An operating lease is usually cancellable and includes maintenance . Operating leases are , frequently , for a period significantly shorter than the economic life of the asset , so the lessor often does not recover his or her full investment during the period of the basic lease . A financial lease , on the other hand , is fully amortized and generally does not include maintenance provisions . An operating lease would probably be used for a fleet of trucks , while a financial lease would be used for a manufacturing plant .