Ice Machine Finance

Q: Can I finance an ice machine that needs plumbing in with a water filter?

The machine itself finances in the standard way. A water filter supplied with it is usually included since it is equipment, but plumbing work to connect a water supply and drain is treated as installation and typically sits outside the finance agreement unless your supplier quotes it as one itemised package that the lender is willing to include. It is worth raising this with your supplier before the order is placed.

Q: Is it worth upgrading to a bigger ice machine on finance rather than running two smaller units?

Often yes, since a single higher-output machine is usually more energy-efficient per kilogram of ice produced than two smaller units doing the same job, and takes up less space. Financing the difference in cost between a small and a high-output machine is straightforward, and the higher ticket size does not usually change the approval process significantly for an established business.

Q: What deposit should I expect for an ice machine?

For a compact or under-counter machine, expect 10–20% deposit on hire purchase, or none at all on a finance lease. Larger modular ice machines are treated like other mid-value kitchen equipment, with similar deposit expectations and generally quick approval given how standardised the equipment is. Because ice machines are highly standardised and well understood by lenders, approval for an established catering or hospitality business is usually quick, often within a day of the application being submitted.

Q: Can a start-up bar or café finance its first ice machine?

Yes, given how standardised and easy to resell ice machines are, this is usually one of the more straightforward items for a new hospitality business to finance, even without a full trading history behind it. Expect a personal guarantee to be requested regardless, but the modest cost of most ice machines means approval is often quick once the rest of the application is in order.

Spread the cost of ice machine from £700 to £9,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance; compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a ice machine?

Yes, ice machines are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £700 to £9,000, and most deals are written over 12–60 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

Typical Cost

£700 – £9k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for < £25k

Rates From

6.3% APR

What would a ice machine cost per month?

Ice Machine price (ex VAT) £2,500

Deposit 10%

Agreement term 60 months

Annual interest rate 9%

Balloon payment £0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical ice machine price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate: From 6.8% APR
Term: 12–60 months
Deposit: 10–20%
Ownership: Yours at the end
Best for: Ice Machine buyers wanting to own it outright

Finance Lease

Rate: From 6.3% APR
Term: 12–60 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for: Tax-efficient; claim 100% of payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate: From 7.0% APR
Term: 24–60 months
Deposit: 1–3 rentals in advance
Ownership: Return at end
Best for: Upgrade ice machine regularly. Off balance sheet.

Representative example

On a purchase price of £2,500: a 10% deposit of £250, then 48 monthly payments of £53 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £2,794, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification	Guide price	Type
Hoshizaki IM-21CPE Ice Maker	£900 – £1,100	Compact Ice Maker
Under-counter ice maker	£700 – £1,400	Under-Counter Ice Maker
Modular ice machine, high output	£4,000 – £7,000	High-Output Ice Machine

Market context

Bars, restaurants, hotels, and healthcare catering all rely on ice machines, and buyers typically replace a unit once output falls behind demand or scale build-up affects reliability. Established Japanese and European manufacturers build machines designed to run daily for years, and this reliability supports steady demand for both new and reconditioned units. Because output requirement is easy to specify, operators generally know exactly which size machine they need before applying for finance.

Frequently asked questions

Can I finance an ice machine that needs plumbing in with a water filter?

The machine itself finances in the standard way. A water filter supplied with it is usually included since it is equipment, but plumbing work to connect a water supply and drain is treated as installation and typically sits outside the finance agreement unless your supplier quotes it as one itemised package that the lender is willing to include. It is worth raising this with your supplier before the order is placed.

Is it worth upgrading to a bigger ice machine on finance rather than running two smaller units?

Often yes, since a single higher-output machine is usually more energy-efficient per kilogram of ice produced than two smaller units doing the same job, and takes up less space. Financing the difference in cost between a small and a high-output machine is straightforward, and the higher ticket size does not usually change the approval process significantly for an established business.

What deposit should I expect for an ice machine?

For a compact or under-counter machine, expect 10–20% deposit on hire purchase, or none at all on a finance lease. Larger modular ice machines are treated like other mid-value kitchen equipment, with similar deposit expectations and generally quick approval given how standardised the equipment is. Because ice machines are highly standardised and well understood by lenders, approval for an established catering or hospitality business is usually quick, often within a day of the application being submitted.

Can a start-up bar or café finance its first ice machine?

Yes, given how standardised and easy to resell ice machines are, this is usually one of the more straightforward items for a new hospitality business to finance, even without a full trading history behind it. Expect a personal guarantee to be requested regardless, but the modest cost of most ice machines means approval is often quick once the rest of the application is in order.

Ice Machine Finance

Can you finance a ice machine?

What would a ice machine cost per month?

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Finance Lease

Operating Lease

Representative example

What buyers actually specify

Tax benefits

Market context

Bad credit?

Frequently asked questions

Related equipment finance

More hospitality & catering finance

Guides and resources

Ready to finance your ice machine?