“Where should I finance my kitchen?” has no single answer — the right source depends on your credit, how long you have been open, how fast you need the gear, and whether you want the lowest rate or the fastest cash. The realistic shortlist: the dealer or manufacturer, a specialized equipment finance company, your bank or credit union, an SBA lender, an online lending marketplace, and, for buying an existing restaurant with gear included, seller financing. Each trades speed against cost. Before you shop, know your number: size the project with the cost-to-open calculator and the startup cost checklist.
| Source | Typical rate | Speed | Credit lean | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dealer / manufacturer | 0% promos to 20%+ | Same day | Varies | Convenient; may be marked up |
| Equipment finance co. | ~8–18% | 24–72 hrs | Flexible (550+) | Speed & access over lowest rate |
| Bank / credit union | ~6–12% | Weeks | Strict (680+) | Best rate, slowest, hardest |
| SBA lender | Low fixed / prime-based | 45–90 days | Strict + docs | Great terms, most paperwork |
| Online marketplace | Wide range | Fast | Flexible | One form, many offers to vet |
Restaurant suppliers and manufacturers often offer financing right at checkout, occasionally a genuine 0% APR promotion. That convenience is real — one stop, gear and loan together. But some dealers, especially used-equipment sellers, work through finance partners that pay them a referral fee, giving them an incentive to steer you toward a lender whose rate is not the best for you. The rule is simple: take the dealer’s offer, then get at least one outside quote and compare the all-in cost with our equipment loan calculator. If a 0% promo is legitimate and you can pay within the window, it is hard to beat.
This is the core choice for most operators. Banks and credit unions offer the lowest conventional rates and, if you already bank there, a relationship that helps — but they view restaurants as risky, want two-plus years of books and a 680+ score, and move slowly. Equipment finance companies exist to serve this industry: they underwrite on your revenue and the collateral value of the machine more than a spotless credit file, approve startups and thinner-credit borrowers, and fund in days. You trade a somewhat higher rate for access and speed. If your credit is the sticking point, our bad-credit financing guide covers the collateral-first lenders in depth.
SBA lenders deliver the best terms — long repayment, low fixed or prime-based rates — through a bank the government partially guarantees, at the cost of heavy paperwork and a 45–90-day wait; the details are in SBA loans for restaurants. Online marketplaces let you submit one application and receive competing offers from many lenders, which is efficient but means you must vet each offer’s true cost. Seller financing appears when you buy an existing restaurant: the seller carries part of the price, sometimes covering the equipment, which can reduce your outside borrowing. For the full menu beyond gear, see restaurant financing options.
Match the source to your priority. Need it tomorrow? Dealer or online lender. Want the lowest lifetime cost and can wait? Bank or SBA. Thin credit or a startup? Equipment finance company. Whatever you pick, get two or three quotes and compare the total cost, not the monthly payment — use the equipment TCO calculator and, if you are torn between owning and leasing, the lease-vs-buy calculator. The cheapest financing is the financing you do not need: buying quality used equipment can shrink the loan by a third, and the Section 179 deduction claws back tax on whatever you do finance.
Once you have a couple of offers, the source matters less than the fine print. Ask every lender the same questions so you can compare apples to apples:
A reputable lender answers all of these in writing. Vague responses or pressure to sign fast are warning signs — especially from online sources, where quality ranges from excellent to predatory. If a deal leans on a “factor rate” instead of an APR, convert it before comparing; a 1.3 factor over a short term can cost far more than a higher-sounding APR over a longer one.
This guide is general education, not financial, tax, or legal advice. Rates, terms, credit thresholds, and tax rules change and vary by lender, equipment type, state, and your business profile — confirm specifics with a licensed lender, leasing company, or accountant before you sign.