Episode Overview
John Pfister, CEO and co-founder of Mazo Capital Solutions, shares how financing is evolving in the equipment rental industry. He explains how UCC-1 liens can protect companies from blanket encumbrances, why rental-purchase financing is gaining traction, and how Mazo blends technology and transparency to support fleet growth.
Timestamps:
- 01:36 – Launch of Mazo Capital Solutions in 2021 as a dealer-focused finance provider for construction and transportation
03:26 – How Mazo supports both rental fleet financing and retail financing, setting them apart from captive programs
11:16 – Dealer portal “Powered by Mazo” helps sales by converting equipment prices into monthly payments
13:31 – Using AI-powered predictive decisioning to streamline point-of-sale financing experiences
20:58 – The origin story: leaving Currency Capital to start Mazo while expecting his first child
22:10 – The company’s guiding philosophy inspired by Warren Buffet’s quote on reputation and integrity
35:03 – Why rental market performance varies so widely by region, with swings of +25% to -25%
36:03 – Red flags in financing: understanding blanket liens versus equipment-specific security interests
44:14 – Risks of financing agreements with no prepayment options and hidden balloon payments
45:59 – Final advice: legal counsel identifies risk, but business leaders must be willing to take it
