manufacturing · Equipment & asset finance
Printing press finance
Print equipment usually comes bundled with a service and click agreement. We separate the finance from the service deal so you can see what each actually costs.
What is printing press finance?
Printing press finance is funding for digital, offset, wide-format or label printing equipment, secured against the machine. Australian print businesses often combine equipment finance with a service and consumables agreement, and lenders assess click charges and volume commitments alongside the hardware value.
Australian printing has consolidated hard over the last two decades, but the businesses that remain have specialised: short-run digital, labels and packaging, signage and wide format, and personalised or variable-data work. Equipment choices follow that specialisation, and the right machine is the one that suits your run lengths and substrates rather than the one with the highest headline speed. Finishing equipment such as cutters, laminators and folders often limits output more than the press does.
The finance conversation is complicated by bundling. Manufacturers commonly package the press with a click charge covering consumables and service, and sometimes with their own finance. That can be a good deal, but you cannot judge it without separating the components. Your broker can quote the equipment finance independently so you can see the real cost of the hardware and the real cost of the service agreement.
Printing press finance at a glance
| Typical price range | $25,000 – $1,500,000 |
|---|---|
| Finance term | Up to 72 months |
| Useful life | About 10 years |
| New or used | New digital presses are usually bought with a manufacturer service agreement; used offset and wide-format equipment is plentiful and cheap as the industry consolidates. |
| Indicative rates (Chattel mortgage) | 6.9% – 14.5% p.a. · rate history |
| Finance structures | Chattel mortgage (recommended), Machinery finance, Operating lease, Finance lease |
How lenders assess printing press finance
Print equipment depreciates faster than most machinery because technology moves and the industry has been contracting, so lenders can be conservative on term and residuals. Digital presses tied to a manufacturer click-charge agreement are often financed by the manufacturer’s own finance arm, and it is worth comparing that against an independent lender. Used offset presses have thin resale markets and may need a deposit. Wide-format and label equipment from established brands is more readily funded on standard terms.
Before you buy
- Separate the equipment price from the click charge and service agreement so you can compare finance offers on a like-for-like basis.
- Check the minimum monthly volume commitment; a click deal priced for high volume becomes expensive if your work drops away.
- On used offset equipment, verify parts and service availability before you buy, as support for older presses is thinning.
Commonly financed
HP Indigo 7900 digital press · Ricoh Pro C7200 series · Konica Minolta AccurioPress · Heidelberg Speedmaster offset · Roland DG and Mimaki wide format
Estimate printing press repayments
- Number of repayments
- 60
- Balloon at end of term
- $152,600
- Total interest (est.)
- $215,985
- Total repaid (est.)
- $978,985
This calculator provides an estimate only and does not account for fees, charges or the specific terms a lender may offer. It is not financial advice or an offer of finance.
Key terms
What is printing press finance?
Printing press finance is a secured loan or lease used to buy digital, offset, label or wide-format printing equipment, with the machine as security. Terms usually run 36 to 72 months, reflecting faster technology turnover than in general machinery.
What is a click charge?
A click charge is a per-page or per-impression fee paid to the equipment supplier that covers consumables, parts and servicing. It is separate from the finance repayment, and often carries a minimum monthly volume commitment that continues even if your print volume falls.