Can a new restaurant finance equipment?

Often yes, because the equipment is collateral. Expect a down payment, a personal guarantee, and possibly a shorter term than an established restaurant would get.

Is used restaurant equipment financeable?

Usually. Terms are shorter and rates higher than for new equipment.

What does $50,000 of kitchen equipment cost per month?

At a representative 8%–30% APR, about $1,567–$2,123 a month over 36 months.

WithFunded › Best-of guides › By product

Best equipment financing for restaurants in 2026

The best equipment financing for a restaurant is an equipment loan for the cook line and refrigeration, which you will keep for years, and a lease for POS and technology that dates quickly. For a full kitchen package in a new buildout, an SBA 7(a) loan can combine equipment with construction. New restaurants should expect to put money down.

By the WithFunded team · Published November 11, 2026 · Rates as of November 2026

The short list

Best for cooking and refrigeration: Equipment loan
Best for POS and technology: Equipment lease
Best for a full kitchen in a new buildout: SBA 7(a) loan
Best for cash from equipment you own: Equipment sale-leaseback

The 4 best options, ranked

1. Equipment loan Best for cooking and refrigeration

Ranges, ovens, and walk-ins last a long time and have resale value. Owning them through a loan costs less than leasing over their life.

Watch for: Older or highly specialized equipment gets shorter terms and higher rates. Equipment financing guide →
2. Equipment lease Best for POS and technology

Point-of-sale systems and kitchen displays are replaced every few years. A lease keeps the payment small and upgrades easy.

Watch for: On a fair-market-value lease you do not own the equipment unless you pay the buyout. Equipment financing guide →
3. SBA 7(a) loan Best for a full kitchen in a new buildout

When equipment is one part of opening a location, a 7(a) loan covers it together with construction and working capital on a long term.

Watch for: Heavy documentation, and the timeline rules it out for anything urgent. SBA loan guide →
4. Equipment sale-leaseback Best for cash from equipment you own

An established restaurant can raise working capital against a paid-off kitchen without taking a daily-remittance advance.

Watch for: You turn an asset you own into a monthly payment, so the cash has to earn more than it costs. Equipment financing guide →

Side-by-side comparison

Option	Verdict	Cost basis	Funding speed	Qualifies on
Equipment loan	Best for cooking and refrigeration	Representative 8%–30% APR, with the term matched to the equipment's useful life	Days to weeks	The equipment is the collateral, which can offset a thinner credit profile
Equipment lease	Best for POS and technology	A monthly lease payment; total cost depends on the end-of-term buyout	Days to weeks	The equipment is the collateral; often less cash up front than a loan
SBA 7(a) loan	Best for a full kitchen in a new buildout	Capped at 10.00%–13.50% by loan size (prime plus the SBA maximum spread)	Weeks to months	Generally stronger credit and two or more years in business
Equipment sale-leaseback	Best for cash from equipment you own	Lease-style pricing on equipment you already own	Days to weeks	The resale value of equipment you own free and clear

What it costs

Monthly payments on a standard fixed-payment loan at the representative 8%–30% APR band. The low end of each range is 8% APR and the high end is 30% APR.

Amount	24 mo	36 mo	60 mo
$15,000	$678–$839	$470–$637	$304–$485
$50,000	$2,261–$2,796	$1,567–$2,123	$1,014–$1,618
$150,000	$6,784–$8,387	$4,700–$6,368	$3,041–$4,853

Financing $50,000 over 36 months costs about $1,567–$2,123 a month, or $6,405 to $26,413 in total interest, depending on the rate you qualify for. WithFunded calculation, representative 8%–30% APR band. Not a quote.

What lenders look at

Time in business. Restaurants under two years old face tighter terms.
The equipment list, including new versus used.
Card sales and bank deposits, as evidence the payment is affordable.

Mistakes to avoid

Leasing equipment at a high effective cost when you plan to keep it for a decade.
Financing built-in items that stay with the landlord without checking your lease.

Frequently asked questions

Can a new restaurant finance equipment?: Often yes, because the equipment is collateral. Expect a down payment, a personal guarantee, and possibly a shorter term than an established restaurant would get.
Is used restaurant equipment financeable?: Usually. Terms are shorter and rates higher than for new equipment.
What does $50,000 of kitchen equipment cost per month?: At a representative 8%–30% APR, about $1,567–$2,123 a month over 36 months.

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WithFunded has a dedicated page for restaurants: restaurant.withfunded.com.

What our clients say

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Based on 3,304 reviews on Trustpilot

Terry Gossman, Oct 29, 2026Landon and Austin were greatLandon and Austin were great. Knowledgable and explained everything in a way that made it all really easy to understand. I avoid these call like the plague but these two were a joy to work with.

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Showing 5-star reviews of Big Think Capital, our funding partner. TrustScore 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot as of November 10, 2026. Read all reviews

How we ranked these options

This guide ranks types of financing, not individual lenders. Each option is ordered by how well it fits the need described on this page, judged on four things in this order: whether the structure matches how the money will be used and repaid, total cost, funding speed, and how hard it is to qualify. Cost figures are WithFunded calculations from published rate inputs as of November 2026: the bank prime loan rate from the Federal Reserve, the SBA maximum-rate schedule, and Federal Reserve survey data. The method follows our 2026 SMB Financing Cost Report, whose own figures use June 2026 rates.

WithFunded is a financing marketplace, not a lender. Our 2-minute form suggests a product type from the families we cover, and a funding partner reviews the request. Not every structure named in this guide is available through WithFunded: options such as SBA microloans, USDA farm loans, bank loans, and seller financing are ones you would pursue directly with the provider. They are listed because leaving out a good fit would make the ranking less useful.

Related guides

The top-ranked option on this page is equipment loan because it fits the most common version of this need. Your own best fit depends on your revenue, time in business, credit, and how fast you need the money.

Disclaimer. WithFunded and Big Think Capital are a financing marketplace; we are not the direct lender and do not guarantee funding, approval, rates, or terms. Everything on this page is a representative example only — not an offer or a commitment to lend, and not financial advice. Actual rates, fees, payments, and terms are set by the funding lender and depend on your business, credit, and the product. Where required by state law, the lender provides cost-of-financing disclosures before any agreement is signed.