Buy, hire purchase or lease: which model fits your fleet?

1. Purchase: ownership without a term

With a direct purchase at B2B conditions the equipment is yours immediately. No term, no instalment plan, no credit assessment. In return you commit the full amount before the season, exactly when staff, marketing and service also need liquidity.

• Immediate ownership, no contract term
• Sensible below the minimum asset value of EUR 5,000 net
• Full capital commitment before the season
• Future renewal again from your own funds

2. Hire purchase: ownership at the end of the term

Hire purchase spreads the investment across fixed monthly instalments. At the end of the term the equipment becomes your property. This fits operations that use the same fleet for several seasons and then keep it or move it to a second line.

• Ownership transfers at the end of the term
• Fixed, predictable monthly rate
• Germany: hire purchase. Austria: hire purchase and leasing
• An upfront payment lowers the monthly rate

3. Leasing: lower rate, current fleet

Leasing keeps the monthly rate lower and the fleet younger. You use the equipment for the agreed term and then move to current material. This suits operations whose guests expect a consistently fresh fleet.

• Lower monthly rate than hire purchase
• Regular fleet renewal instead of long use
• Switzerland: leasing. Austria: leasing and hire purchase
• Less equity tied up

4. Country rules in the DACH region

Which model is available depends on where your business is based. We offer hire purchase in Germany, leasing in Switzerland and both models in Austria. The minimum asset value of EUR 5,000 net applies in all three countries.

• Germany: hire purchase
• Switzerland: leasing
• Austria: hire purchase and leasing
• Minimum asset value EUR 5,000 net everywhere

5. When does financing pay off?

The threshold of EUR 5,000 net equals roughly 12 pairs of skis or 17 snowboards. A pair of skis averages EUR 420 net in B2B purchasing, a snowboard EUR 299 net. Below that, buying directly is usually simpler; above it, the monthly rate is worth a look.

• Skis: approx. EUR 420 net per pair
• Snowboard: approx. EUR 299 net per unit
• Financing possible from EUR 5,000 net
• Fleet can be extended during the season

6. Decide in three steps

First clarify whether the fleet should belong to you in the end. Then check how much liquidity may be tied up before the season. Finally define the term that matches your replacement cycle. The model follows almost by itself — we clarify the rest in a conversation.

• Want ownership? → purchase or hire purchase
• Protect liquidity? → hire purchase or leasing
• Renew the fleet every few years? → leasing
• Concrete rate: use the calculator or book a call

The three models compared

The overview shows the key differences. Actual conditions depend on your needs, the equipment and the financing.

Where to read on

These pages go deeper into single aspects of the decision.