What happens to my leased printing equipment when I sell my print shop?

Many print shops run their main machines on lease or on service contracts that charge by the page. If yours does, the equipment is not yours to hand over. A buyer needs to know which machines you own and which you do not, and what each agreement asks of them. Gather the facts first, then decide how you want to handle each machine.

List every agreement

Make one list covering each press, finisher, large-format printer and cutter. For each, note whether it is owned, leased or financed, who the other party is, when the term ends and what happens at the end. Include service contracts, even when they are kept in a separate file. Give buyers a list like this alongside the rest of your records.

Ask the lessor about assignment or buyout

Contact each lessor early and ask whether the agreement can be assigned to a buyer, what the lessor wants to see from the buyer, and whether a buyout is available. Some lessors will want to review the buyer’s finances. Your lawyer should read each agreement before you speak with anyone, and can tell you what it says about your responsibility after a sale.

Show the true running cost

Click charges, supplies and service fees are part of what a machine costs to run. Present them honestly next to the revenue the machine produces. A buyer who finds higher running costs after closing will question the rest of your numbers. Our page on what a buyer checks about equipment shows what they will look for.

• Owned, leased or financed, for each machine
• Lessor, term and end-of-term options
• Assignment or buyout terms
• Click charges and service fees