Restaurant Financing
Explore funding for kitchen equipment, refurbishment and working capital. Understand the costs and repayments before requesting a quote for your restaurant.
PDQ Funding is a broker, not a lender. Funding is subject to lender assessment and terms.
Restaurant Business Finance Made Simple
A broken refrigerator, a dining-room refit and the deposit for a second site create very different funding needs. Restaurant business loans can provide a lump sum repaid over an agreed term. A merchant cash advance offers another route for businesses with qualifying card sales.
Start with a written budget and a realistic repayment plan. Include supplier deposits, installation, any closure during the work and the cash needed to reopen. A busy service does not automatically mean there is spare cash after ingredients, wages and premises costs.
PDQ Funding helps restaurant owners explore business loans and sales-linked funding. We explain the information required and introduce enquiries to providers where appropriate.
For additional premises or capacity, use our guide to business expansion finance. For a defined gap in operating receipts, read about working capital loans.
Funding information for restaurant owners across the UK.
What could restaurant finance cover?
Kitchen equipment
Replace ovens, extraction systems, refrigeration or dishwashers. Obtain a quotation that includes fitting, servicing and any downtime while equipment is changed.
Stock & supplies
Buy ingredients, drinks and consumables ahead of a planned trading period. Match the purchase to expected demand so finance is not tied up in unused stock.
Refurbishment & growth
Refresh the dining area, improve accessibility or prepare an additional site. Allow for lost trading during a refit and the time before new capacity generates income.
Working capital
Bridge a defined gap between outgoing bills and incoming sales. Identify how the gap will close and how repayments affect the next wage run and supplier payments.
Compare restaurant funding options
Consider both the total cost and the collection method. The cheapest-looking headline figure may describe a different term, payment frequency or security requirement.
Merchant cash advances
A merchant cash advance provides upfront funding with collections calculated from an agreed share of qualifying card takings. Collections can increase or decrease as those sales change.
Review the funding fee separately from the collection percentage. Check which sales qualify, whether a change of payment processor is needed and any minimum payment or reconciliation terms. Lower takings do not cancel the outstanding commitment.
Restaurant business loans
A restaurant business loan is repaid under an agreed schedule, with interest and any fees. Scheduled instalments can make budgeting clearer, but they remain due during quieter services or a temporary closure.
Compare secured and unsecured terms, early settlement costs and personal guarantees. For a single equipment purchase, it can also be worth comparing a supplier finance or equipment finance quotation; check ownership and maintenance terms.
Check affordability before accepting an offer
Calculate the full commitment
Write down the amount reaching your bank account, all arrangement charges and the total repayable. Compare offers over the same period where possible. With sales-linked funding, model deductions against both a typical week and a quiet week, leaving enough for food purchases, payroll, rent and tax.
Understand the security
Unsecured does not mean there is no personal risk. A personal guarantee may make an owner or director liable if the business cannot pay. Read the guarantee and consider independent advice. Tell the provider about existing loans, leases and cash advances so the full repayment burden can be assessed.
Can I get funding to open a restaurant?
A restaurant that has not opened cannot demonstrate an established card-sales record. Start-up funding requires a different assessment from an advance for an existing venue. You can explore the government-backed Start Up Loans programme directly and check its current eligibility and personal repayment obligations.
How much can a restaurant borrow?
The amount depends on turnover, trading history, existing commitments, affordability and the provider’s criteria. A requested amount or sales figure does not guarantee an offer. Prepare a budget showing what the money will cover.
Will a restaurant loan involve a credit check?
A provider may review business and personal credit information. Ask which checks are needed and whether they are soft or hard searches before proceeding. A previous refusal does not establish another provider’s decision.
What does PDQ Funding charge?
There is no fee for using PDQ Funding’s brokerage service. We receive commission from a lender following a successful introduction. Interest, funding fees and other provider charges are separate and should be explained in the offer.
Request funding for your restaurant
Complete the online enquiry form with the amount required, the purpose and your trading details. We can discuss the next steps and any provider information requests. There is no obligation to accept an offer.
Assessment and payment times vary. If equipment has failed or a supplier needs a deposit, tell us the deadline, but do not commit to spending before funding is confirmed.
For example, a refurbishment budget should distinguish the contractor’s bill from stock replacement and the cost of reopening. Keep a record of what each quotation includes, its payment dates and any amount payable before the work starts. This makes it easier to explain the funding need without borrowing against an unfinished estimate.
- Recent business bank statements and accounts.
- Card processing statements for a cash advance enquiry.
- Existing finance repayments and outstanding balances.
- Supplier quotations and a forecast for any expansion.
For a different food business, see coffee shop finance or takeaway business loans.
Get a quote for your restaurant
PDQ Funding is a broker, not a lender. Funding is subject to the provider’s assessment and terms.