Pay when the
revenue flows.
Most lenders ignore seasonality and demand level monthly payments that punish businesses during off-season. We structure agricultural, construction, and seasonal equipment financing around how your operation actually generates revenue.
How this program
works.
- →Custom payment schedules matched to your revenue calendar
- →Skip-month options for predictable off-season periods
- →Quarterly or annual payment cadences available on larger deals
- →Deferred first payment options (60 to 180 days) for equipment that needs ramp-up time
- →Available across most equipment categories from $30,000 to $5,000,000+
- →Available within FMV, $1 buyout, or term loan structures
- →Lender selection prioritized for sectors with seasonal cash flow (ag, construction, landscaping, recreation)
This program fits
these situations.
Row crop and specialty agriculture operations
Construction companies with weather-dependent or project-based revenue
Landscape and outdoor service businesses
Tourism, recreation, and hospitality equipment buyers
Custom harvesting, custom application, or contract farming operations
Any business where revenue concentrates in 4 to 8 months of the calendar year
How the numbers
actually look.
Best-case estimate for a Midwest row-crop combine on a 5-year annual-payment $1 buyout structure. Total obligation is the same as a 60-month level-payment lease, but cash flows are aligned to harvest revenue rather than spread across months when there is no income. Alternative structures include monthly payments during 6 to 8 active months, then 4 to 6 months at zero. Actual schedule customized to crop calendar and operation cash flow.
Where seasonal structures
actually help.
Row crop combine purchase
A John Deere S780 or Case IH Axial-Flow generates revenue at harvest, not in February. Seasonal structure puts the payments where the income is — fall and early winter for corn and soybeans, late spring for wheat.
Construction equipment in cold-weather markets
Northern excavator and dozer work concentrates April through November. Skip-month payments during December through March align with how jobs actually run. The total cost is the same; the cadence works for the business.
Specialty crop irrigation system
Center pivot or drip irrigation revenue concentrates in the growing season. Structure can defer first payments until after the first harvest, when the equipment has actually generated income.
Custom application sprayer
A self-propelled sprayer runs hard for 4 to 6 months and sits the rest. We can structure payments to mirror the operation's billing cycle, not the lender's preference for level monthly payments.
Seasonal Payments,
answered.
Does a seasonal payment structure cost more in total?
Not necessarily. The total obligation (principal plus interest) is structured against the same financing math as a level monthly payment. The timing changes, not the total. Some lenders charge a small administrative fee for custom schedules, typically $200 to $500, but the interest rate stays competitive. We will show you both level-payment and seasonal-payment quotes so you can see the actual cost difference.
How many months can I skip per year?
Typical seasonal structures allow 3 to 6 skip months per year, with payments concentrated in the revenue-generating months. Some lenders allow up to 8 months of zero payment per year on strong credit profiles with documented seasonal revenue. The structure we can secure depends on credit, equipment type, and your operation's revenue documentation.
Can I defer the first payment after equipment delivery?
Yes. Deferred first payments are common for equipment that needs setup time, training, or alignment with an upcoming season. Standard deferral is 60 to 90 days; some equipment categories support up to 180 days. The deferred interest is added to the principal, so total cost goes up slightly, but the cash flow benefit can be significant if delivery does not align with revenue.
What documentation do I need for a seasonal payment structure?
Standard equipment financing documentation (application, bank statements, tax returns for larger deals) plus a brief revenue narrative explaining your seasonality. For agricultural operations, FSA paperwork, crop insurance, and prior year revenue summaries strengthen the application. For construction, your typical project calendar and recent revenue patterns by month help the lender structure correctly.
Can a startup or first-year operation get seasonal payments?
Yes, but with caveats. Lenders for newer operations typically require additional documentation: personal guarantees, larger first payments, or starting with a shorter term to prove the seasonal pattern. Once you have one full revenue cycle documented, your second equipment purchase gets significantly easier. Honest conversations about your stage upfront save time.
Other financing
structures.
$1 Buyout Lease
Ownership at term end. Can be combined with seasonal payment structure for ag and construction equipment.
Learn more →FMV Lease
Lower payments with upgrade flexibility. Available with seasonal payment structures for shorter-term seasonal operators.
Learn more →Sale-Leaseback
Already own seasonal equipment? Sell it to a lender and lease it back to free up cash for the season ahead.
Learn more →Ready to apply?
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