Familiarize yourself with the business vehicle lease process

Typically, a vehicle lease has a list of restrictions and guidelines that the client must meet. You can drive a limited number of miles per year, and you must make both monthly payments and an end-of-term payment once the contract is up. When the lease is over, you may have the option to buy the vehicle outright. There are also more flexible options available, so it's important to learn all you can about leasing and decide what type of lease you're most comfortable with.

I recommend: Shop around for the type of lease that works best for your business. You can choose open-ended leasing plans like those available through Merchants Leasing, which don't require you to adhere to strict mileage guidelines or other restrictions. Alternatively, you can choose a traditional leasing plan like those from US Bank Business Equipment Financing, where you're responsible for a balloon payment at the end of the lease term.

Find the right car for your commercial vehicle lease

The fun part about leasing is choosing among the options for your new vehicle. You can choose a luxury vehicle, a delivery van or even a heavy-duty truck for hauling supplies and gear. Look at all the options and find a company that can handle your specific needs. Many companies can supply both cars and heavy machinery, which makes your leases much easier to track on the books because there's only one vendor payment to make.

I recommend: Find your perfect vehicle. If you're interested in a business car or truck, you can pick from companies like BizFleet, GM Fleet and Commercial and Alpha Leasing. If you're looking for construction vehicles or specialty items, check out Plum Business Finance.

Read the fine print on your company vehicle lease

After you've picked out your perfect vehicle, it's important to check the fine print and understand what you're committing to. The warranty and repair issues are usually the most misunderstood parts of a lease, so make sure to ask questions. If you're leasing a new vehicle, make sure that the terms of your lease are within the warranty period and that you know where to go for repairs. That way, you're only responsible for routine care and maintenance.

I recommend: Get all the details about your maintenance plan. Some companies, such as BizFleet, have a national account card system that allow for repairs no matter where in the country the vehicle is. Others, like BBL Fleet, have a list of recommended maintenance providers, and it's up to you to get the repairs done yourself.