Which is wiser: buying your own or still a business lease car?

As soon as you are on the road more often as an entrepreneur or self-employed person, one question comes up: will you keep driving your private car or is it time for something more appropriate for your work? Perhaps you already drive to customers, suppliers or construction sites a few times a week and find that you want to look more representative. But do you buy something on company business, or is business leasing smarter?

What does business leasing actually entail?

Business car leasing means that as a business owner, you use a car for your work, but do not purchase it yourself.Instead, you pay a fixed monthly amount to a leasing company. That amount usually covers things like maintenance, insurance and road tax. So you don’t have to spend a large lump sum, and you have more control over your monthly costs.

This usually involves Operational Lease: you lease the car on a business basis, without it appearing on your balance sheet. Within business leasing, however, there is also Financial Lease. This is not a lease in the traditional sense, but a business car financing. You actually buy the car on credit and are responsible for things like maintenance, insurance and residual value.

That sounds attractive, especially if you don’t want to invest in a new car right away. Plus, lease cars are often new or young used, which means you’ll be hitting the road with a reliable model.

Leasing is also tax-efficient. You can deduct the VAT on the lease costs and enter expenses as a business expense. However, you should look closely at additional taxable income if you also use the car privately.

Why do some business owners choose operating leases?

If you want a little more convenience, then operational lease car is worth considering. With this, you don’t bear the economic risk of the car, but pay purely for its use. You don’t have to think about maintenance, insurance or residual value. Everything is included, and at the end of the term you simply return the car.

For many business owners (especially those who prefer to deal with customers rather than administration), this is a godsend. You always have a presentable car at your disposal, without being stuck with the hassles that come with car ownership. Especially if you’re on the road a lot or have a tight schedule, that easily adds up.

In addition, many providers allow you to choose flexibly: do you want an electric car, a station or a compact city car? What suits your work, your routes and your image?

Smart mobility, tailored to your business

It may be tempting to keep driving your private car until it really doesn’t want to. But as soon as you notice that transportation becomes an important part of your work, it pays to look further. A leased car not only means convenience and overview, but also professionalism towards your clients.