Equipment Financing in 2026: Plan the Cash Gap Between Delivery and Revenue

An equipment purchase can affect cash flow well before it produces revenue. In his latest article, Don McClain, Founder & Principal of Medro Advisors, explains why business owners should plan beyond the equipment invoice and connect the full project budget with the time required to install, test and put the asset to work. Map the deposit, delivery, installation, first financing payment and expected customer collections on one timeline. Include setup, training and the operating cash needed during the transition. Then test what happens if installation or collections arrive later than expected. The goal is a clearer capital plan: understand which costs the proposed financing covers, identify the remaining cash requirement and protect enough liquidity to keep the business operating.