Restaurant, Hospitality & Food Service
Restaurant & Food Service Equipment Financing in Canada
Finance commercial kitchen equipment, refrigeration, bakery and coffee equipment through one process with access to 40+ financing sources. Raymond Leigh helps Canadian restaurants, cafes, bakeries and hotels finance kitchen packages and upgrades, usually in the $50,000 to $5 million range.
At a Glance
Restaurant Equipment Financing in Canada: At a Glance
What can be financed
Cooking lines, refrigeration, walk-ins, dishwashers, ventilation, bakery and coffee equipment, food trucks and hotel equipment.
Transaction size
Roughly $50,000 to $5 million, which suits full kitchen packages, renovations and multi-location projects.
New restaurants
New locations may be considered. Owner experience, the business plan and a personal guarantee often matter.
Used equipment
Used equipment may be considered, though some financing sources prefer new kitchen equipment.
Packages
A full kitchen package, including installation, can often be financed together.
Where
Restaurants, cafes, bakeries and hotels anywhere in Canada may apply.
Why Businesses Finance
Financing Built Around Kitchens and Dining Rooms
Opening or upgrading a restaurant requires spending a lot of money before the first guest arrives. Ovens, refrigeration, hoods and dishwashers all need to be in place and working on day one. Financing spreads that cost over the years the equipment is in service.
Margins are thin and cash flow can be uneven. Payroll, food costs and rent take priority, and a broken walk-in cooler cannot wait. Financing lets operators replace or upgrade equipment without emptying the operating account.
Lenders look at restaurants carefully, especially new ones. Experience, the concept, the location and the lease all matter. Having access to several financing sources improves the chance of finding one that fits a new concept or a growing group.
Equipment
Food Service & Hospitality Equipment We Finance
These are the main categories of equipment restaurants, cafes and hotels finance.
Cooking
Commercial ovens, combi ovens, ranges, fryers, grills, charbroilers and pizza ovens.
Refrigeration
Walk-in coolers, walk-in freezers, reach-in refrigerators, prep tables and ice machines.
Warewashing and ventilation
Commercial dishwashers, hood and ventilation systems and fire suppression.
Bakery and prep
Deck ovens, rack ovens, mixers, dough sheeters, proofers and food processors.
Coffee and beverage
Espresso machines, grinders, brewers and beverage systems.
Front of house and hotel
POS systems, food trucks, hotel laundry equipment and hospitality furnishings.
By Equipment Type
Restaurant & Hospitality Equipment Financing by Type
Here is how financing typically works for the main categories of food service equipment.
Commercial Kitchen Equipment Financing
A full commercial kitchen package, including the cooking line, refrigeration, hoods and dishwashing, can often be financed together. Installation and some leasehold work may be included depending on the financing source.
Restaurant Equipment Financing
Restaurant equipment financing covers individual pieces as well as packages. Operators often finance a new combi oven, fryer bank or pizza oven to expand the menu or increase output.
Commercial Refrigeration Financing
Walk-in coolers, freezers and refrigeration systems are essential and expensive to replace. Financing lets operators replace failing units quickly without disrupting cash flow.
Bakery Equipment Financing
Bakeries finance deck ovens, rack ovens, mixers, sheeters and proofers when adding wholesale accounts or opening retail locations.
Coffee Shop Equipment Financing
Espresso machines, grinders and brewing equipment can be financed alongside refrigeration and display cases for a new or expanding cafe.
Food Truck Financing
Food trucks may be financed as a vehicle with a kitchen fit-out. Financing sources look at both the truck and the equipment inside, and at the operator's experience.
Hotel & Hospitality Equipment Financing
Hotels and resorts finance kitchen equipment, laundry systems, fitness equipment and technology as part of renovations or new properties. See equipment financing for how these deals are structured.
Financing Options
Financing Options for Restaurants & Hospitality Businesses
The right option depends on whether you are opening, renovating or replacing, and on how long the business has operated.
Equipment Financing
Finance new or used kitchen and hospitality equipment with the equipment as security.
Explore equipment financingEquipment Leasing
Lease structures can lower payments and allow upgrades at the end of the term.
Kitchen Package Financing
Finance a complete kitchen, including installation, in one transaction.
Renovation Financing
Fund a restaurant or hotel renovation alongside the new equipment.
Explore renovation financingEquipment Refinance
Borrow against equity in equipment the business already owns.
Explore equipment refinanceWorking Capital
Complementary working capital for opening costs or slow seasons, where appropriate.
Explore working capitalFor equipment purchases, equipment financing is typically more structured, and often lower cost, than a merchant cash advance.
Use Cases
Common Restaurant Financing Scenarios
Opening a new restaurant
An experienced chef opens a first restaurant and finances the full kitchen package, with installation included.
Adding a second location
A successful restaurant group finances equipment for a second location based on the performance of the first.
Replacing a failed walk-in
A restaurant's walk-in cooler fails in summer, and the operator finances a replacement right away.
Expanding a bakery
A bakery adds wholesale accounts and finances a rack oven, spiral mixer and proofer to increase output.
Renovating a hotel
A hotel renovates its restaurant and laundry and finances the equipment as part of the project.
Ontario & Quebec
Ontario and Quebec Notes for Restaurants
Operators in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City run into a few common issues. These notes are general, not legal or tax advice.
New restaurants
New restaurants in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and other cities are reviewed on the operator's experience, the lease and the concept. A business plan helps.
Landlord waivers
When equipment is installed in a leased space, financing sources may ask the landlord to sign a waiver so the equipment can be recovered if needed.
Sales tax
Equipment purchases attract HST in Ontario and GST and QST in Quebec. How tax is handled in the financing depends on the structure, so confirm with your accountant.
For food service vendors
How Restaurant & Food Service Equipment Vendors Can Offer Customer Financing
Restaurant equipment dealers, kitchen designers and food service suppliers can offer customer financing through Raymond Leigh. You bring the operator; we bring financing sources that are comfortable with restaurants, cafes, bakeries and hotels.
Kitchen packages are big tickets for small operators. When your quote includes an estimated monthly payment next to the total, owners can judge the project against their monthly sales instead of their bank balance. And when a first-time operator's bank says no, the project does not have to die on your desk.
Financing can include the equipment, installation and in some cases hood and ventilation work. You stay the operator's point of contact for the kitchen. We run the application, lender selection and paperwork.
How can restaurant equipment dealers offer financing?
Refer the operator to Raymond Leigh with the quote. We coordinate financing with third-party sources while you manage the order and installation.
Can financing include installation?
Often, yes. Installation and some fit-out work can be included in a kitchen package, depending on the financing source.
What if the customer is opening their first restaurant?
First restaurants can sometimes be financed, based on the operator's experience, business plan and a personal guarantee. Approval is never guaranteed.
Why Raymond Leigh
One Financing Process. More Places to Take the Deal.
Plenty of lenders avoid restaurants, and others only work with established groups. A first location, a bakery adding wholesale or a hotel kitchen all need different lenders. Raymond Leigh sends one file to 40+ financing sources and matches it to the ones that work with your concept and stage.
- Commercial kitchens, refrigeration, bakery and coffee equipment
- New restaurants, renovations and second locations
- Kitchen packages including installation where appropriate
- About $50K to $5M per transaction
- Refinancing on owned equipment
- Canada-wide, including Ontario and Quebec
How It Works
How Restaurant Equipment Financing Works
Applying does not commit you to anything, and approval is never guaranteed. Here is what happens after you reach out.
Tell Us About the Equipment
Send the equipment quote or kitchen package, the opening or install date, and basic information about the business.
We Review the Transaction
We review the operator, the concept and the equipment.
We Identify Financing Options
Your file is matched with financing sources that are comfortable with food service and hospitality.
Complete the Transaction
When the landlord waiver, documents and conditions are in place, funding goes to the equipment supplier.
FAQ
Restaurant, Hospitality & Food Service Financing Questions
Sometimes. New restaurants are reviewed on the owner's experience, the business plan, the lease and a personal guarantee. Expect more scrutiny than for an established restaurant.
Yes. A complete kitchen package, including installation, can often be financed as one transaction.
Sometimes. Some financing sources prefer new kitchen equipment, but used equipment may be considered when value and condition are clear.
For equipment purchases, equipment financing is typically more structured and often lower cost than a merchant cash advance. The right option depends on the business and the need.
Yes, potentially. Food trucks are reviewed as a vehicle and a kitchen fit-out, along with the operator's experience.
Yes. Hotels often finance kitchen, laundry and other equipment as part of a renovation or new property.
Send the operator and the quote to Raymond Leigh. We arrange financing through third-party sources, and your team keeps managing the sale.
Yes. Designers and installers can show an estimated payment alongside the project quote so owners can plan, with final terms set after review.
Next Step
Build the Kitchen Your Menu Needs
Send us the quote or the kitchen plan. We will review it and come back with realistic options.