Restaurant equipment is expensive, fails at the worst possible time, and is regulated. A walk-in cooler costs $15K-$45K installed. A commercial hood system with proper fire suppression runs $20K-$80K. A full kitchen build for a new concept can be $200K-$500K. Most restaurants don't keep that on the balance sheet — they finance it. We structure equipment loans specifically for restaurant operators, with terms that match the useful life of the equipment.
What Restaurant Equipment We Finance
Refrigeration (walk-in coolers, walk-in freezers, reach-ins, prep tables), cooking equipment (ovens, ranges, fryers, charbroilers, salamanders), ventilation (hood systems, makeup air units, fire suppression), dish/sanitation (commercial dishwashers, three-compartment sinks, glasswashers), beverage (espresso machines, draft systems, soft-serve, soda fountains), POS hardware (terminals, KDS screens, handhelds, label printers), furniture (tables, chairs, booths, patio furniture), and complete turnkey kitchen build-outs.
Why Equipment Loans Beats Paying Cash
A new walk-in cooler is going to last 12-15 years. Paying $35,000 cash for it ties up working capital you need for daily operations. Loans it over 60 months at $700-$900/month aligns the payment with the period the equipment is generating revenue. That's the textbook case for equipment loans — match the term to the useful life of the asset.
Term Lengths and What They Mean
12-24 months: best for smaller equipment ($25K-$75K) where you want it paid off fast. 36-month: most common term, balances payment size with total interest cost. 48-60 months: best for major capital equipment ($75K+) and full kitchen builds where stretching the payment improves operating cash flow. We'll model multiple term scenarios for you.
New vs Used Equipment Loans
We finance both. Used commercial restaurant equipment in the $5K-$25K range (often acquired from auctions or restaurant closures) is one of the smartest moves in the industry — operators get 60-70% of the capacity at 30-40% of the cost. Toast Funding finances used equipment as readily as new, with similar terms.
Loans the Build-Out, Not Just the Equipment
Most equipment loans companies will finance the cooler and the oven but won't touch the contractor labor to install them, the electrical work, the plumbing, the inspections. We will. We finance the total turnkey project — equipment plus build-out plus initial inventory. That's a meaningful difference for operators opening a new location.
5-minute application. Soft credit pull only. Funded in 4 hours for approved restaurants. Start your application →
