Financing vs. Cash: A Shop’s Growth Guide | Ep 223
In this episode of Talkin’ Shop, Brandon and Nick tackle a critical decision for shop growth: financing new CNC equipment versus paying with cash. Discover why using cash reserves might be slowing you down and how strategic leveraging can protect your cash flow and scale your business faster in 2025 and beyond.
Brandon argues that financing a productive asset, like a CNC machine, should be viewed as a growth tool, not just debt. He compares it to hiring an employee—you wouldn’t pay their entire year’s salary upfront, so why deplete your capital on a machine that generates revenue?. The discussion covers how waiting to pay cash can lead to missed opportunities, lost revenue streams, and falling behind competitors. Preserving your working capital allows you to cover unexpected expenses, materials, and labor, while the machine pays for itself through increased efficiency and margins.
Later, the hosts answer audience questions, including the best laser table for a beginner (like the 2kW single-phase fiber laser) , which CNC router to start with for a cabinetry business (the RC or Pro Series) , and technical questions about ball screw systems. Learn how investing in American-made CNC technology from Lakeville, Minnesota, can be the most strategic decision for your shop’s ROI
What’s your take on financing vs. cash? Let us know in the comments! And be sure to Like, Subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Talkin’ Shop.
[00:00] – Intro: Financing vs. Cash Flow
[04:28] – The “Hiring an Employee” Analogy
[05:26] – Answering Customer Questions
[05:58] – Q: Best CNC Laser for a Beginner?
[07:50] – Q: Best CNC Router for Cabinetry?
[12:32] – Main Topic: Why Cash Flow Isn’t Always King
[17:11] – Financing as a Growth Tool, Not Debt
[26:00] – Why Customers Say “I Should Have Done This Sooner
#TalkinShop #ShopSabre #CNC #Financing #BusinessGrowth #CashFlow #CNCmachine #Manufacturing #Automation #CNCRouter #CNCLaser #AmericanMade #SmallBusiness #Section179 #madeinusa
Check out all of our equipment at https://www.shopsabre.com/
Follow us for daily CNC content
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopsabre
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopsabre
Twitter/X: https://x.com/ShopSabreCNC
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopsabre
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shopsabre-cnc/
Like and Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more CNC router and CNC plasma cutting machine tutorials, DIY project builds, and more. We feature cutting in different materials such as wood, plastic, aluminum, and other various steels.
For over 20 years, ShopSabre CNC has provided businesses and hobbyists with the best CNC machines at the best value. By focusing on unbeatable customer service and high-quality products built in the USA, we’ve grown from a single machine built at home to one of the most trusted CNC machine manufacturers in the country.
Since building our first machine two decades ago, we now have over 10,000 CNC routers, plasma, and laser engraving machines in a wide variety of industries in over 40 countries. Our success is a result of our commitment to developing a better way to build CNC machines and support our customers.
ShopSabre CNC
www.ShopSabre.com
21673 Cedar Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044
800-493-6021