the quote includes documentation fees and the first and last payments up front.
Request a financing quote
Tell us which machine you are looking at, the price, your state and roughly how much you want to finance. We forward the request to a financing partner who works with roofing and sheet metal contractors, and they contact you directly. There is no cost and no obligation, and we do not see your financial information.
Disclosure. Used Metal Roofing Machines is not a bank, lender, broker or financial advisor and does not make credit decisions, set rates or take fees from borrowers. Financing requests submitted here are shared with third-party lenders who may compensate us for referrals. All rates, terms and tax figures on this page are published ranges for general information, are subject to change, and are not an offer of credit or tax advice. Confirm current terms with the lender and tax rules with your accountant.