Microf was founded in 2010 in Albany, Georgia to solve a very specific problem for HVAC contractors: what do you do when a homeowner needs a new system today, but their credit disqualifies them from traditional financing? Microf's answer is a rent-to-own/lease-to-purchase program that does not use FICO scores at all, making it one of the most inclusive options in the residential heating and cooling market. The company now serves consumers in 44 states and works with thousands of HVAC and plumbing contractors to finance new systems, water heaters, and related equipment.
For HVAC contractors, Microf's value proposition is simple: no dealer fees, full payment within 2-3 business days, and an approval engine that says yes to roughly 75% of applicants that other finance companies turn down. Consumers get flexible monthly payment terms ranging from 36 to 84 months and can own the equipment outright at the end of the lease. Microf has also partnered with Finturf and Quantum Financial Technologies to extend its contractor-facing lending waterfall, meaning dealers can present Microf alongside traditional installment loans from a single application workflow.
Microf is particularly strong for replacement-heavy HVAC shops serving working-class and sub-prime homeowners, where a declined application can kill a five-figure install. Because the program is a true lease rather than a loan, it sidesteps many of the credit hurdles that block conventional home-improvement lending, while still giving the consumer a clear path to ownership and the contractor a predictable, fast payout.