You've found the equipment you're looking for. Now all you need is financing. Your instinct is probably to shop for the lowest rate—that's just good business. But there are many other factors besides a low rate that are equally important.

If you're in the market to buy or lease new construction equipment, consider a few questions. Does your lender:

1. Understand your industry?
A lender that truly understands the underground construction business and its cyclical nature can, for example, provide flexible payment options such as Skip-Payment Plans that allow you to skip a monthly payment, without penalty, during the slow season. Ditch Witch Financial Services (DWFS), a division of CitiCapital Commercial Corporation and its subsidiary, is a full-service financial solutions provider that understands the underground construction industry. DWFS is backed by CitiCapital, one of the largest commercial finance companies and the number-one independent provider of construction-equipment financing in the country.

2. Understand and accommodate your particular business?
No business wants to be treated like a number by its financial institution. DWFS offers customers a wide variety of finance and lease plans tailored to meet their specific financing needs and works hard to customize financing solutions for each business, offering not only Skip-Payment Plans but also other options to help you better manage your cash flow, including:

• Monthly Level Plans.
  Some lenders try to force a shorter term on you than is warranted by the nature of your business or the type of equipment. DWFS allows you to purchase equipment over time with payments that remain constant throughout the term.
• Accelerated Payment Plans.
  These enable you to build equity in the equipment faster, i.e., during the first few payments.
• Rental Purchase Transactions.
  These allow you to try the machine before you buy and build equity while you rent.
• Customized Lease Options.
  Comprehensive leasing options provided by DWFS include stated- and fair-market-value purchase options. Whether you are looking for a capital or operating lease, DWFS will work with your dealer to customize a program for you.

3. Make the process easy for you?
If your prospective lender has been in the business a long time, this usually indicates a history of treating customers fairly and making the lending process uncomplicated. DWFS knows your time is valuable and makes every effort to provide a credit decision quickly. To protect your good credit rating, DWFS offers an automatic payment plan that draws your monthly payment from your business checking account on a designated day of the month that's best for you. There's also online bill pay for those who prefer Internet options.

DWFS also makes it easy to get financing through your dealer by giving dealers online access to credit applications, credit decisions, and other important financial tools to make the credit process as quick and simple as possible.

For more information about DWFS, contact your Ditch Witch dealer, visit ditchwitch.com, or call 866-218-8051.

Published in the Summer 2006 issue of The Underground.