Two cooks working in a restaurant kitchen

Restaurant, bar and café equipment financing

Kitchen equipment, refrigeration and front-of-house fit-outs.

Estimate your paymentExample rate 9%

Equipment cost

$1,967/month over 48 months

CBL funds up to $1,000,000

Example only, not a quote. The lease example includes a 10% buyout at the end of the term. Your rate depends on credit, time in business and the equipment.

Continue to application

The short answer

CBL arranges financing for commercial kitchen equipment, refrigeration, espresso machines, dishwashing systems and full restaurant fit-outs. It suits restaurants, bars and cafés planning a build or replacing equipment that has failed. We place files with lenders that have a genuine appetite for hospitality, and for urgent replacements, approvals can come the same day.

At a glance

CBL Financial is an equipment financing brokerage in Calgary, Alberta, that arranges restaurants, bars & cafés equipment financing for businesses across Canada. Funding goes up to $1,000,000, terms run 24 to 72 months, and approvals can come the same day for straightforward files.

Restaurants, Bars & Cafés financing at a glance
What it is	Restaurants, bars & cafés equipment financing, arranged through a lender network
Funding	Up to $1,000,000
Terms	24 to 72 months
Approval time	Same day possible for straightforward files
Where	Businesses across Canada, from a head office in Calgary, AB
Equipment	Commercial ovens & ranges, Walk-ins & refrigeration, Espresso machines, Dishwashing systems, Full kitchen fit-outs
Sellers	New or used, from a dealer, auction or private seller
Rate and down payment	Set by the lender for each file, based on credit, the asset and its age

Kitchen equipment tends to fail at the worst moment, and a replacement bought in a rush usually costs more. We finance planned kitchen builds and emergency replacements alike, and because generalist lenders often judge restaurant files harshly, we place them with the lenders who actually like the sector.

Restaurant equipment loans and leases

We arrange loans and leases for commercial ovens and ranges, walk-ins and refrigeration, espresso machines, dishwashing systems and full kitchen fit-outs, new or used. A complete kitchen (cooking line, refrigeration, dishwashing and front of house) can be financed as one package instead of a stack of separate invoices, and vendors are paid directly. See restaurant equipment financing for more on the equipment side.

Restaurant equipment financing and loans in Calgary

Our head office is in Calgary, so Calgary restaurants, bars and cafés can reach us on the local line, 587-705-1777. When a cooler or range fails mid-week, approvals can come the same day for straightforward files. Our page on equipment financing in Calgary covers the rest of what we arrange for local businesses.

Restaurant working capital loans

A working capital loan can cover a renovation while the doors are closed, a slow season, or payroll and inventory between busy periods. It is sized on your revenue, needs monthly revenue over $15,000, and is repaid from incoming sales with daily, weekly or monthly remittance. Business loans for bars work the same way, and bars use the same equipment programs for refrigeration, dishwashing and fit-outs.

What lenders look at on a restaurant file

Some generalist lenders turn down restaurant financing on reflex, so we send restaurant files to lenders who want food-service business. Those lenders look at:

your recent business bank statements, where steady daily sales count in your favour
the equipment list, the supplier’s quote and whether units are new or used
time in business and the owner’s credit
any down payment offered, which matters more for a newer location

Restaurant equipment financing with bad credit

Challenged credit is considered. It usually changes the structure of the deal, for example a larger first payment or additional security, and as a broker we can take your file to other lenders when one says no. Our guide to equipment financing with bad credit explains what lenders weigh besides the credit score.

Common equipment we finance

Commercial ovens & ranges
Walk-ins & refrigeration
Espresso machines
Dishwashing systems
Full kitchen fit-outs

Built for your industry

How restaurants, bars & cafés financing works

Emergency replacement speed
Urgent replacements are prioritized, and approvals can come the same day.
Hospitality-friendly credit
Lenders chosen for their appetite for food service.
Working capital pairing
Cover the reno period when the doors are closed.

FAQ

Questions owners ask

Can I finance used restaurant equipment?

Yes. Quality used commercial kitchen equipment can substantially reduce fit-out cost, and we fund it alongside new where it makes sense. It can come from a dealer, an auction or a private seller. Lenders want a serial number they can verify and reasonable remaining life, so include the make, model and condition when you apply.

How fast can I replace a cooler or range that has failed?

Urgent replacements are prioritized. Approvals can come the same day for straightforward files, with funding in as little as 48 hours, and the vendor is paid directly. Having the supplier’s quote and your recent business bank statements ready keeps things moving.

Can a new restaurant get equipment financing?

New restaurants are considered, usually with the equipment as security. Lenders look at the owner’s personal credit, the equipment list and its value, and any down payment offered. A lease can suit an opening because it keeps cash free for payroll and inventory, and the lease is tied to the equipment rather than to the restaurant’s track record.

What if my credit is less than perfect?

You may still qualify, though challenged credit usually changes the structure of the deal, for example a larger first payment or additional security. As a broker, we can take your file to other lenders when one says no.