Corporate & Asset Finance for U.S. Businesses

What Is Corporate & Asset Finance?

Corporate and asset finance is business funding used to acquire assets or secured by assets the company already owns. In the U.S. it’s the umbrella for four products: equipment finance (loans and leases for machinery, vehicles, and technology), asset-based lending (borrowing against receivables, inventory, or equipment you own), working capital, and commercial real estate loans. Together they cover how a business funds the assets that run and grow it — typically from $25,000 to $5 million or more. If you already know which product you need, jump straight to it below; if you’re weighing options, this is the right place to start.

The Four Types of Corporate & Asset Finance

“Corporate and asset finance” isn’t one product — it’s a category. Here are the four ways U.S. businesses use it, and where to go for each:

1. Equipment finance

Loans and leases to buy machinery, trucks, technology, or other equipment. The equipment itself secures the financing, so approvals are fast — often 24–48 hours — and credit requirements start lower (around 550+ FICO). Terms typically run 24–84 months. See equipment financing & leasing →

2. Asset-based lending (ABL)

Borrowing against assets you already own — accounts receivable, inventory, or equipment — to free up cash. The line scales with the value of the collateral rather than only your credit, which makes ABL useful for asset-rich, cash-tight companies. How asset-based lending works →

3. Working capital

Short-to-medium-term funding for payroll, materials, inventory, and the gaps between getting paid — structured as term loans, lines of credit, or revenue-based financing. Explore working capital options →

4. Commercial real estate

Loans to buy, build, or refinance owner-occupied or investment property — SBA 504/7(a), conventional, and bridge. Longer terms, larger amounts, and underwriting that leans on the property’s cash flow (DSCR). Commercial real estate loans →

Asset Finance vs. Asset-Based Lending: What’s the Difference?

People use these interchangeably, but they point in opposite directions:

• Asset finance buys a new asset. You borrow or lease to acquire equipment or a vehicle, and that new asset secures the deal. Use it when you need to get an asset.
• Asset-based lending unlocks cash from assets you own. You borrow against receivables, inventory, or paid-off equipment. Use it when you need liquidity and already hold value on the balance sheet.

Many businesses use both: asset finance to acquire the equipment that earns revenue, then asset-based lending or a line of credit to smooth the cash flow in between. Not sure which fits? Get matched →

What Can You Finance?

Most hard assets with resale value and a useful life can be financed, plus the current assets ABL borrows against:

• Equipment & machinery — construction, manufacturing, medical, restaurant, agricultural
• Commercial vehicles & trucks — from a single box truck to a full fleet
• Technology & software — hardware, systems, and certain software
• Commercial real estate — owner-occupied and investment property
• Receivables & inventory — through asset-based lending or invoice financing

Rates, Terms & Amounts

Pricing depends on the structure, the asset, and the borrower — there is no single rate for “asset finance.” As a guide:

• Amounts: typically $25,000 to $5,000,000+, depending on the asset and profile.
• Equipment finance terms: commonly 24–84 months, often matched to the asset’s useful life.
• Asset-based lines: priced off the collateral — advance rates around 80–90% on receivables, less on inventory.
• SBA & CRE: longer terms (up to 25 years) and larger amounts, with more documentation.
• Speed: equipment can fund in 24–48 hours; ABL and SBA take longer to underwrite.

Use the calculator below to estimate a monthly payment, then get matched for real terms.

Who Qualifies — and How It Works

Most established U.S. businesses qualify for at least one product. Equipment finance is the most accessible (often 550+ FICO, fast decisions); SBA-backed options favor stronger credit (650–680+) and take longer; asset-based lines hinge on the quality of your collateral. The process with Axiant is the same across all four:

1. Tell us what you need — the asset to acquire or the cash to unlock, plus a few details about the business.
2. We match you with lenders across equipment, ABL, working capital, and CRE.
3. Compare real offers and close — one application instead of shopping each lender separately.

Why Businesses Use Axiant for Asset Finance

Axiant Partners is a commercial-financing brokerage that matches U.S. businesses with the right lender across all four products — so you don’t have to decide whether you need a lease, a line, or an ABL facility before you start. One application reaches multiple lenders, and we help you compare the true cost, not just the headline rate. More about Axiant →

Corporate & Asset Finance FAQs

What is corporate and asset finance?

It’s business funding used to acquire assets or secured by assets the business owns — the umbrella for equipment finance, asset-based lending, working capital, and commercial real estate. In the U.S. it covers how companies fund the assets that run and grow the business, typically from $25,000 to $5 million or more.

What is the difference between asset finance and asset-based lending?

Asset finance funds the purchase of a new asset (the asset secures the loan). Asset-based lending borrows against assets you already own — receivables, inventory, or equipment — to free up cash. Asset finance buys the asset; ABL unlocks cash from existing ones.

What types of assets can a business finance?

Equipment and machinery, commercial vehicles and trucks, technology, commercial real estate, and current assets like receivables and inventory (through ABL or invoice financing). Most hard assets with resale value and a useful life qualify.

Who qualifies for corporate and asset finance?

Most established U.S. businesses. Equipment finance often starts around 550+ FICO with 24–48 hour decisions; SBA options favor 650–680+; asset-based lines depend on collateral quality. Time in business, revenue, and the asset all factor in.

What are typical asset finance rates and terms?

They vary by structure and asset. Equipment finance commonly runs 24–84 months; asset-based lines price off the collateral; SBA and CRE stretch longer. Amounts typically range from $25,000 to $5 million or more.

Is corporate and asset finance the same as equipment financing?

Equipment financing is one part of it. Corporate and asset finance also includes asset-based lending, working capital, and commercial real estate. Equipment financing is the specific product; this is the category.