Executive Summary

Equipment financing transactions average 73 days from initial contact to funding, with significant variation across channels and ticket sizes. This comprehensive benchmarking study examines where time is consumed in the sales cycle and quantifies the financial impact of delays. Key findings reveal that the middle market ($75,000-$500,000) experiences the longest cycle times regardless of channel, with direct sales averaging 96 days and vendor programs at 94 days. Small business transactions move fastest through vendor programs (48 days) and direct sales (47 days). Time distribution varies dramatically by channel: direct sales consumes 68-72% of cycle time before application submission, while vendor programs spend only 33-37% pre-application but face extensive post-application coordination. Each day of delay costs an estimated $127 per transaction in carrying costs, opportunity costs, and customer satisfaction degradation.