Why 80% of Business Lenders Serve Only 20% of the Small Ticket Market

Why 80% of Business Lenders Serve Only 20% of the Market

The Financing Gap No One Talks About

In the small-ticket equipment financing world—covering everything from landscaping tools to welding rigs—a troubling disconnect has emerged. Despite billions in annual opportunity, the vast majority of business lenders focus on just a sliver of the applicant pool.
Why? Because their processes, platforms, and underwriting criteria were built for a world that no longer exists.

The Modern Borrower: Overlooked and Underserved

Today’s equipment buyers are typically: – New businesses or solo entrepreneurs – Consumer-like vocational operators who see themselves as tradespeople, not CEOs – Eager to get to work—today
But legacy business lenders expect:

Years in business

Formal documentation

A pristine credit profile

That mismatch disqualifies the majority of buyers—roughly 80%—before the application process even begins.

Speed Kills—or Converts

Slow underwriting, paper-heavy workflows, and outdated documentation demands cause friction. In this space, time kills deals. A customer shopping for a $3,000 piece of equipment doesn’t want a three-day credit review—they want an answer now.
Fast “no’s” are better than slow “yeses.” And a fast “yes” that actually fits the applicant’s profile? That’s gold.

The Dealer Burden

Dealers today are acting as: – Credit educators – Loan coordinators – Documentation processors
All while trying to close a sale.

This inefficiency has pushed some to abandon financing altogether. Others defer to predatory RTO offers or throw applications to brokers with no control over the outcome.

Misaligned Products = Lost Deals

Most business lenders are fighting for the same top-tier applicants, using rigid programs that don’t flex with credit realities. A 660 FICO startup gets the same hard “no” as someone with no credit history, even if they’re ready to work and pay.
Instead of helping applicants find their fit, lenders force them to find another lender.

The False Choice

Business lenders often believe they must pick: – Strong credit profiles, or – High approval rates
But there’s a better way.

With a unified platform that triages applicants, offers segment-appropriate terms instantly, and blends RTO with traditional financing, lenders can serve the whole market—not just the best 20%.

SLS Has Built the Platform That Breaks the 80/20 Trap

Security Leasing Services (SLS) has reimagined small-ticket equipment financing with a platform built for today’s buyers and sellers.
✅ Instant decisioning that gives applicants the fast “yes” they expect
✅ Segment-based program matching that offers real approvals, not generic declines
✅ Consumer-friendly UX that makes sense even to the newest of business owners
✅ Unified application flow—RTO, startup, and traditional finance all in one place
✅ Dealer-first experience with paperless funding and zero admin headaches

Whether online or in-person, SLS empowers sellers to close deals fast, and gives borrowers access to funding that fits. We don’t just lend—we help you win more business, more often.

🚀 Ready to Serve the 80%? Join the SLS Revolution.

If you’re tired of losing customers to credit mismatches, slow responses, and disconnected lenders, it’s time to switch.
Get started with the SLS platform today and finance the full market—not just the easy ones.