What Beacon Funding does

Beacon Funding Corporation is a privately held, Northbrook, Illinois-based equipment financing company founded in 1990 that originates small-ticket loans and leases ($10,000 to $500,000+) for U.S. small businesses and startups. The company specializes in niche vocational verticals that mainstream banks underserve — tow trucks, boom/bucket trucks, septic pumper trucks, forestry trucks, embroidery and screen-printing equipment, and landscaping/hardscape equipment — and reports a 70% application approval rate against the roughly 30% typical of traditional banks, with most decisions returned within 24 hours.

The technology stack is conventional fintech plumbing rather than an AI-led platform: an Azure AD B2C-backed customer portal, native iOS/Android mobile applications with a payment calculator, a proprietary eVerify system for digital bank-statement ingestion, DocuSign for electronic lease execution, and PayPal/credit-card payment processing. Beacon also runs a vendor-facing Sales Deal Tracker portal and an exclusive-partner perks program (Hirsch Solutions, M&R, Transit Pros) to capture dealer-originated deal flow, alongside content channels including the Equipment Finance Navigator podcast, YouTube, TikTok, and tradeshows (WWETT Show, Equip Expo).

Beacon's revenue model is interest, fee, and residual income on its funded lease and loan portfolio, augmented by ancillary products — sale-leaseback (60-90% of equipment value), working capital loans (up to 8% of annual revenue, capped at $250K), inventory financing ($10K-$50K) for decorated-apparel consumables, and vendor referral economics through Winner's Circle Rewards. GTM blends direct inside-sales with dedicated vertical-specialist financing consultants, online self-service application, mobile app, and a vendor channel. Cumulative originations of $1.957B across 31,990 transactions over 36 years indicate a durable, self-funded specialty finance franchise.

Name

Beacon Funding

Legal name

Beacon Funding Corporation

Website

https://beaconfunding.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Beacon Funding is a privately held, Northbrook, IL-based specialty equipment financier (founded 1990) that originates small-ticket loans and leases ($10K-$500K+) for SMBs and startups in tow, septic, decorated apparel, and landscaping verticals across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Northbrook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Equipment Financing/Leasing: Primary revenue stream from financing and leasing trucks and equipment for small businesses. Covers various equipment types including tow trucks, boom trucks, septic pumpers, embroidery machines, screen printing equipment, and landscaping equipment. Revenue generated through interest and fees on financing agreements.
2. Working Capital Loans: Cash loans for business operations separate from equipment financing. Qualifying businesses can receive up to 8% of annual business revenue, capped at $250,000.
3. Inventory Financing: Financing program for decorated apparel businesses to purchase supplies and consumables including ink, thread, emulsions, chemicals, accessories, and blank garments. Range from $10,000 to $50,000.
4. Vendor Financing Services: Partner program allowing equipment vendors to offer financing to their customers. Vendors earn rewards for each financed purchase or lease through the Winner's Circle Rewards program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Beacon Funding provides equipment financing, leasing, and related loan products to small businesses across the United States. The company finances vocational trucks (tow trucks, boom trucks, septic pumpers, forestry trucks), decorated apparel equipment (embroidery, screen printing), and landscaping equipment, with loan amounts from $10,000 to $500,000+ and terms from 24 to 84 months. Additional offerings include working capital loans, sale-leaseback, inventory financing for the decorated apparel industry, and pre-approval programs.

Product overview

Beacon Funding is a small-ticket equipment financing company founded in 1990, offering a comprehensive suite of financing and leasing products for businesses. The core portfolio centers on equipment financing ($25,000-$500,000), lease-to-own plans, working capital loans, and inventory financing for the decorated apparel industry. These are supplemented by flexible financing modules (100% financing, deferred payments, seasonal payments, wrap financing), a customer portal for account management, a mobile app with payment calculators, vendor services for dealers, and a podcast. The company specializes in vocational trucks (tow trucks, boom trucks, septic pumper trucks, forestry trucks), decorated apparel equipment (embroidery, screen printing), and landscaping/hardscape equipment. With over $1.95 billion in equipment financed across nearly 32,000 transactions, the company serves start-ups through established businesses with a 70% approval rate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Equipment Financing Core financing product that provides loans from $25,000 to $500,000 for purchasing trucks and business equipment, with 24-hour approvals, up to 100% financing, and terms of 36-84 months. Designed for small businesses acquiring new or used equipment.
• Lease-to-Own Equipment leasing program with end-of-term ownership. Features low monthly payments with terms starting at 36 months, budget-friendly buyout options ranging from 10% to $1, and allows lessees to build equity throughout the lease. 90% of lessees use their purchase option.
• Pre-Approvals No-cost, no-commitment pre-approval service that provides maximum lease amount, monthly payment estimates, end-of-term options, and total cash required before equipment selection. Helps customers shop with confidence.
• Sale-Leaseback Cash injection program that allows businesses to sell owned equipment to Beacon Funding and lease it back, unlocking working capital while retaining equipment for operations. Qualifies for 60-90% of equipment value.
• Start-Up Financing Specialized financing program for new businesses with a 70% approval rate. No minimum time in business is required, and the company reports payment history to credit agencies to help businesses establish business credit.
• Trade In & Trade Up Exclusive program for decorated apparel businesses to trade in old equipment and finance upgrades. Helps decrease borrowing amount while upgrading to better embroidery or screen printing machines.
• Used Equipment Financing Financing for used equipment from dealers or private party sellers with no age restrictions on equipment in good condition. 7 out of 10 applications approved.
• Working Capital Loans Cash loans of up to $250,000 or 8% of annual business revenue (capped at $250,000) for day-to-day operations, marketing, payroll, repairs, or expansion. Available as a standalone product without equipment financing. Not available in California.
• Inventory Financing Consumable financing program for decorated apparel businesses covering supplies such as ink, thread, emulsions, chemicals, accessories, and blank garments. Ranges from $10,000 to $50,000 with 12-to-36-month terms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7 out of 10 applications approved (vs. 3 out of 10 for traditional lenders)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hirsch SolutionscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive financing partnership with Hirsch Solutions offering specialized financing perks for embroidery equipment. Includes under 24-hour approvals and flexible credit windows. Provides promotional financing starting at $75 for the first 3-6 months.
• M&RcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive financing partnership offering competitive approval rates for screen printing equipment. Part of Beacon's vendor perk programs designed for decorated apparel businesses.
• Transit ProscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTransit Tow Advantage partnership offering tailored financing options for medium and heavy-duty tow trucks. Exclusive perks program for transit industry professionals.
• Equip-Used.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWeekly used equipment listings partnership providing customers access to used equipment inventory. Beacon recommends this resource for customers searching for used equipment.
• Bankers Leasing GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic partnership allowing Beacon to offer high-quality, full-service leasing through Bankers Leasing Group for equipment financing needs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Funding: National Funding provides working capital, equipment financing, and merchant cash advances to small businesses. Comparable to Beacon in its SMB-targeting model, fast approval process, and willingness to serve credit-challenged borrowers.
• Balboa Capital: Balboa Capital is a direct lender providing equipment financing, working capital, and commercial loans to SMBs. Highly comparable to Beacon in target customer (small business, often sub-bank-grade) and core product (small-ticket equipment leasing/loans).
• Currency: Currency is an SMB equipment financing and leasing platform offering loans and leases to small businesses. It directly competes with Beacon Funding across equipment categories and customer profile (SMBs and startups seeking fast, non-bank financing).
• Marlin Capital Solutions: Marlin provides equipment financing and working capital solutions to small and mid-sized businesses nationwide. Comparable to Beacon in serving SMBs with equipment-lease and loan products, though Marlin operates at larger scale and broader vertical exposure.
• Financial Pacific Leasing: Financial Pacific Leasing is a small-ticket equipment leasing company offering lease and finance programs to businesses across the U.S. Directly comparable to Beacon in product mix (equipment leasing) and SMB customer focus.
• Crest Capital: Crest Capital is a small-ticket equipment leasing and financing company serving SMBs across diverse verticals. Closely comparable to Beacon in deal size, customer profile, and direct-to-dealer origination motion.
• Direct Capital: Direct Capital is an equipment financing and small-business lending company serving SMBs across diverse equipment categories. Directly comparable to Beacon in deal-size range, customer profile, and equipment-lease core product.

Broad incumbents

• CIT Group: CIT (a First Citizens bank company) is a large commercial finance institution offering equipment financing, lending, and leasing across many industries. Overlaps with Beacon in small-business equipment finance but operates at far greater scale and breadth.
• Stearns Bank: Stearns Bank operates a national equipment finance division providing small-ticket equipment financing and leasing to businesses. Comparable to Beacon in equipment-finance specialization and SMB orientation, but operates as a chartered bank with broader capabilities.
• Wells Fargo Equipment Finance: Wells Fargo's equipment finance group provides financing and leasing for commercial equipment across diverse verticals. Overlaps with Beacon in product category but serves a broader and higher-credit-quality customer base as a major bank.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/beaconfunding
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCoJNI7Y78K91PM-KKmmLiYA
• Facebookfacebook.com/beaconfunding
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/beacon-funding
• Instagraminstagram.com/beaconfunding
• TikToktiktok.com/@beaconfunding

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Beacon Funding