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CGeneralUpdated 2 Nov 2026

Capital lease

Lease agreement that transfers ownership rights to the lessee at lease end.

Definition

Capital lease is the lease agreement that transfers ownership rights to the lessee at lease end. Founders reach for it when a vague conversation needs a shared, specific meaning. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.

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In the room

How the word shows up in a real conversation.

Two cofounders disagree until they define Capital lease. Once they agree it means “Lease agreement that transfers ownership rights to the lessee at lease end”, the argument becomes a decision.

Common mistake

Using Capital lease as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.

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