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Hospitality
Takeaway business loans: funding for pizza, kebab and curry takeaways and dark kitchens
Finance for pizza and kebab shops, Chinese and Indian takeaways and dark kitchens: equipment finance, refit loans and advances repaid from card and app takings.
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- Amount
- From £10,000 to £20 millionLarger amounts through secured, property and asset-based finance
- Security
- Secured or unsecuredOptions compared for your case
- Suitable businesses
- Sole traders to limited companiesPartnerships and LLPs too
- Lender panel
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In short
Takeaway business loans fund the things a takeaway runs on: fryers, ovens, extraction, refits and day to day cash flow.
Equipment is often funded through asset finance, while refits and cash flow needs suit unsecured loans or a merchant cash advance repaid from card takings. Lenders look closely at your card and delivery platform income, so clean records of both help.
- Cooking equipment
- Extraction and ventilation
- Refrigeration
- Refits and new sites
- Cash flow
“He is fair and always gives advice that is in the best interest of his clients.”
About takeaway business loans
A takeaway lives or dies on its kit and its cash flow.
A range that fails on a Friday night, an extraction system that needs replacing, or a slow month after a refit can all put pressure on the business. This page is for owners of pizza and kebab shops, Chinese and Indian takeaways, burger and chicken shops and delivery-only dark kitchens who want to fund equipment, a refit or working capital. If you run a chippy, our page on fish and chip shop finance covers that trade in more detail. Smart Funding Solutions is an independent broker: we compare lenders that understand takeaway trading and arrange the finance that fits how your money comes in.
Funding needs
What takeaway business loans cover
If you run a sit-down restaurant or café, our pages on restaurant loans and the wider hospitality business loans section are a better starting point.
Cooking equipment
fryers, pizza ovens, doner grills, woks and combination ovens.Extraction and ventilation
canopies, ducting and filtration, often a large single cost.Refrigeration
walk-in chillers, freezers and prep counters.Refits and new sites
shopfronts, counters, flooring and electrics.Cash flow
stock, wages, rent and VAT bills, especially after a quiet spell.Delivery
scooters, e-bikes or vans for your own drivers.
Quick enquiry
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Not ready for the full application? Leave a few details and a broker will call you to talk it through. It is free, with no obligation.
- One short conversation, no paperwork yet
- Whole-of-market search across 300+ lenders
- Or call us on 01244 267694
The operating cycle
Where finance fits into your takeaway business
Cash leaves the business at every stage before it comes back. Each stage below is a point where the right facility can carry the gap.
- 01
Win work
Orders, contracts or customers secured.
- 02
Buy in
Stock, materials and equipment paid for up front.
Asset finance → - 03
Pay people
Wages and suppliers paid on time.
Working capital → - 04
Deliver
The work is done or the goods are sold.
- 05
Get paid
Customers pay, sometimes weeks later.
Invoice finance → - 06
Tax
VAT and Corporation Tax fall due.
HMRC loans → - 07
Invest
Growth, a new site or new equipment.
Business loans →
Funding needs
Funding options for takeaway businesses
Choose the need, and we’ll show you how lenders usually structure it.
Rules that affect your plans
Lenders will expect a takeaway to be properly set up. A few points from official sources:
- Food business registration: in England, Wales and Northern Ireland a new food business must register with its local authority at least 28 days before it starts trading, according to the GOV.UK food business registration page. Each site registers separately.
- VAT on hot food: HMRC's guidance on catering and takeaway food says hot takeaway food that meets its tests is standard-rated, while cold takeaway food is generally zero-rated. A VAT-registered takeaway needs to budget for this.
- Late night trading: selling hot food or drink to the public between 11pm and 5am is late night refreshment, which needs a licence from the council under the Licensing Act 2003.
How it works in practice
Illustrative example only, not a quote. A pizza takeaway that has traded for four years needs a new deck oven and replacement extraction. The owner funds the oven and extraction through hire purchase over several years, so the cost is spread while the equipment earns. Separately, a small unsecured loan covers the closure week and the refit of the counter. The lender reviews six months of bank statements, the card terminal reports and the last filed accounts. Because the shop's takings are steady through the year, fixed monthly payments suit it better than an advance.
Costs to consider
Look at the total amount repayable, not only the monthly or daily amount. With a merchant cash advance the cost is usually a fixed amount on top of the advance, so compare it carefully with a term loan; our merchant cash advance calculator helps. Also check arrangement fees, early settlement terms, and whether a personal guarantee is required. Pricing depends on your trading, so we show each offer's full cost side by side.
Alternatives
If you are opening your first site, read our guide to getting a loan to start a restaurant, most of which applies to takeaways too. Owners who own their property may get better terms on a secured loan. If you already have an advance that is weighing on cash flow, refinancing it into a term loan can help.
Underwriting
What lenders look at
01
Time trading, ideally at the current site. Start-ups can be funded, but options are narrower.
02
Bank statements, card terminal statements and delivery platform payout reports.
03
Accounts or management figures, and VAT returns if registered.
04
Your food hygiene rating and premises lease terms.
05
Existing finance, including any current advance.
06
The credit history of the business and its owners.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Equipment finance spreads the cost of expensive kit.
- Card-linked repayments flex with quiet and busy periods.
- Funding for equipment and cash flow can often be arranged quickly.
- Keeps savings available for emergencies.
Cons
- Advances can cost more than a term loan.
- Repeated advances can tie up a large share of daily takings.
- Platform income is not always counted by every lender.
- Directors are often asked for a personal guarantee.
The main finance options
| Option | Best for | How it is repaid |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment finance (hire purchase or lease) | Fryers, ovens, extraction, refrigeration | Fixed monthly payments; the equipment is the security |
| Unsecured business loan | Refits, mixed costs, new sites | Fixed monthly payments over an agreed term |
| Merchant cash advance | Short-term cash needs for card-heavy takeaways | A percentage of card takings, so repayments flex with sales |
| Revenue-based finance | Businesses with strong online or platform income | A share of revenue from linked accounts |
Equipment finance for kitchens
Spreading the cost of new equipment keeps cash in the business. New and used catering equipment can often be funded, and the asset itself is the main security. Our guide to commercial kitchen equipment finance covers the detail, and the same approach applies to chillers and freezers.
Merchant cash advances and delivery platform takings
A merchant cash advance is repaid as a share of future card sales, so you pay back less on a quiet day and more on a busy one. It suits takeaways that take most of their money by card. Income from Deliveroo, Just Eat or Uber Eats arrives as platform payouts rather than through your card terminal, and lenders treat it differently: some revenue-based providers will look at platform payout statements, while a traditional MCA may only count card terminal takings. If most of your sales come through apps, tell us, because it changes which lenders are suitable.
The broker’s view
How we help
Tell us what you need to fund and how your sales come in: cash, card and apps. We search the market and approach suitable lenders. Lenders on our panel that may suit takeaways include First Merchant Finance for term loans and 365 Finance for card-linked advances; Smart Funding Solutions is an independent broker and is not part of either. It is free to enquire; any broker fee is disclosed separately before you proceed. To compare lenders in minutes, use our instant quotes tool.
FAQs
Questions clients ask
Can I get a loan for a takeaway with bad credit?
Sometimes. Lenders that offer card-linked advances often focus more on your recent card takings than your credit history, though they still run checks. Expect smaller amounts and higher costs than for a business with clean credit.
Do lenders count Deliveroo and Just Eat income?
Some do. Revenue-based providers may review platform payout statements, while many merchant cash advance providers only count takings through your own card terminal. Having clear payout records from each platform helps us match you to the right lender.
Can I finance a used fryer or pizza oven?
Often, yes. Many asset finance lenders fund used catering equipment, particularly from a recognised dealer. Very old or low value items can be harder, and may be better funded through a small unsecured loan.
Can a dark kitchen get business finance?
Yes, though lenders will look closely at platform income, since a delivery-only kitchen takes little or no card payment at a counter. Equipment finance and revenue-based options are usually the most relevant.
How quickly can a takeaway get funding?
Card-linked advances and small unsecured loans can move quickly once statements are provided. Equipment finance depends on the supplier invoice and the lender's checks. Larger or secured loans take longer.
Keep exploring
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- DiscussTell us what the funding is for.
- Explore the marketWe search 300+ lenders and compare offers.
- Compare offersWe explain the options clearly.
- Move forwardChoose the right facility for your business.
What our clients say
“Simon was fast, kept us updated at all stages and was a real pleasure to work with on our asset finance. I highly recommend this company: excellent service all round.”
“Spoke with Simon, who managed to get me the loan I needed promptly. The whole process was very smooth and was completed within a few days.”
“Getting a business loan can feel like a bit of a minefield, but everything was broken down for me in great detail. Will use again in the future!”
“Simon was a pleasure to deal with and helped us find a business loan that matched our growth goals and future expansion plans.”
“I couldn’t source funding for my business, but the team got in touch within an hour and had it sorted within 24 hours. Fantastic service, and I would definitely use them again.”
Why businesses choose Smart Funding Solutions
- Access to 300+ lenders
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- No obligation discussion
- Free to enquire