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How AL Elite works for hvac financing 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.
The HVAC sale is a same-day sale
When the AC dies in July the customer wants it fixed today, not after they shop for a HELOC. A contractor who can show "a new system for about $165 a month" and get a decision in minutes wins the job. A contractor who hands over a brochure for a bank loses it to the one who can. Our program's lenders are chosen for decision speed as much as rate.
Second-look lenders are the whole game in HVAC
HVAC customers aren't filtered by credit the way kitchen-remodel customers are; everyone's furnace fails eventually. A single-lender program will decline a large share of your emergency customers. Our program routes a decline to a second-look lender automatically. You must never tell a customer approval is guaranteed, but you can tell them, truthfully, that there's more than one lender looking.
Capital for the HVAC business
Partners use working capital for pre-season inventory, equipment financing for vans and recovery machines, and lines of credit for the shoulder seasons. See HVAC business loans.
Who can join
Every lender sets its own criteria. The things that come up most often:
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
How do HVAC contractors offer financing?
Through a lender program or marketplace. Present a monthly payment with the quote, let the customer apply on their phone, and get paid at install. AL Elite's program includes multiple lenders and a second-look option.
What about customers with bad credit?
Route them to a second-look lender rather than losing the job. Our program does that automatically. Approval is never guaranteed and you must not say it is. See our homeowner page on HVAC financing with bad credit for what customers are reading.
Can I offer promotional 'same as cash' plans?
Some lenders in the program offer promotional-rate plans, which typically carry a dealer fee. Decide per job whether the fee is worth the close. Disclose the terms exactly as the lender states them.
Is AL Elite a lender for hvac financing for contractors?
No. AL Elite is a matching service. We route your request to business lenders in our network who fund hvac financing for contractors, 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.