Decide Whether an Asset Finance Lease Beats a Bank Loan for New Equipment

New equipment is needed and the choice between a bank loan and an asset finance lease looks like a coin toss until you actually model total cost against a bad quarter rather than a good one. This builds the full decision so the recommendation rests on numbers, not on which option sounds simpler.

<context>
You run a small business weighing up two ways to fund new equipment costing {EQUIPMENT_COST}: a bank loan to buy it outright, or an asset finance lease. Current annual revenue is {CURRENT_REVENUE}. You need a rigorous decision framework, not a gut call.
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<task>
**Decide** which funding route makes sense:
1. Compare the total cost over the equipment's useful life: loan interest and ownership against lease payments and any end of term option
2. Model repayment or lease cost against current and projected cash flow, including a downside scenario where revenue drops by [percentage]
3. Weigh ownership benefits, such as asset value and no ongoing payment after the loan, against leasing benefits, such as lower upfront cost and easier upgrades later
4. Assess the risk to the business if repayments cannot be met under each option, including any personal guarantee implications
5. Give a clear recommendation with the reasoning stated, plus the one condition that would flip the answer
</task>

<output_format>
A structured decision brief with five short sections matching the steps above, a summary verdict at the top in one sentence, and a simple total cost comparison shown as working. Under 500 words.
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