# Restaurant funding cheat sheet: kitchens to food trucks

URL: https://cheapcheapwebsites.com/cheat-sheets/restaurant-funding/
Updated October 16, 2026. Funding offered by Merchant Fund Express (https://merchantfundexpress.com/industries/); Cheap Cheap Websites builds websites and does not lend.

## The short answer
Restaurants, food trucks, caterers, breweries and bars usually fund through merchant cash advances, working capital loans and equipment financing. Because most revenue arrives as daily card sales, an advance repaid as a share of sales flexes with slow and busy weeks. At Merchant Fund Express, credit scores from 500 are considered, and an MCA commonly starts around $7,500 a month in revenue and 3+ months in business.

## At a glance
- Who it covers: Restaurants, cafes, food trucks, catering, breweries, bars
- Common uses: Equipment repair, walk-in coolers, slow seasons, renovations, payroll, inventory
- MCA guideline: Commonly from about $7,500 a month, 3+ months in business, credit flexible
- Sizing: MCA roughly 0.5x to 1.5x monthly revenue, illustrative only
- Equipment: Terms matched to equipment life, max 60 months at MFE; vendor quote needed
- Credit: Scores from 500 considered; stronger credit usually means better offers
- Documents: 3 to 4 months of bank statements, ID, voided check, application
- Speed: Same-day decisions are common on complete files; never promised
- Avoid if: You already carry several advances; ask about a refinance instead

## Before you apply: checklist
- Download 4 months of business bank statements showing card deposits
- Pull processor statements if card sales settle to more than one account
- Get a written quote for any equipment repair or replacement
- Mark your slowest month and check the payment against it
- List any open advances with balances
- Separate the emergency need from the wish list
- Keep tip payouts and sales tax money out of the sizing math

## By type of food business
Full-service and quick-service restaurants: remodels, hood systems, walk-ins, payroll during slow months. Food trucks: engine and generator repairs, permits, a second truck. Equipment financing can cover the truck build-out. Catering: event deposits often arrive late; working capital bridges staffing and supplies. Breweries: tanks, canning lines and inventory before distribution deals. Bars: renovations, sound systems, seasonal staffing. More detail in restaurant business funding .

## Equipment repair and replacement
A dead walk-in or fryer stops service. Repairs under a few thousand dollars often fit an advance; bigger replacements usually fit equipment financing, which uses the vendor quote or invoice, may ask for a down payment, and at MFE never runs past 60 months.

## Illustrative example: a walk-in cooler and a slow month
Illustrative example Item Figure Assumed monthly card sales $85,000 Advance amount $45,000 (about 0.53x revenue) Assumed factor rate 1.28 Total payback ($45,000 x 1.28) $57,600 Assumed holdback 10% of card sales Payment in a normal month ($85,000 x 10%) $8,500 Payment in a slow $65,000 month $6,500 Months to repay at normal sales ($57,600 / $8,500) About 6.8 months These figures are illustrations, not offers. Real pricing, amounts and terms depend on the full file review.

## Common mistakes
Counting sales tax and tips as revenue when sizing. Taking a second or third advance instead of reviewing a refinance; see restaurant MCA refinance . Signing during the busy season without testing the payment against winter or summer lows. Funding a remodel with short-term money when equipment financing could stretch the cost.

## How Merchant Fund Express handles this
Merchant Fund Express reviews restaurant, food truck, catering, brewery and bar files from $5,000 to $5,000,000. See the Merchant Fund Express industries page for how food businesses are reviewed. Credit from 500 is considered, Spanish service is available, and existing advances can be reviewed for a refinance or buyout. When ready, apply with Merchant Fund Express .

## Frequently asked questions
**Can a food truck get funding?** Yes. Food trucks are reviewed like other food businesses, based on deposits, time in business and credit. Truck repairs and build-outs often fit equipment financing, while slow-season gaps fit an advance or working capital.

**How much can my restaurant get?** An MCA is often sized around 0.5x to 1.5x monthly revenue as an illustration. A restaurant with $60,000 in monthly sales might see a range of roughly $30,000 to $90,000, depending on the full file.

**Are bars and breweries funded?** Bars and breweries can apply. They are reviewed on deposits, time in business, credit and existing debt like any other business. Licensing and seasonal swings are part of the conversation.

**My restaurant has a bad credit score. Can I still apply?** Yes. Merchant Fund Express considers scores from 500. For an advance, steady card deposits and few NSFs matter a great deal. Stronger credit usually means better offers.

**Should I refinance my restaurant advance?** If you carry several positions or the daily payments are squeezing operations, a refinance or buyout review can make sense. Compare total payback and the number of positions, not just the new payment.

Apply with Merchant Fund Express: https://merchantfundexpress.com/current-application.html?utm_source=cheat-sheet&utm_campaign=restaurant-funding