Hospitality & Restaurant Equipment Finance Australia

Why Finance Hospitality Equipment?

Opening or upgrading a hospitality venue involves massive capital outlay. A full commercial kitchen fit-out can cost $80K–$300K+, a quality espresso machine runs $15K–$30K, and a walk-in cool room adds another $10K–$40K. Paying for everything upfront can cripple a new venue’s cash reserves before the first customer walks in.

Hospitality equipment finance spreads these costs over 2–7 years, preserving working capital for rent, wages, stock, and marketing. Because the equipment directly generates revenue, lenders view it as self-securing — making approval more accessible than unsecured business loans.

Whether you’re fitting out a new restaurant, adding a second coffee machine to handle weekend demand, or upgrading your cool room to meet food-safety standards, there’s a structure to match your cash-flow and tax position.

What Can You Finance?

• Commercial Kitchen: Combi ovens, deep fryers, chargrills, salamanders, food processors, commercial dishwashers, extraction hoods
• Coffee & Beverage: Espresso machines, coffee grinders, batch brewers, under-counter glasswashers, ice machines, beer-line systems
• Refrigeration: Walk-in cool rooms, upright fridges, chest freezers, display cabinets, blast chillers
• Fit-out & Furniture: Kitchen benching, bar counters, booth seating, lighting, flooring, signage
• Point of Sale: POS terminals, order-display screens, self-order kiosks, payment terminals
• Food Trucks & Trailers: Custom food trucks, mobile coffee vans, trailer-mounted kitchens
• Laundry & Linen: Commercial washing machines, dryers, and linen carts for hotels and accommodation

Finance Structures for Hospitality Equipment

The right structure depends on whether you own or lease your premises, how long you plan to keep the equipment, and your GST and tax position.

Chattel Mortgage

Ideal for venue owners who plan to keep equipment long-term. You take immediate ownership, claim the GST credit upfront (e.g. ~$10,900 on a $120K fit-out), and deduct interest plus depreciation. Best suited when you own the premises or have a long-term lease.

Finance Lease

Good for expanding businesses. The financier owns the equipment during the term; payments are fully deductible. At term end, pay the residual to keep the equipment or upgrade. Works well for second-site expansions where you want predictable costs.

Operating Lease

Popular for leased premises. You use the equipment and return it at lease end, keeping it off your balance sheet. Every payment is deductible. Ideal when your venue lease runs 3–5 years and you don’t want to be stuck with equipment you can’t easily move.

Indicative Hospitality Equipment Finance Rates

Updated March 2026 • Rates are indicative only and subject to lender approval, credit profile, asset type, and loan amount.

*Hospitality rates tend to sit slightly higher than vehicle finance due to the industry’s perceived risk. Strong trading history and a signed commercial lease significantly improve the rate offered. View our full rates guide →

Eligibility Requirements

• Active ABN — GST registration preferred for chattel mortgage but not required
• 12+ months trading history (start-up packages available with additional security)
• Clean personal credit history — no current defaults or judgments
• Signed commercial lease for the venue (for new premises)
• Supplier quote or fit-out proposal for the equipment
• Proof of income — BAS returns, tax returns, or bank statements
• For start-ups: detailed business plan and evidence of hospitality experience

Established venues with 2+ years of trading and strong BAS history typically qualify for low-doc approval. New venues should expect to provide a detailed business plan and may need a 10–20% deposit or personal guarantee.

Hospitality Equipment Finance FAQs

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