The Bobcat E35 is a 3.5-metric-ton compact excavator that does volume work for landscapers, residential contractors, and utility crews who dig in tight quarters every day. Operating weight sits around 7,700 lbs, dig depth reaches about 10.5 feet, and the zero-tail-swing design keeps the upper structure inside the track footprint during rotation. That last feature is the one most buyers cite first: on a tight lot, a zero-tail excavator avoids the fence, the foundation wall, and the neighbor's truck all in the same swing.
E35s price from around $55k new to $35k or less for a clean used unit. Our minimum financing ticket is $50k, so both ranges work. We handle application-only financing on deals up to about $400k, which covers any E35 deal with room to spare. Bobcat machines hold their value well enough in the used market that lenders treat them as solid collateral, which helps when the credit story is less than perfect. B and C credit is something we work with on a regular basis.
The E35 Buyer
Most E35 financing requests come from one of three categories. The first is the landscaping contractor who has been renting a mini excavator on bigger jobs and is ready to own one outright. The rental cost per day is erasing margin on jobs the contractor could be doing more profitably with a owned machine. The math usually favors buying somewhere around 40 to 60 days of annual use, and most established landscaping businesses hit that threshold.
The second category is the residential site prep contractor who runs in tight subdivisions and needs a machine that fits through a gate and works in a backyard without destroying the turf edges. Residential site builders and septic and drainage contractors both fit here. The E35 handles septic system excavation, French drain installation, footing work on small additions, and underground utility laterals without requiring access that a larger machine demands.
The third category is the growing contractor adding a second machine to cover simultaneous jobs. A contractor with a mid-size excavator already working one project needs a compact unit for the other job running in parallel. Financing a second machine means qualifying for two notes, which depends on whether revenue supports both payments. That is an underwriting conversation, and it is one we have regularly.
Buying New vs. Used on the E35
A new E35 from a dealer comes with Bobcat's standard limited warranty coverage, current emission compliance, and factory support. If you are weighing the Section 179 deduction, a new machine financed before year-end gives you the full purchase price as a year-one deduction up to applicable limits. Check with your accountant on how Section 179 financing applies to your specific tax situation before assuming the deduction is worth the premium over a used unit.
Used E35s with two to four thousand hours are plentiful and typically well-maintained because most compact excavator buyers take care of their iron. Low monthly payments on a $35k to $45k used unit make the math work for contractors who want to own without a heavy monthly commitment. Used equipment financing on Bobcat compact machines goes back many years, and the brand's parts availability makes older units attractive collateral for lenders who might otherwise pass on a less-supported make.
How We Close an E35 Deal
The application is a single page. You fill it out with your business name, EIN, years in business, and revenue figures. We add the machine price from your invoice or dealer quote, pull credit, and match the file to the appropriate lender in our network. For application-only deals in this price range, the decision usually comes back the same day or the next morning. Signed documents go out digitally, and funding to the dealer or seller follows within a day or two of signed docs.
If the credit file has bumps, we may ask for three months of bank statements before placing the deal. Those statements let the lender see actual cash flow rather than relying solely on the credit score, which helps B-credit files get approved that might otherwise be declined on score alone. Bad-credit equipment financing options exist specifically for operators in this situation, and the E35's price point keeps the underwriting math workable even at higher rates.
For comparison on the Bobcat side, the Bobcat E85 is the step up if the E35 is slightly underpowered for the work. The E85 handles deeper trenches and heavier breaking work. Both models finance through the same process.
