In an ever-evolving economic world, traditional business financing models are undergoing a profound transformation. The subscription economy, long confined to the media and software sectors, is now extending to the field of business financing, particularly through leasing and long-term rental. This shift toward recurring revenue models is redefining how companies finance their equipment and manage their resources.

According to a recent study by Capgemini on 2025 trends in the credit and leasing sector, more than 65% of financing companies plan to adopt subscription-based models by 2025. This evolution responds to a growing demand for flexibility and financial predictability, particularly in an uncertain economic context.

The Evolution of Business Models Toward Recurring Revenues

From the Transactional Model to the Subscription Economy

Traditionally, business financing relied on a transactional model: equipment purchases, one-time loans, or isolated financial transactions. This paradigm is now giving way to an approach based on continuity and long-term customer relationships. The subscription economy is characterized by regular payments in exchange for continuous access to a product or service, rather than the outright acquisition of an asset. In the context of business financing, this translates into the rise of solutions such as leasing, long-term rental (LTR), and buy now pay later (BNPL) formulas adapted to professional needs.

As LOCAM explains in its analysis of the usage economy, "the usage economy allows fixed costs to be transformed into variable costs, thereby reducing initial expenses and enabling more efficient budget management." This transformation is accelerating in 2025, with increasing adoption in sectors traditionally attached to asset ownership.

The Benefits of Recurring Revenue Models for Businesses

The adoption of recurring revenue models offers numerous advantages for both financing providers and their clients. For providers, financial predictability manifests through stable cash flows, strengthened customer relationships allow for continuous engagement, and the increase in customer lifetime value represents a major asset. For client companies, financial flexibility materializes through the transformation of CAPEX investments into OPEX expenses, access to cutting-edge equipment becomes possible without massive investment, and optimized cash flow management relies on scheduled and predictable payments.

According to Xerfi's study on the leasing market, companies using subscription financing solutions experience an average improvement of 15% in operational efficiency and a 20% reduction in equipment acquisition costs.

2025 Trends in the Subscription Economy and Recurring Financing

Looking toward 2025, several major trends are emerging in the subscription economy applied to business financing. Hyper-personalization of offers is becoming an undeniable reality, with solutions tailored to the specific needs of each company thanks to artificial intelligence. The integration of value-added services is also transforming the landscape, with offers including preventive maintenance, insurance, and consulting. The emergence of hybrid models combining different approaches to recurring financing maximizes flexibility, while the growing integration of sustainability and circular economy addresses environmental concerns.

According to the Capgemini report, "green asset financing and flexible subscription models will be among the main innovations in the leasing sector in the coming years."

Leasing and Rental as Pillars of the Subscription Economy

Fundamental Principles of Leasing and Long-Term Rental

Leasing and long-term rental constitute the most concrete applications of the subscription economy in business financing. Leasing, also called finance lease, represents a contract by which one company makes an asset available to another in exchange for periodic rent payments, with a purchase option at the end of the contract. Long-term rental (LTR) is distinguished by its nature as pure rental over an extended period, generally without a purchase option. As this detailed article on LTR explains, "long-term rental is actually a form of financing that goes beyond simple credit and is defined more as a complete service including the use of the asset and associated services."

Technological Innovations Transforming the Sector

Digitalization is profoundly transforming the leasing and long-term rental sector. The emergence of digital platforms such as Basikon Core Lending enables management of the entire lifecycle of leasing contracts. Process automation significantly reduces processing times, while predictive analysis optimizes offers and improves risk assessment. The Internet of Things (IoT) enables usage-based pricing models and predictive maintenance, strengthening the alignment between delivered value and cost for the customer.

The Xerfi study on the leasing market emphasizes that "digitalization of leasing processes represents a priority investment for 78% of players in the sector."

New Flexible Leasing Models in the Subscription Economy

In 2025, the leasing and rental market is characterized by increased flexibility. On-demand leasing is becoming established with adjustable-term contracts allowing companies to modulate their commitment according to their evolving needs. Pay-per-use models are gaining popularity, with billing systems based on the actual use of the asset rather than a fixed term. All-inclusive subscriptions integrate all costs related to usage into a single monthly payment. Evolutive leasing offers the possibility to evolve the financed asset during the contract, thus adapting to changing operational needs.

As this expert article explains: "The use of leasing allows companies to smooth their revenue through cash flows spread over the entire duration of contracts, while offering unparalleled flexibility in access to equipment."

Implementation Strategies for Financing Companies

Digitalization of Leasing Processes and Recurring Revenue Management

For companies offering financing solutions, complete digitalization of processes has become essential. The adoption of low-code platforms such as Basikon Core Banking enables management of the entire contract lifecycle, with rapid deployment and adaptability to market developments. Workflow automation reduces operational costs and improves responsiveness, while system integration creates a coherent digital ecosystem. Data management allows for continuous optimization of offers and processes.

The case of Leascorp illustrates this transformation: "Thanks to the complete digitalization of its processes with Basikon, Leascorp has increased its partner network by 300% and now manages 32,000 customers, with the ability to deploy a new commercial channel in less than a week."

Optimization of Customer and Partner Experience

In the subscription economy, the quality of experience becomes a determining factor for success. The implementation of omnichannel customer journeys offers a seamless experience across all touchpoints. The development of self-service functionalities responds to the autonomy expectations of professional clients. Partner portals in white label allow distributors to directly offer financing solutions to their customers. Personalization of offers creates a truly differentiating relationship.

The experience of Calvin shows the importance of this approach: "By digitalizing partner onboarding and creating a smooth customer journey, Calvin has significantly improved customer satisfaction, with a contract renewal rate exceeding 85%."

Case Studies and Success Stories in the Recurring Financing Sector

Successful Digital Transformation at Leascorp

Leascorp, a company specializing in professional equipment leasing, has undertaken a complete digital transformation to adapt to the requirements of the subscription economy. Faced with manual and fragmented processes, the company implemented the Basikon platform to digitalize its entire value chain. This transformation has enabled a 300% growth in the partner network, efficient management of 32,000 customers, and a 75% reduction in time-to-market for new offers. Leascorp now offers financing formulas perfectly aligned with subscription economy principles: advanced personalization, contractual flexibility, and a fully digitalized customer experience.

Process Optimization at Calvin

Calvin, a leasing broker financing equipment for SMEs, illustrates the application of subscription economy principles to business financing. The company deployed the Basikon platform to create an integrated digital ecosystem, with a single portal for all financial partners, configurable workflows, and a fully digital document management system. The results are compelling: complete elimination of paper, 75% reduction in request processing time, smooth relationship with partners, and contract renewal rate exceeding 85%.

Future Prospects for the Subscription Economy in Business Financing

The subscription economy will continue to transform the business financing landscape in the years to come. The convergence of financial models is accelerating, with blurring boundaries between leasing, rental, and subscription, giving rise to hybrid solutions. Integration with the circular economy promotes the reuse and reconditioning of equipment, addressing environmental challenges. The sectoral expansion of recurring financing models now touches fields such as healthcare, agriculture, and energy. Hyper-personalization through AI enables precise adaptation to each customer's needs, while facilitated internationalization through digital platforms opens new growth perspectives.

According to Xerfi forecasts, "the leasing market is expected to experience an average annual growth of 7% until 2026, driven by the increasing adoption of recurring revenue models and sector digitalization."

Conclusion

The application of subscription economy principles to business financing represents a major evolution that redefines companies' relationship with their assets. Leasing and long-term rental are establishing themselves as the pillars of this transformation, offering flexibility and predictability. Digitalization plays a central role, allowing process automation and improved customer experience. Companies adopting low-code platforms like Basikon are better positioned to seize the opportunities offered by this evolution.

The success stories of Leascorp and Calvin demonstrate that the transition to recurring revenue models can generate significant results in terms of growth and efficiency. Looking toward 2025, the subscription economy will continue to evolve, with increasingly flexible, personalized, and sustainable models. This transformation is not simply a passing trend, but a fundamental change that favors usage over ownership, flexibility over rigidity, and continuous relationship over one-time transactions.

Want to reduce your time-to-market by 75% for your leasing and recurring financing offers? Discover how Basikon's low-code platform can help you digitalize your processes and create new sources of recurring revenue. Request a personalized demonstration today!

FAQ: The Subscription Economy in Business Financing

What is the difference between leasing and long-term rental (LTR)?

Leasing, or finance lease, is a rental contract with a purchase option at the end of the period. The lessee can acquire the asset for a predetermined residual value. Long-term rental (LTR) is a rental contract over an extended period, generally without a purchase option at the end. In both cases, these solutions are part of the subscription economy by their very nature: regular payments in exchange for a right of use. For more details, see our dedicated article on LTR.

What are the tax advantages of recurring revenue models such as leasing?

Recurring revenue models such as leasing offer several tax advantages for businesses. The rent paid is generally deductible from operating expenses, which reduces the taxable base. Additionally, unlike purchasing, leasing does not impact the company's balance sheet (outside IFRS standards), which can improve certain financial ratios. Finally, VAT on rents is recoverable according to the usual rules. These advantages contribute to the growing popularity of these models in the context of the subscription economy.

How to choose the best technological platform to manage recurring revenue models?

To choose the best technological platform for managing recurring revenues, evaluate these key criteria: ability to manage the entire contract lifecycle, flexibility to adapt to different pricing models, robust recurring billing functionalities, integration capabilities with your existing systems, customer and partner portals, and analysis tools to optimize performance. Solutions such as Basikon Core Lending offer these functionalities in a low-code platform easily configurable according to your specific needs.

What are the specific trends for 2025 in the subscription economy applied to financing?

In 2025, several specific trends will stand out in the subscription economy applied to financing: the growing integration of artificial intelligence for personalization and risk assessment, the rise of outcome-based financing models, the massive adoption of integrated digital platforms, the development of financing marketplaces, and the emergence of circular financing models promoting asset reuse. According to Capgemini, more than 70% of financing companies will have adopted at least three of these trends by 2025.