Centra Funding
Centra Funding is a nationwide equipment finance company providing direct lending and leasing solutions from $5,000 to $10 million for small and medium-sized businesses across industries including restaurant, franchise, car wash, convenience store, and construction, via an all-electronic direct-lending platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersPlano, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Centra Funding does
Centra Funding, LLC is a nationwide equipment finance company headquartered in Plano, Texas, founded in 2006 by John Boettigheimer. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CV Holdings, Inc. (publicly quoted on OTC Markets under ticker CVHL), a diversified holding company focused on specialty finance investments. Centra originates equipment finance agreements and leases directly to small and medium-sized businesses across a broad set of verticals — including restaurant, franchise, car wash, convenience store, and construction — with deal sizes ranging from $5,000 to $10 million.
The company's core technology is a direct-lending platform supporting fully electronic application, credit decisioning, and document signing on any device, which Centra introduced as the industry's first all-electronic signing process in 2014. The platform powers a 4 Hour Funding process for transactions under $75,000 and a same-day SLA for amounts under $100,000. Underlying credit operations rely on third-party commercial data services (Paynet, D&B, LeasePolice.com, UCC Filings) rather than disclosed proprietary AI/ML systems. The platform also includes vendor-facing modules: a customizable Online Finance Center that is embedded on equipment-dealer websites and a Vendor Revenue Program paying partners up to 2% of funded equipment cost plus per-application bounties.
Centra makes money primarily through transaction-fee revenue on equipment finance agreements and leases (interest/finance charges over the term, with the equipment as collateral secured by UCC filing). A secondary revenue stream comes from vendor and broker programs: equipment dealers and independent brokers earn revenue share and commissions on funded deals, creating a multi-channel origination engine (direct online, inside sales, vendor partners, broker network). The company also operates a sub-brand, Centra Culinary Finance, acquired from LeaseQ/TimePayment in May 2024, which serves the foodservice industry with specialized restaurant equipment financing. Capital structure is anchored by a $175 million senior credit facility led by Capital One (May 2026), which replaced a prior Wells Fargo facility and follows an earlier $69 million securitization of equipment finance receivables in 2021.
Centra Funding firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Centra Funding
- Legal name
- Centra Funding, LLC
- Website
- https://centrafunding.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Centra Funding is a nationwide equipment finance company providing direct lending and leasing solutions from $5,000 to $10 million for small and medium-sized businesses across industries including restaurant, franchise, car wash, convenience store, and construction, via an all-electronic direct-lending platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Centra Funding industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Equipment Financing & Leasing
- NAICS
- Sales Financing (52222), Sales Financing (522220)
- SIC
- Finance Lessors (6172), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Equipment & Asset Finance (SME) (FSAKAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- SME Equipment & Asset Finance (Leasing, Fleet, Capex) (FSABABAH)
Keywords
Where Centra Funding is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plano
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Centra Funding business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Equipment Finance Agreements: Loan products where the lender purchases equipment upfront and the customer pays at a flat monthly rate. Customer owns equipment at end of term. The equipment serves as collateral with UCC filing to secure lender's position.
- Equipment Leasing: Equipment leasing where lender buys and owns equipment, renting it to businesses at flat monthly rates. At end of lease, business may purchase equipment at predetermined amount or return it. Revenue generated through interest/finance charges over lease term.
- Vendor Revenue Programs: Vendors earn revenue (up to 2% of equipment cost) from finance contracts or leases that fund through their websites, plus up to $10 per applicant who completes an application. Creates new income stream for equipment vendors.
- Credit Facility Operations: Operating a $175 million senior credit facility with Capital One to support equipment vendor financing platform and network of third-party originators across diverse industries.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Small ticket financing: $5,000 to $100,000 |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Mid-market financing: $100,000 or more |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Equipment Leasing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Centra Funding product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Centra Funding is a direct equipment finance company that lends money to small and medium-sized businesses to acquire commercial equipment. It offers equipment finance agreements and equipment leases ranging from $5,000 to over $10 million, with rapid approval (same day under $100,000) and 4-hour funding capabilities supported by an all-electronic signing process. The company distributes through direct online applications, an inside sales team, vendor partner programs with private-label finance centers, and a broker network.
Product overview
Centra Funding offers a single unified equipment financing platform with multiple program types (Equipment Finance Agreements where customers own equipment, and Equipment Leasing where the lender retains ownership) supported by a suite of specialized add-on programs. The core offering is direct lending from $5,000 to over $100,000 with same-day and 4-hour funding capabilities, supplemented by Vendor Programs (Online Finance Center and Vendor Revenue Program) for equipment dealers, and the 4 Hour Funding Broker Program for financing professionals. The company also operates a sub-brand, Centra Culinary Finance (acquired from LeaseQ/TimePayment in 2024), serving the foodservice and restaurant industry with specialized equipment financing. Additional specialized programs include New Business Financing, Medical Finance, Challenged Credit, Working Capital, and Deferred Payment programs, all accessible through the LeaseQ platform acquired in 2024.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Centra Culinary Finance: Specialized financing division for the foodservice industry, acquired from LeaseQ in May 2024, offering transparent, fast, foodservice-focused financing options for restaurant and franchise operators.
Products and services
- Equipment Financing (Equipment Finance Agreements) Direct lending solution providing financing from $5,000 to over $100,000 for equipment purchases, with approvals in under one day and funding within 4 hours of credit approval. Customers own the equipment outright at end of term, with the equipment serving as collateral via UCC filing.
- Equipment Leasing Equipment leasing product where Centra buys and owns the equipment and rents it to the business at a flat monthly rate. At end of lease, the business may purchase at a predetermined amount or return the equipment; options include 10% end-of-lease payments, $1 buyout, or no payments for 90 days. Some leases can be started with as little as $20.
- Vendor Programs White-label financing programs for equipment vendors including an Online Finance Center with the vendor's branding, a custom finance center, and a vendor revenue program that pays vendors up to 2% of equipment cost on funded transactions plus up to $10 per completed application.
- Centra Culinary Finance Specialized equipment financing division for the foodservice industry, financing restaurant equipment including bar/beverage, cooking, refrigeration, and point-of-sale systems for restaurant operators and franchisees. Offers no-cost partnership programs for foodservice dealers and instant approvals for microticket restaurant and franchise transactions.
- 4 Hour Funding Broker Program Broker program enabling financing professionals to offer equipment financing with same-day funding (within 4 hours) for transactions under $75,000, featuring a fully electronic funding process accessible via mobile phone and a dedicated broker relations team with regional VP contacts.
Quantifiable outcome
- Approval to funding in less than 4 hours
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Centra Funding
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Centra Funding technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature2 records
Centra Funding partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- TimePayment CorpcoreCentra acquired the LeaseQ Restaurant and Franchise Team and its associated equipment finance platform from TimePayment Corp. Centra will continue partnering with TimePayment to provide instant approvals for microticket restaurant and franchise transactions.
- LeaseQcoreOnline marketplace founded in 2011 that serves businesses applying for equipment financing, equipment dealers seeking integrated financing solutions, and finance companies. Platform acquired by Centra and rebranded under Centra Culinary Finance.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Centra Funding competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Balboa Capital: Balboa Capital is a direct alternative lender providing equipment financing and leasing to small and medium-sized businesses across the U.S., competing head-to-head with Centra Funding in ticket sizes, speed, and SMB focus.
- TimePayment Corp: TimePayment is an equipment leasing company focused on small-ticket SMB transactions and is Centra's former partner (source of the LeaseQ acquisition), making it a directly comparable small-ticket equipment leasing peer.
- LEAF Capital Funding: LEAF Capital Funding is a direct equipment finance and leasing company serving small and mid-sized businesses, with similar ticket sizes, vendor/broker channels, and end-of-term purchase structures as Centra.
- Crest Capital: Crest Capital is a direct equipment financing lender for small businesses offering leases and loans across many of the same verticals (restaurant, medical, construction) with a similar online application experience.
- Marlin Business Services: Marlin Business Services is a direct SMB equipment leasing company serving small businesses and equipment dealers nationwide, historically comparable to Centra in ticket size and channel mix.
Emerging players
- Currency Capital: Currency Capital operates a digital equipment finance marketplace connecting SMB borrowers with multiple lenders, overlapping Centra's broker-network and online-origination motion in the SMB segment.
- Apple Pie Capital: Apple Pie Capital is a fintech lender offering equipment financing and working capital to small businesses via an online application, directly competing with Centra's PLG/self-serve origination motion.
Broad incumbents
- Wells Fargo Equipment Finance: Wells Fargo Equipment Finance is a broad incumbent bank-affiliated equipment financier; Centra's prior senior facility was with Wells Fargo, and the unit competes for the same vendor and SMB customers at larger ticket sizes.
- CIT Group / First Citizens Equipment Finance: CIT's equipment finance business (now part of First Citizens) is a broad incumbent offering vendor and direct equipment financing to mid-market and SMB customers, comparable in product mix if not in size.
Regional players
- Triton Capital Partners: Triton Capital is an alternative equipment finance lender focused on SMB and mid-market deals with a broker-driven channel, comparable in deal profile to Centra though with narrower geographic reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Centra Funding social profiles
Digital presenceCentra Funding financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Centra Funding leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Centra Funding subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Centra Funding funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Centra Funding M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Centra Funding
What does Centra Funding do?
Centra Funding is a direct equipment finance company that lends money to small and medium-sized businesses to acquire commercial equipment. It offers equipment finance agreements and equipment leases ranging from $5,000 to over $10 million, with rapid approval (same day under $100,000) and 4-hour funding capabilities supported by an all-electronic signing process. The company distributes through direct online applications, an inside sales team, vendor partner programs with private-label finance centers, and a broker network.
Is Centra Funding a public or private company?
Centra Funding is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Centra Funding founded?
Centra Funding was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Centra Funding based?
Centra Funding is headquartered in Plano, United States, in the North America region.
How does Centra Funding make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Equipment Finance Agreements are the primary driver. The others are equipment Leasing, vendor Revenue Programs and credit Facility Operations.
Who are Centra Funding's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Balboa Capital, TimePayment Corp, LEAF Capital Funding, Crest Capital and Marlin Business Services. Emerging players are Currency Capital and Apple Pie Capital. Broad incumbents are Wells Fargo Equipment Finance and CIT Group / First Citizens Equipment Finance. Triton Capital Partners is listed as a regional player.
Does Centra Funding have an API?
No public API is recorded for Centra Funding.
What industry is Centra Funding in?
Centra Funding's product category is Equipment Financing & Leasing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAGAF, Equipment & Asset Finance (SME), with a secondary code of FSABABAH, SME Equipment & Asset Finance (Leasing, Fleet, Capex). Its NAICS code is 52222 and its SIC code is 6172.