Canning Line Lease vs Buy
Canning Line Lease vs Buy: BeerCPA A lease will typically run for anything between 24 and 60 months; purchasing your own asset can be a cheaper option in the long run. Lendus (UK) hire purchase, where you own the asset at the end. Equipped only about $50,000, starts at $85,000, starts at $165,000. Mobile West ($150,000 – $1,000,000 or more).
Last updated: September 7, 2026
Lease vs buy: term, CapEx, and ownership
| Factor | Lease / finance path | Buy / CapEx path |
|---|---|---|
| Term | BeerCPA A lease will typically run for anything between 24 and 60 months (BeerCPA); Lendus (UK) Term 12–60 months (Lendus) | Own after purchase; BeerCPA Purchase each asset outright in cash or Take out a small business loan |
| Cash / CapEx | BeerCPA If you decide to lease an asset, you won’t have to hand over a large chunk of your business’s cash; Asset finance allows you to acquire or use assets without having to pay in full up front | Equipped only about $50,000; starts at $85,000; starts at $165,000 (Equipped); Masstechx Tier 1 · Craft $25K-$95K; BeerCPA A $250,000 canning line purchased in 2025; Mobile West CapEx avoid ($150,000 – $1,000,000 or more) |
| Ownership at end | Lendus hire purchase, where you own the asset at the end; finance lease on balance sheet; operating lease hand it back; BeerCPA purchase the asset at a reduced cost when the lease expires | Full ownership; BeerCPA Full control of quality and schedule; Iron Heart Fully Refurbished Canning Lines / purchase their own in-house systems |
| Long-run cost | BeerCPA It’s usually cheaper in the long run to buy an asset outright than to lease (asset-finance guide) | BeerCPA purchasing your own asset can be a cheaper option in the long run; In-House Cost (After CapEx): ~$0.10–$0.18 per 16oz can vs Mobile/Contract Canning Cost: ~$0.35–$0.50 per 16oz can |
| Tax / financing notes | Lendus (UK) Leasing is often more tax-efficient; From 5.2% APR | BeerCPA financing + bonus depreciation; Section 179 expensing limits ($2.5 million cap, with a $4 million phase-out threshold); permanent bonus depreciation |
Lease structures and CapEx ranges
BeerCPA frames three paths — Purchase each asset outright in cash, Lease the assets you need, or Take out a small business loan — and notes some leases can be classified in the same way as an asset purchase and can be capitalized on your balance sheet. Lendus (UK) maps Hire Purchase, Finance Lease, and Operating Lease. Buy CapEx is listed as Equipped only about $50,000 / starts at $85,000 / starts at $165,000, Masstechx Tier 1 · Craft $25K-$95K (and beer-can Tier 1 — Craft USD $25k – $95k), and BeerCPA A $250,000 canning line purchased in 2025. Mobile West: No need to lay out capital ($150,000 – $1,000,000 or more) for a canning line when hosting instead.
| Claim | URL | Listed |
|---|---|---|
| BeerCPA lease-or-buy title | beercpa.com/…/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | Should you lease or buy assets? |
| BeerCPA lease term 24–60 months | beercpa.com/…/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | A lease will typically run for anything between 24 and 60 months. |
| BeerCPA lease preserves cash | beercpa.com/…/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | If you decide to lease an asset, you won’t have to hand over a large chunk of your business’s cash. |
| BeerCPA buy cheaper long run | beercpa.com/…/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | purchasing your own asset can be a cheaper option in the long run |
| BeerCPA lease = rent for set period | beercpa.com/…/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | When you lease an asset, you’re simply renting it for a set period of time. |
| BeerCPA lease may include maintenance | beercpa.com/…/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | some lease agreements may also include maintenance and servicing costs |
| BeerCPA buyout at reduced cost | beercpa.com/…/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | purchase the asset at a reduced cost when the lease expires |
| BeerCPA upgrade at lease expiry | beercpa.com/…/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | upgrade to a newer model when the lease expires |
| BeerCPA capitalize some leases | beercpa.com/…/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | some leases can be classified in the same way as an asset purchase and can be capitalized on your balance sheet |
| BeerCPA purchase outright option | beercpa.com/…/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | Purchase each asset outright in cash. |
| BeerCPA lease the assets option | beercpa.com/…/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | Lease the assets you need. |
| BeerCPA small business loan option | beercpa.com/…/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | Take out a small business loan. |
| BeerCPA asset finance definition | beercpa.com/business-guides/asset-finance-guide | Asset finance allows you to acquire or use assets without having to pay in full up front |
| BeerCPA preserve capital via finance | beercpa.com/business-guides/asset-finance-guide | purchase or lease assets you’ll need to operate your business while preserving your capital and managing your cash flow |
| BeerCPA buy usually cheaper long run | beercpa.com/business-guides/asset-finance-guide | It’s usually cheaper in the long run to buy an asset outright than to lease |
| BeerCPA Should you lease rather than buy? | beercpa.com/business-guides/asset-finance-guide | Should you lease rather than buy? |
| BeerCPA example canning line CapEx | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | A $250,000 canning line purchased in 2025 |
| BeerCPA financing + bonus depreciation | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | financing + bonus depreciation |
| BeerCPA cashflow financing tax shield | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | If cashflow is tight, financing + bonus depreciation can still provide an effective tax shield |
| BeerCPA Section 179 limits | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | Section 179 expensing limits ($2.5 million cap, with a $4 million phase-out threshold) |
| BeerCPA permanent bonus depreciation | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | permanent bonus depreciation |
| BeerCPA mobile/contract $/can | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | Mobile/Contract Canning Cost: ~$0.35–$0.50 per 16oz can |
| BeerCPA in-house after CapEx $/can | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | In-House Cost (After CapEx): ~$0.10–$0.18 per 16oz can |
| BeerCPA mobile example rate | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | If a mobile canner charges $0.45/can |
| BeerCPA breakeven cans | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | ~833,000 cans (about 3,200 BBL) to breakeven |
| BeerCPA breakeven monthly BBL | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | ~267 BBL packaged per month |
| BeerCPA ownership control | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | Full control of quality and schedule |
| Lendus UK HP/FL/refinance compare | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | Compare hire purchase, finance lease, and refinance rates from 200+ UK lenders |
| Lendus hire purchase owns at end | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | hire purchase, where you own the asset at the end |
| Lendus finance lease balance sheet | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | a finance lease, where you rent it but carry it on your balance sheet |
| Lendus operating lease hand back | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | an operating lease, where you rent it and hand it back |
| Lendus own-at-end decision frame | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | Which one suits you depends less on price than on whether you want to own the asset at the end |
| Lendus balloon / return | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | you return it or pay a balloon payment |
| Lendus leasing tax-efficient | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | Leasing is often more tax-efficient |
| Lendus UK From 5.2% APR | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | From 5.2% APR |
| Lendus UK Term 12–60 months | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | Term 12–60 months |
| Lendus UK Deposit 10–20% | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | Deposit 10–20% |
| Lendus Hire Purchase label | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | Hire Purchase |
| Lendus Finance Lease label | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | Finance Lease |
| Lendus Operating Lease label | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | Operating Lease |
| Lendus spread equipment cost | lendus.co.uk/asset-finance/ | Spread the cost of equipment, vehicles, and machinery |
| Lendus UK £10k–£1M range (UK/£) | lendus.co.uk/ | Compare £10k–£1M Business Finance from 200+ UK Lenders |
| Lendus UK rate index 4%–49.9% (UK) | lendus.co.uk/uk-business-finance-rate-index/ | 4% to 49.9% |
| Equipped entry CapEx | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/…/mobile-or-purchase-a-system | only about $50,000 |
| Equipped starts at $85,000 | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/…/mobile-or-purchase-a-system | starts at $85,000 |
| Equipped starts at $165,000 | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/…/mobile-or-purchase-a-system | starts at $165,000 |
| Equipped starts at $30,000 | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/…/mobile-or-purchase-a-system | starts at $30,000 |
| Equipped cash-flow purchase question | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/…/mobile-or-purchase-a-system | Do you have the cash flow to purchase a canning line? |
| Equipped potential finance costs | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/…/mobile-or-purchase-a-system | potential finance costs |
| Equipped mobile service $/can | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/…/mobile-or-purchase-a-system | Using our service will range from 15 cents to 68 cents per can |
| Masstechx Tier 1 · Craft CapEx | masstechx.com/can-filling-machine/ | Tier 1 · Craft $25K-$95K |
| Masstechx Tier 2 · Mid CapEx | masstechx.com/can-filling-machine/ | Tier 2 · Mid $95K-$220K |
| Masstechx Tier 3 · Industrial CapEx | masstechx.com/can-filling-machine/ | Tier 3 · Industrial $220K-$400K+ |
| Masstechx mobile/contract $/can | masstechx.com/can-filling-machine/ | Mobile/Contract Canning $0.35-$0.50 per 16 oz can |
| Masstechx in-house after CapEx | masstechx.com/can-filling-machine/ | In-House After CapEx $0.10-$0.18 per 16 oz can |
| Masstechx beer-can Tier 1 form | masstechx.com/…/beer-can-filling-machine/ | Tier 1 — Craft USD $25k – $95k |
| Masstechx beer-can Tier 2 form | masstechx.com/…/beer-can-filling-machine/ | Tier 2 — Mid Commercial USD $95k – $220k |
| Masstechx beer-can Tier 3 form | masstechx.com/…/beer-can-filling-machine/ | Tier 3 — Industrial USD $220k – $400k+ |
| Masstechx beer-can mobile spend | masstechx.com/…/beer-can-filling-machine/ | $3,000 US/month on mobile canning |
| Mobile West CapEx-avoid | mobilewestcanning.com/our-services/ | No need to lay out capital ($150,000 – $1,000,000 or more) for a canning line |
| Mobile West profits day one | mobilewestcanning.com/our-services/ | Realize profits day one |
| Iron Heart refurbished lines | ironheartcanning.com/in-house-solutions/ | Fully Refurbished Canning Lines |
| Iron Heart hidden costs framing | ironheartcanning.com/why-iron-heart/ | Avoid the Hidden Costs of Operating a Canning Line |
| Iron Heart purchase in-house | ironheartcanning.com/why-iron-heart/ | purchase their own in-house systems |
| Iron Heart mobile turnkey | ironheartcanning.com/mobile-canning-services/ | Mobile Canning Services are a Turnkey Solution |
| Wild Goose Dual Lane Evolution | wildgoosefilling.com/products/dual-lane-evolution-series | Dual Lane Evolution Series |
| Wild Goose up to 100 cpm | wildgoosefilling.com/products/dual-lane-evolution-series | up to 100 cans per minute |
| Wild Goose home 18 cpm | wildgoosefilling.com/ | 18 cans per minute |
| Untappd mobile case cost | lounge.untappd.com/…/mobile-canning… | Hiring a mobile canning company will cost between $3 and $5 a case |
| Untappd least expensive machinery | lounge.untappd.com/…/mobile-canning… | Even the least expensive ones cost over $20,000 for the machinery alone |
| Brewbound additional spend/year | brewbound.com/…/insource-versus-outsource… | roughly $145,000 of additional spending per year |
| BoiseDev lease-to-company structure | boisedev.com/…/canning-equipment-brc-bb/ | Hays recently purchased a line of canning equipment that she is leasing to the company |
| BoiseDev leasing to the company | boisedev.com/…/canning-equipment-brc-bb/ | leasing to the company |
| BeerCPA starting capital intensive | beercpa.com/starting-a-brewery/ | highly capital intensive with significant upfront costs |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Canning Line Lease vs Buy?
Canning Line Lease vs Buy compares renting a line for a set term versus purchasing CapEx. BeerCPA says A lease will typically run for anything between 24 and 60 months and purchasing your own asset can be a cheaper option in the long run. Lendus (UK) contrasts hire purchase, where you own the asset at the end; a finance lease, where you rent it but carry it on your balance sheet; and an operating lease, where you rent it and hand it back. Buy-side CapEx ranges include Equipped only about $50,000, starts at $85,000, starts at $165,000 and Mobile West No need to lay out capital ($150,000 – $1,000,000 or more) for a canning line.
What are the financial trade-offs between leasing and buying canning lines?
BeerCPA asset finance: It’s usually cheaper in the long run to buy an asset outright than to lease, while Asset finance allows you to acquire or use assets without having to pay in full up front. BeerCPA A $250,000 canning line purchased in 2025 can still use financing + bonus depreciation when cashflow is tight. Equipped asks Do you have the cash flow to purchase a canning line? and notes potential finance costs. Lendus (UK) lists From 5.2% APR, Term 12–60 months, Deposit 10–20%.
How do leasing and buying compare on upfront cost, total cost, and ownership?
Upfront: Equipped only about $50,000; starts at $85,000; starts at $165,000; Masstechx Tier 1 · Craft $25K-$95K; Mobile West CapEx avoid ($150,000 – $1,000,000 or more). Ownership path: Lendus hire purchase, where you own the asset at the end. Rent-back path: an operating lease, where you rent it and hand it back. Finance lease keeps the asset on the balance sheet. BeerCPA: some lease agreements may also include maintenance and servicing costs; purchase the asset at a reduced cost when the lease expires; upgrade to a newer model when the lease expires.
Which situations favor leasing versus buying a canning line?
Lease-leaning when BeerCPA If you decide to lease an asset, you won’t have to hand over a large chunk of your business’s cash, Equipped cash-flow is uncertain, or you want upgrade to a newer model when the lease expires. Buy-leaning when BeerCPA purchasing your own asset can be a cheaper option in the long run and volume supports CapEx — BeerCPA In-House Cost (After CapEx): ~$0.10–$0.18 per 16oz can versus Mobile/Contract Canning Cost: ~$0.35–$0.50 per 16oz can, with ~267 BBL packaged per month breakeven context. BoiseDev shows a qualitative lease-to-company structure: Hays recently purchased a line of canning equipment that she is leasing to the company.
What is hire purchase vs finance lease vs operating lease for canning equipment?
Lendus (UK) asset finance: Hire Purchase — hire purchase, where you own the asset at the end; Finance Lease — a finance lease, where you rent it but carry it on your balance sheet; Operating Lease — an operating lease, where you rent it and hand it back. Which one suits you depends less on price than on whether you want to own the asset at the end; otherwise you return it or pay a balloon payment. BeerCPA pairs this with financing + bonus depreciation and Section 179 expensing limits ($2.5 million cap, with a $4 million phase-out threshold) on a purchased line.