The ING Vendor Lease and Partnership team, from left to right: Anthony Devos, Geoffrey Restrebada Gonzalez, Musëib Azizov - Head of Vendor Lease and Partnerships at ING Lease - and Laurent Christiaens
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"More than 99% of Belgian companies employ fewer than 50 people and therefore fall into the category of small SMEs. Together, SMEs account for over 70% of gross domestic product and nearly 60% of employment. They are the engine of the Belgian economy. Yet busy schedules, investment needs and limited resources have made it harder for SMEs to find their way to leasing.
According to Musëib Azizov, Head of Vendor Lease and Partnerships at ING Lease, this reveals a paradox: “Leasing can be arranged very quickly, and it generally has a much lighter impact on cash flow.”
“Awareness of leasing among SMEs is still much lower than among large companies,” Musëïb notes, based on ING’s client data. “SMEs often still choose to invest using their own funds or through traditional investment loans. That is, of course, a valid option, but not always the most logical one. For this group, we have created a simple and transparent product.”
There is also a widespread perception that leasing is only, or mainly, about cars. “That’s not true,” Musëïb explains. “You can just as easily lease computers, tractors, machinery, cranes, trailers or scaffolding.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Fully online"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"With its digital leasing solution, ING Lease aims to bring leasing closer to SMEs. “The entire process runs fully online, from start to finish,” says Musëïb. “Today, that’s essential. Managing directors of small SMEs, self-employed professionals and liberal professions don’t have the same delegation options as large companies. They are required to handle many supporting tasks themselves, alongside their day‑to‑day business. Through the ING app, you can complete the entire process in around ten minutes.”
It is hardly more complicated than ordering a pizza via a food delivery app. Musëïb explains: “You specify which asset you need, the purchase option you want, your budget and the supplier you wish to work with. You immediately receive a simulation. You can adjust the duration and any own contribution.”
One of the major strengths of the digital flow is that it is linked to an ING bank account. “That means you can see straight away whether the lease will be approved or not. If it is approved, you can immediately move on to contract generation and online signing.” Behind the scenes, ING Lease sends a purchase order to the chosen supplier who prepares the delivery. Clients who are not ING banking customers are referred to an ING Business Center for approval and receive a decision within 48 hours.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"A win win solution"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"A recent addition is that suppliers can also benefit from the solution. “Suppliers of, for example, forklifts or excavators can offer their equipment as a lease product via the digital platform,” Musëïb explains. “With a lease contract, ING Lease purchases the asset. This allows the supplier to complete the sale immediately, while the customer benefits from an attractive financing solution. A win‑win, in other words.”
Suppliers also receive a commission per contract. “So there’s really no reason not to participate,” Musëïb adds. “The entire mechanism is fully digital, with an automated decision process that largely eliminates the need for manual intervention. If the customer is convinced, the order is placed immediately. ING Lease settles the invoice.”
As this product has been specifically developed for SMEs and self‑employed professionals, the value of the leased assets ranges from €10,000 to €250,000. “That price range is ideal for a contractor looking for a mini‑excavator or a gardener in need of a trailer,” Musëïb explains.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Faster approval"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"According to Febelfin, the leasing market grew by 6% in 2025. Even so, leasing remains underused by SMEs. “If you finance a car through leasing, ING Lease purchases it, becomes the legal owner and makes it available through a lease structure. As a lessee, you know exactly what your monthly costs will be and what the purchase option will be at the end of the contract. It’s therefore extremely transparent.”
In addition, financial institutions generally approve leasing more quickly than investment loans. “Because ING Lease becomes the legal owner of the asset, it has an additional form of security. That allows SMEs to protect their cash flow while still financing their investments through leasing.”
According to Musëïb, several misconceptions about leasing persist. “It’s not more expensive or more complex than applying for a loan—certainly not when you take the total cost of ownership (TCO) into account. And it’s not just for large companies or businesses looking to build a vehicle fleet.”
"}}]},"hasMacro":false,"id":"8ab386dc-2b89-4cb3-9c23-6780d5aa6ab4","localeString":"en-GB","mainHeaderZone":{"backLink":{"textLink":{"text":"Financing: leasing & credit","url":"/en/business/financing"}},"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"subtitle":"Leasing of movable assets is a well established practice among large companies. It is a carefully designed mechanism that allows businesses to access equipment without having to make heavy upfront investments. Among SMEs, however, the uptake of this financing instrument remains rather limited. ING Partnership aims to narrow that gap.","title":"Leasing, made simpler: a new perspective for SMEs"},"date":"2026-05-19","readingTime":5},"publishDate":"2026-05-19T15:54:49.855+02:00"}}