Ways to pay
Buy it outright, finance it, or rent to own it. Every path ends with the same building on your site, carrying the same ten-year Guarantee — the only thing that changes is how you get there. Your dealer will walk the numbers with you in person.
At a glance
We don’t publish payment figures here, and we won’t quote one over the internet. What a building costs each month depends on the building, the term, and your approval — so that conversation belongs with a person who can see all three.
Simplest path
Pay for the building directly. No application, no third party, no term to think about.
Best when you have the funds ready and want the shortest route to delivery.
Through Upgrade
A conventional installment loan arranged through our financing partner, applied for at the dealership.
Best when your credit is in good shape and you want to own the building outright from day one.
Through JMAG
A rental agreement that builds toward ownership, with the building delivered up front.
Best when you want the building now and would rather not put a loan on your credit.
All three paths deliver the same building, built to the same standard, under the same ten-year Guarantee. None of them changes the specification.
Financing
Our traditional financing runs through Upgrade. You apply at the dealership, the pre-approval uses a soft credit pull that leaves your score untouched, and approval needs to cover the full amount of the building including sales tax. Nothing is due at signing.
Opens Upgrade’s website in a new tab. Checking your rate uses a soft credit pull and will not affect your credit score. Approval, rates, and terms are determined by Upgrade, not by Cardinal Buildings.
Rent-to-own
Rent-to-own is handled by JMAG. One payment down covers a building of $8,000 or less; from $8,001 to $25,000, it’s two payments down. There’s no credit check, and the building is delivered long before the agreement is anywhere near finished.
Rent-to-own agreements are written and serviced by JMAG, not by Cardinal Buildings. Add JMAG’s direct application link here once confirmed.
Side by side
| Cash | Financing — Upgrade | Rent-to-own — JMAG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Due at order or signing | 20% down | Nothing | One payment (two above $8,000) |
| Balance | 80% at delivery | Installments over the term | Renewable payments toward ownership |
| Credit check | None | Soft pull for pre-approval — no score impact | Not required |
| You own it | Immediately | Immediately | At the end of the agreement |
| Sales tax | Added at purchase | Included in the approved amount | Handled within the agreement |
| Building range | Any | Any, subject to approval | Up to $25,000 |
| Ten-year Guarantee | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Terms shown are Cardinal’s standard structure and are subject to approval and to the agreement you sign with the finance or rental provider. Rates, terms, and payment amounts come from Upgrade or JMAG directly, not from us. Compliance and partner disclosures to be reviewed before publishing.
After you’re approved
However you pay, the path from signature to delivered building looks the same.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| At the dealership | You finalize the building — size, siding, colors, doors, windows — and choose how you're paying. |
| Within a couple of days | Cardinal calls to confirm the order details directly with you. |
| Scheduling | Steve in dispatch follows up to book your delivery window. |
| Before the truck arrives | Your site needs to be level to within six inches. Site prep, permits, and licenses are the buyer's responsibility. |
| Delivery day | We unload at street level where needed and roll the building into position, exactly where you want it standing. |
Common questions
Checking your rate with Upgrade uses a soft credit pull, which does not affect your score. Rent-to-own through JMAG doesn’t require a credit check at all. Check your rate↗
Financing approval generally depends on your circumstances, including your interest in the property. Your dealer will walk you through what applies to you.
That depends on the building, the path, and your approval. We don’t quote payments online — your dealer will show you real figures once your building is specified.
No. The ten-year Guarantee applies the same way regardless of how you paid, on qualifying models purchased on or after March 1, 2026.
Early payoff terms are set by Upgrade or JMAG in your agreement. Ask your dealer to point you to the relevant section before you sign.
The Cardinal Move applies on qualifying models regardless of payment path. Animal structures, Eco Sheds, and the C+ line are excluded.
Tell us what you’re building around and your nearest dealer will lay out every option side by side — with real numbers, in person.
