Restaurant Furniture Finance

Q: Why does restaurant furniture get worse finance terms than the kitchen equipment in the same fit-out?

Because it is a soft asset with little resale value, especially once fitted and used, compared with a combi oven or a fridge, which retain meaningful value on the secondhand market. A lender financing furniture has far less security if the agreement is not repaid, so expect a higher rate, a bigger deposit, and a personal guarantee more often than on the equipment side of the same fit-out.

Q: Is bespoke, designer restaurant furniture harder to finance than standard commercial chairs and tables?

Yes, generally. Bespoke furniture built to match a specific interior design has an even narrower resale market than standard commercial stock, since almost nobody else wants a chair designed around one restaurant's colour scheme and branding. Some lenders will still finance it, but expect a higher deposit and closer questioning of the overall fit-out budget and lease length than for off-the-shelf furniture.

Q: Should furniture be financed on the same agreement as the kitchen equipment for a new restaurant?

Usually not. Because lenders treat hard kitchen equipment and soft furniture so differently, most restaurant openings are better served by keeping the two on separate finance lines, or by funding the furniture through a general business loan rather than forcing it into an equipment-style agreement it doesn't really fit. Some lenders will still finance both together if asked, but the blended terms rarely work out as well as splitting them, so it is worth asking a broker to compare both routes before committing.

Q: Can a first-time restaurant opening finance its furniture at all?

Yes, but expect the combination of being a start-up in a high-churn sector and financing a soft asset to result in the most cautious underwriting on your whole project, typically a 20–30% deposit, a personal guarantee, and evidence such as a signed lease and fit-out budget. Many first-time operators find it easier to fund furniture from the general opening budget or a business loan rather than dedicated asset finance.

Spread the cost of restaurant furniture from £2,000 to £60,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance; compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a restaurant furniture?

Yes, restaurant furnitures 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 £2,000 to £60,000, and most deals are written over 12–48 months with a deposit of around 20–30%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

Typical Cost

£2k – £60k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for < £25k

Rates From

9.0% APR

What would a restaurant furniture cost per month?

Restaurant Furniture price (ex VAT) £15,000

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 restaurant furniture price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate: From 9.5% APR
Term: 12–48 months
Deposit: 20–30%
Ownership: Yours at the end
Best for: Restaurant Furniture buyers wanting to own it outright

Finance Lease

Rate: From 9.0% APR
Term: 12–48 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for: Tax-efficient; claim 100% of payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate: From 10.5% APR
Term: 24–48 months
Deposit: 1–3 rentals in advance
Ownership: Return at end
Best for: Upgrade restaurant furniture regularly. Off balance sheet.

Representative example

On a purchase price of £15,000: a 10% deposit of £1,500, then 48 monthly payments of £316 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £16,668, 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
Commercial dining chairs, per 20 units	£1,600 – £8,000	Dining Chairs (20)
Booth/banquette seating, 6m run	£2,500 – £6,000	Booth Seating Run
Dining tables, per 10 units	£1,500 – £4,000	Dining Tables (10)

Tax benefits

Restaurant furniture still counts as plant and machinery for capital allowances purposes when it is used in the trade, so it qualifies for Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) up to £1,000,000 the same as kitchen equipment. HP allows you to claim capital allowances directly. Lease payments are deducted from profit as they fall due, which matters more here because resale value is low and there is little residual asset to offset against tax later.

Market context

Restaurant furniture is bought whenever a site opens or is refitted, and cost varies enormously depending on whether chairs and tables are simple commercial stock or bespoke pieces built for a designed interior. Like banqueting furniture, this is a soft asset: chairs, tables, and booth seating have little resale value once fitted and used, particularly bespoke or branded pieces that were designed around one specific restaurant's interior. Furniture typically makes up a meaningful share of a restaurant's total fit-out budget, alongside the kitchen equipment behind it, which is financed on very different terms.

Frequently asked questions

Why does restaurant furniture get worse finance terms than the kitchen equipment in the same fit-out?

Because it is a soft asset with little resale value, especially once fitted and used, compared with a combi oven or a fridge, which retain meaningful value on the secondhand market. A lender financing furniture has far less security if the agreement is not repaid, so expect a higher rate, a bigger deposit, and a personal guarantee more often than on the equipment side of the same fit-out.

Is bespoke, designer restaurant furniture harder to finance than standard commercial chairs and tables?

Yes, generally. Bespoke furniture built to match a specific interior design has an even narrower resale market than standard commercial stock, since almost nobody else wants a chair designed around one restaurant's colour scheme and branding. Some lenders will still finance it, but expect a higher deposit and closer questioning of the overall fit-out budget and lease length than for off-the-shelf furniture.

Should furniture be financed on the same agreement as the kitchen equipment for a new restaurant?

Usually not. Because lenders treat hard kitchen equipment and soft furniture so differently, most restaurant openings are better served by keeping the two on separate finance lines, or by funding the furniture through a general business loan rather than forcing it into an equipment-style agreement it doesn't really fit. Some lenders will still finance both together if asked, but the blended terms rarely work out as well as splitting them, so it is worth asking a broker to compare both routes before committing.

Can a first-time restaurant opening finance its furniture at all?