Finance Assets arranges laser cutting machine finance for UK limited companies buying new or used fibre lasers, CO2 lasers and tube lasers, from a first 3kW flatbed to a fully automated cutting cell.
Laser cutting machine finance spreads the cost of a laser cutter over 2 to 7 years, so a fabrication or sheet metal business can take on more work, bring subcontracted cutting in-house, or move up to a faster, higher-power machine. We arrange hire purchase and leasing for fibre lasers and laser cutters from established makers, including machines imported from overseas.
Written by Marcus Wright, founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, in financial services since 2008 and a commercial finance broker since 2019. Last reviewed September 2026.
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The short version
- Laser cutting machine finance lets a business spread the cost of a laser cutter over 2 to 7 years.
- Fibre lasers from established makers hold their value well, so lenders fund them readily, new or used.
- Automation, extraction, nitrogen generators and nesting software can usually go on the same agreement.
- Imported machines can be funded when the maker has UK service support, and some lenders pay overseas deposits.
- Finance Assets arranges laser cutter finance for UK limited companies and LLPs.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Machines covered | Fibre and CO2 flatbed lasers, tube lasers, laser-punch combination machines and automated loading systems |
| Deal sizes | From a smaller fibre laser for a sign maker to a multi-machine automated cell |
| Terms | Usually 2 to 5 years on used machines, and up to 7 years on new lasers from major makers |
| Paid upfront | Hire purchase: often a 10% deposit plus VAT. Leases: usually 1 to 3 rentals in advance |
| New or used | Both, from manufacturers, dealers and other fabricators, including imported machines |
| Who we help | UK limited companies and LLPs |
Laser cutting machines we finance
Lenders will fund most industrial laser cutting equipment used in a business, provided it comes from an identifiable maker with service support in the UK.
| Equipment group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Fibre laser flatbeds | Fibre lasers from 1kW to 30kW for mild steel, stainless and aluminium, from makers such as Trumpf, Bystronic, Amada and Mazak |
| CO2 lasers | Flatbed CO2 lasers for metal, and for acrylic, wood and other non-metals |
| Tube and profile lasers | Tube lasers for round, square and open-section profiles, with bundle loaders |
| Combination machines | Laser-punch combination machines and laser welding cells |
| Automation | Automatic load and unload systems, sheet storage towers and part sorting |
| Supporting equipment | Fume extraction, nitrogen generators, compressors, chillers and CAD/CAM nesting software |
| Other cutting machines | CNC plasma tables, waterjet cutters and press brakes, often bought alongside a laser |
New, used and imported laser cutters
New fibre lasers from established makers are the easiest to fund, and used machines are widely funded too, with a few points that change the terms.
- Used fibre lasers. Funded from dealers and other fabricators. Lenders look at the machine’s age, the laser source hours, the service history and whether the maker still supports it.
- Older CO2 lasers. Fibre has taken over most metal cutting, so older CO2 machines have lost much of their resale value and are usually offered shorter terms.
- Imported machines. Lasers from overseas makers, including lower-cost machines from Asia, can be funded when there is a UK agent or service partner. Some lenders will pay a deposit to an overseas supplier before shipping. Brands with no UK support are much harder.
- Extra costs. Installation, power supply upgrades, foundations, extraction, training and software can usually be included, as long as the machine makes up most of the total.
Finance options for laser cutting machines
Most businesses buy a laser cutter on hire purchase, and some use an operating lease to move up to higher power every few years. Our types of asset finance guide covers each option in more depth.
| Type | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | A deposit, then fixed monthly payments. You own the laser after the last one | Machines you will run for their full working life |
| Finance lease | Rentals with VAT added to each one. The lender owns the laser | Keeping the deposit and VAT outlay down |
| Operating lease | Lower rentals set around the laser’s expected resale value. Hand back or upgrade at the end | Moving up in power or automation every 3 to 5 years |
| Type | VAT | Tax treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | The VAT on the full price is paid when the machine is delivered, and a VAT-registered company usually reclaims it on its next return | The company is treated as the owner, so it may be able to claim capital allowances, such as full expensing or the annual investment allowance on a new laser |
| Finance lease | VAT is added to each rental and reclaimed as normal | Rentals are usually deductible as a business expense |
| Operating lease | VAT is added to each rental | Rentals are usually deductible, and the lender claims the capital allowances |
Check with your accountant how each option works for your company’s tax position before you choose.
Hire purchase for laser cutting machines
Hire purchase for laser cutting machines suits a business that plans to keep the laser for its full working life. You pay a deposit, often around 10% plus the VAT, then fixed monthly payments, and the machine becomes yours after the final payment and a small option fee. A balloon at the end can bring the monthly cost down, because fibre lasers from established makers usually hold a good share of their value.
Finance lease for laser cutting machines
A finance lease for laser cutting machines keeps cash in the business when automation or extraction pushes up the price. You pay a few rentals in advance, VAT is added to each rental, and the lender owns the laser. At the end you can usually carry on at a small secondary rental, or sell the machine for the lender and keep most of the proceeds.
Operating lease for laser cutting machines
An operating lease for laser cutting machines suits a business that wants to move up in power or automation every few years. The rentals are set around what the laser should be worth at the end, so they are lower than a finance lease, and the lender takes the risk on its resale value. It works best with well-known makers whose used machines sell readily.
Laser cutter finance costs: a worked example
A new 6kW fibre laser with a 3 by 1.5 metre bed at £175,000 costs about £3,269 a month on a 5-year hire purchase, or about £2,805 a month with a 20% balloon.
| Item | Standard | With 20% balloon |
|---|---|---|
| Laser price (excl. VAT) | £175,000 | £175,000 |
| Deposit (10%) | £17,500 | £17,500 |
| VAT paid upfront | £35,000 | £35,000 |
| Monthly payment (60 months) | £3,269.44 | £2,805.40 |
| Final balloon payment | None | £35,000 |
| Total interest | £38,666 | £45,824 |
The balloon lowers the monthly payment by about £464 but adds around £7,157 of interest. Over 4 years with no balloon, the same laser would cost about £3,919 a month.
Illustration calculated in September 2026, assuming an interest rate of 9% a year. It is not a quote. Your rate depends on your trading history, credit profile and the machine.
What lenders look for in laser cutter finance applications
Lenders look at the usual financial documents, plus a clear quote and evidence the laser will be kept busy.
- Accounts and bank statements. The last two years of filed accounts, recent management accounts and three to six months of business bank statements.
- Supplier quote. An itemised quote showing the machine, automation, extraction, installation and software separately.
- Work for the machine. What you spend on subcontract laser cutting today, or the orders the laser will take on. Replacing a cost you already pay is a strong case.
- Maker and support. The maker’s UK service arrangements, especially for imported machines.
- Director history. Lenders check the directors’ credit records and may ask for personal guarantees on newer companies or larger machines.
Related guides
Who we can help
We arrange laser cutting machine finance for UK limited companies and LLPs. We are not authorised by the FCA, so we cannot arrange agreements of £25,000 or less for sole traders or small partnerships, or finance for personal use.
Laser cutting machine finance FAQs
How much does it cost to lease a 6kW fibre laser?
It depends on the machine and the terms. As an illustration, a new 6kW fibre laser at £175,000 costs about £3,269 a month on a 5-year hire purchase at 9%, after a 10% deposit and the VAT paid upfront. A 20% balloon brings that down to about £2,805. An operating lease can be lower again on machines from well-known makers.
Can I finance a used laser cutter?
Yes. Used fibre lasers from dealers and other fabricators are widely funded. Lenders look at the machine’s age, the laser source hours, the service history and whether the maker still supports it. Older CO2 lasers are harder, because fibre has taken over most metal cutting, so they are usually offered shorter terms.
Can I finance a laser cutter imported from overseas?
Yes, in many cases. Lasers from overseas makers, including lower-cost machines from Asia, can be funded when there is a UK agent or service partner. Some lenders will pay a deposit to the overseas supplier before the machine ships. Brands with no UK support are much harder to fund, because lenders cannot easily value or resell them.
Can automation and extraction go on the same agreement?
Usually, yes. Load and unload systems, sheet storage towers, fume extraction, nitrogen generators and nesting software can normally go on the same agreement as the laser, along with installation and training. Lenders prefer the machine itself to make up most of the total cost.
Can a newer fabrication company get laser cutter finance?
Yes, although lenders look harder at companies with less than two years of accounts. They may ask for a larger deposit, personal guarantees from the directors or evidence of orders. Showing what the business already spends on subcontract laser cutting can make a strong case, because the payments replace a cost you already have.
Can I raise cash against a laser cutter I already own?
Yes. Through a sale and hire purchase back, a lender buys a laser you own outright and sells it back to you over a fixed term, so it stays in production. The amount depends on the machine’s value, age and maker. Businesses use it to fund an upgrade, more automation or working capital.
Get a laser cutting machine finance quote
Tell us about the machine
Send us the supplier quote and a few details about your business. We will come back with the options that are realistic and what they are likely to cost.
About the author
Marcus Wright is the owner and founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, which trades as Finance Assets. He has worked in financial services since 2008, beginning his career at Santander, and has been a commercial finance broker since March 2019.
He founded Bolton Business Finance in 2020 to give businesses access to the whole lending market rather than one bank’s own product range. The firm is a member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers and works with a panel of 135+ lenders. Call 0161 546 9128.
Finance Assets is a trading name of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, an independent commercial finance brokerage, not a lender. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and can only complete non-regulated introductions. All lending is for business purposes only. Registered address: Westgate House, 1 Westgate Avenue, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 4RF. Company number 12495909.