The Pros & Cons of Buying Used vs. Leasing Medical Equipment (Buyer’s Perspective)

Buying used and leasing are both “smart” options—just for different reasons. If you’re building an acquisition plan for a clinic, imaging center, lab, ASC, or reseller channel, the best choice usually comes down to cash flow, technology risk, uptime requirements, and how long you truly need the asset.

Why buyers choose used equipment

Biggest advantage: value per dollar.
Used (and especially professionally refurbished) equipment can deliver the clinical utility you need without the price tag of brand-new capital. That matters in a market where budgets are tight and refresh cycles are accelerating.

Pros

• Lower upfront cost + faster break-even. Used typically reduces capital exposure and can shorten time-to-ROI, especially for equipment with stable technology cycles (think: basic patient monitoring, sterilization support, many exam room devices).
• You own the asset. Ownership gives you flexibility to redeploy, resell, trade-in, or keep using the equipment after it’s paid off (no ongoing payments).
• Potential resale value. Even with depreciation, well-maintained equipment can retain value on the secondary market, which can lower your total cost of ownership over time.
• More negotiating leverage. You can negotiate price, freight, installation, warranty terms, and service bundles—especially when buying through established resellers.

Cons

• Service and parts risk. Some models become harder to support as OEMs phase out parts or software. That risk should be priced into the deal (or mitigated with a warranty/service contract).
• Unknown history. If the seller can’t produce maintenance logs, calibration records, or proof of decontamination, you’re taking on avoidable uncertainty.
• Obsolescence exposure. For tech-heavy categories (advanced imaging, certain surgical systems), buying means you own the obsolescence risk.

Why buyers choose leasing

Leasing is essentially paying for use and optionality. It can be especially helpful when you want to keep cash available for staffing, expansion, or inventory.

Pros

• Lower upfront cash requirement. Leasing can preserve working capital and keep budgets predictable with monthly payments.
• Upgrade flexibility. At end-of-term, you may be able to refresh to newer tech without having to sell your old unit.
• Maintenance can be bundled. Many agreements offer service packages, reducing surprise repair costs.

Cons

• Often higher total cost over time. When you total payments, leasing frequently costs more than purchasing (especially if you’d otherwise keep the asset for years).
• You don’t build equity. At the end, you may have nothing to sell—unless there’s a buyout option.
• Contract limits and penalties. Early termination fees, usage restrictions, or return conditions can surprise buyers.

A practical decision framework (fast)

Choose used if:

• You’ll use the asset 3–7+ years
• The category is stable (doesn’t become outdated every 18–24 months)
• You can secure warranty/service coverage
• Resale or redeploy matters

Choose lease if:

• You need predictable monthly cash flow
• The tech changes quickly, and you must stay current
• The equipment might be temporary (pilot programs, new service line test)
• You want a service-inclusive model

Buyer tip: compare Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

A simple purchase price comparison is rarely enough. A TCO view typically includes acquisition/lease payments, service and repairs, insurance, uptime risk, compliance testing, and end-of-life/disposition.

If you would like to lease, check out our rental equipment today.

Sources: https://bennettfinancials.com/medical-equipment-lease-vs-buy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com