On this page
Every contractor has heard it: "We love the quote, we just can't do it right now." Sometimes that's true. More often it means the customer can't write a cheque for the full amount this month, and nobody offered them a way to pay $300 a month instead. The jobs that walk at that moment are the ones a financing program brings back.
How AL Elite works for contractors
- Tell us about it. Your trade, where you operate, roughly how many jobs a month you quote, and whether you need capital, a customer-financing program or both. No credit pull.
- We match you. Your request goes to lenders in our network who work with contractors in your trade and state. For customer financing, we set up a program; for capital, we match you with business lenders.
- You choose and apply with the lender. Rates, terms and the decision come from the lender. For customer-financing programs, there's no cost to join and no obligation to use it on every job.
How offering financing changes the sales conversation
- You quote a monthly payment, not just a total. A $14,000 roof is a hard number. "About $280 a month" is a decision most households can make at the table.
- You stop discounting to close. Contractors without financing often cut price to get a yes. With financing, the customer can afford the full-scope job, including the upgrades.
- You get paid on completion. The lender funds the job; you're not carrying the receivable or chasing instalments.
- You win the storm season. After hail or a hurricane, every homeowner needs a roof and few have the cash. The contractor who can finance it books the job.
Our guide how to offer financing to your customers goes through the setup, the pitch and the compliance basics step by step.
What the AL Elite partner program includes
- A customer-financing link and QR code you can put on quotes, invoices and your website.
- In-home payment estimates so your reps can show a monthly figure before the customer applies.
- Multiple lenders, including second-look. A single-lender program declines too many customers. Ours routes to lenders for a range of credit profiles.
- A partner profile page and badge ("Financing available through AL Elite") that links to your business from our site, including on our city pages in your market.
- Clear rules on what you can and can't say. You never quote rates you don't have in writing from a lender, and you never offer to absorb insurance deductibles. We vet partners on this.
Financing programs by trade
The pitch and the ticket size differ by trade, so we've written a page for each: financing for roofing companies, HVAC financing for contractors, home improvement financing for contractors and solar financing for installers.
Need capital for the business instead?
Customer financing solves the customer's cash-flow problem. If the problem is yours (payroll before the draw, an excavator, a dump truck, a slow-paying GC), see contractor business loans. Many partners use both.
Ways contractors offer financing, compared
AL Elite partner program
Multi-lender customer financing from our network, with a partner profile and badge.
Contractors who want more approvals and a program that costs nothing to join.
You'll need to follow the compliance rules; we enforce them.
Single-lender dealer program
Financing offered through one consumer lender or a manufacturer's program.
Simplicity, one relationship.
One credit box means more declines, and some charge the contractor a dealer fee per job.
In-house instalment plans
You carry the receivable and the customer pays you over time.
Very small jobs with trusted repeat customers.
You're now a lender: licensing, collections risk and tied-up cash.
Referring customers to their own lender
You hand the customer a list of lenders and let them sort it out.
Nothing to set up.
Most customers won't follow through, and you lose the job to whoever offers financing at the table.
Who can become a partner contractor
We accept licensed, insured contractors in good standing. Lenders in the program also have their own requirements. What matters most:
- Time in business. Many business lenders want at least one to two years of operating history; some products accept less.
- Revenue. Annual revenue thresholds vary by lender and product. Bank statements are the usual proof.
- Business and personal credit. Smaller contractors are often underwritten partly on the owner's personal credit.
- Licensing and insurance. A current contractor's license (where required) and general liability insurance.
- State. Lender availability and product rules vary by state. We match you with lenders who serve your location.
- Customer reviews and complaint history. We check these before accepting partners; lenders do too.
Frequently asked questions
How do I offer financing to my customers?
Join a financing program through a lender or a marketplace like AL Elite, put the financing option on your quotes and website, and train your reps to present a monthly payment alongside the total. The customer applies with the lender; when approved, the lender pays you at completion. Our step-by-step guide covers setup and compliance.
What does customer financing cost the contractor?
It depends on the program. Some lenders charge a dealer fee per funded job, especially for promotional-rate offers; standard-rate loans often carry no contractor fee. AL Elite's partner program is free to join. We're paid by lenders for introductions. Confirm per-job fees with us before you present promotional offers.
What if my customer has bad credit?
A multi-lender program routes declined applications to a second-look lender who considers lower scores at a higher APR. No program approves everyone, and you must never tell a customer approval is guaranteed.
How quickly does the lender pay the contractor?
Typically at job completion once the customer signs off, with timing set by the lender. We tell you each lender's funding process when you join.
Can I offer financing if I'm a small, one-truck operation?
Usually, yes, if you're licensed and insured. Some lenders have minimum revenue or time-in-business requirements; we'll match you with programs that fit.
Is AL Elite a lender for contractor financing programs?
No. AL Elite is a matching service. We route your request to business lenders in our network who fund contractor financing programs, and they set the terms and make the decision. Lenders pay us for introductions; you don't.
Does requesting options affect my business or personal credit?
Submitting a request to AL Elite does not pull credit. Business lenders typically run a soft inquiry to pre-qualify and a hard inquiry at formal application. We tell you each lender's approach before you proceed.