We plan to buy IT hardware (servers, storage, network equipment). Instead of spending cash on HW there is the option of leasing it. I'd be interested if someone could share experience on that:

- which companies (HW sellers) do that in CH.
- financial aspect: interest rates, residual value, buy or change equipment at lease end etc...
- tips & tricks and how to avoid pitfalls

thanks

Yeah I have experience with this. The real question is how big is the company and how old is it. If you are a one-man band started 6 months ago then forget it. If you are a 2000 user company started in 1950 then it is attractive.

Ok, 3 years old, we have a low credit risk profile (large corporate investors).

You could also think about outsourcing - financially similar to leasing in that you do not own the servers & you also have the possibility not to have to house them in your own premises.

Residual values of servers are basically zero; there is practically no market for old servers. The price/performance ratio keeps improving plus the clever server vendors offer cheaper maintenance on what they sell directly & pretty high rates on used systems (plus maybe inspection fees).