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Gable Asset Finance specialises in arranging tailored finance solutions for UK take-away food shops, fast-food outlets, street food operators and small catering businesses. Whether you’re opening a new site, upgrading kitchen equipment, fitting out a delivery-friendly counter, purchasing refrigerated vehicles or refinancing existing assets, we source the right funding structure to match your cash flow, growth plans and tax strategy.
Here we explain the financing options available — hire purchase (HP), finance leases, operating leases, equipment loans, sale & leaseback and working capital facilities — and covers the types of equipment commonly financed, practical case studies, tax and VAT considerations, lender expectations and a step-by-step application checklist so you can move from idea to installation with confidence.
Take-away operators face multiple competing demands for capital: equipment purchase, premises fit-out, staff training, initial stock, marketing, and delivery infrastructure. Financing can be a powerful tool to manage these priorities without eroding cash reserves.
We work with the full spectrum of operators across the UK:
Almost any tangible asset required to operate a take-away can be financed. Typical items include:
The right product depends on your objectives — ownership, tax treatment, upgrade path, and cashflow considerations. Below we summarise the common options.
How it works: The lender buys the equipment and hires it to you. You make fixed monthly payments over an agreed term. Ownership transfers to you once the final payment is made (sometimes after an optional final token payment).
Why choose HP: You will own the equipment at the end of the agreement and may be eligible for capital allowances. HP is straightforward to budget and commonly used for ovens, refrigeration and vehicles.
Typical terms: 2–5 years for most kitchen equipment; up to 7 years for refrigerated vans or larger investments.
How it works: Similar to HP but the lender retains legal ownership while you have full use. At the end there is often a purchase option at a residual amount.
Why choose a finance lease: Often used when the business wants long-term use and predictable rentals but prefers the lender to manage residual value and disposal risk. Good for higher-value integrated lines or specialised equipment.
How it works: You rent equipment for a fixed period and return it at the end. The lessor takes the residual risk and may offer upgrade pathways.
Why choose operating lease: Lower monthly costs, easier upgrades and less exposure to obsolescence — useful for POS, KDS, smaller fryers and machines that evolve quickly.
How it works: A standard secured or unsecured loan is used to buy equipment outright. You own the assets from day one and repay the loan over time.
Why choose equipment loans: When ownership is important and the business wants to manage the asset directly. Secured loans often offer lower rates but require collateral.
How it works: If you already own equipment, you sell it to a funder and lease it back. This releases capital while allowing continuous operational use.
Why choose sale & leaseback: Free up cash tied in assets for expansion, marketing or stock without interrupting trade.
How it works: Repayments are linked to card takings or daily revenue, often as a percentage of turnover rather than fixed instalments. This can be useful for start-ups or variable trading patterns.
Why choose revenue-linked finance: Aligns payments with income, reduces pressure in quieter periods and can help early stage operators scale.
Overdrafts, business loans or invoice finance to cover day-to-day costs such as food purchases, seasonal staffing, and promotional spend. These facilities complement asset finance when cashflow needs are short term.
Consider these factors when deciding:
Gable Asset Finance has access to a broad panel of lenders who specialise in SME catering and hospitality finance, including:
We match your business profile to lenders with appetite for catering equipment, used assets, or multi-site rollouts.
Situation: A high-volume pizza shop wanted to add two refrigerated delivery vans and a commercial conveyor oven to cope with increased demand.
Solution: Gable arranged hire purchase for the oven (3-year term) and a secured loan for the vans (5-year term) with seasonal payment flexibility aligned to peak weekend trading.
Result: The shop increased deliveries by 45%, maintained food quality during transit and met new demand without using cash reserves.
Situation: A growing four-site chain required standardised fit-outs, extraction systems and POS across new units.
Solution: Blended finance: HP for kitchen equipment, operating leases for POS systems (to allow technology refreshes) and a short working capital facility for initial stock each site.
Result: Standardised customer experience across sites, simplified supplier relationships and predictable monthly costs that supported expansion.
Situation: A delivery-only ghost kitchen concept needed industrial mixers, refrigerated prep areas and a KDS to manage multiple brands.
Solution: Merchant revenue-linked finance combined with a short-term equipment loan for high-value refrigeration. The merchant link eased cashflow pressure as revenues scaled.
Result: The operator launched three virtual brands and reached break-even within five months.
Always consult an accountant for tailored advice. Below are common issues to discuss with your tax adviser:
If your business is VAT registered you can generally reclaim VAT on equipment bought outright. For leasing, VAT is payable on each rental payment and can often be reclaimed proportionally. Special rules apply to second-hand equipment and margin schemes; seek specialist VAT advice where needed.
Purchases via HP or cash may attract capital allowances (including Annual Investment Allowance up to the prevailing limit), which can reduce taxable profits. Your accountant can advise which assets qualify and how to time purchases for tax efficiency.
Lease rentals and operating expenses are often deductible for corporation tax purposes, improving net profit after tax. The accounting treatment of leases has changed under new standards — ensure you understand on-balance vs off-balance impacts.
Lenders expect assets to be protected. Typical requirements include:
Preparing a complete application speeds approvals and improves the chance of competitive terms.
Yes. Lenders consider business plans, founder experience and projected cashflows. Start-ups may be offered merchant-linked finance, higher deposits, or shorter terms initially. Gable Asset Finance helps present the strongest case.
Yes. Many lenders finance quality used equipment, though terms may be shorter and rates slightly higher. Condition reports and service history improve approval chances.
Simple HP or equipment loan facilities can complete within 5–15 working days once documentation is complete. Complex multi-site or blended packages may take 3–6 weeks including legal documentation and installation planning.
Yes. Lenders commonly finance installation, ventilation, electrical works and even shopfitting as part of the asset value — include these costs in supplier quotes to ensure they are covered.
If equipment is financed, the lender’s charge remains until settled. Options include settling finance from sale proceeds, novating the contract to a new operator, or arranging a sale & leaseback to keep equipment in use. Talk to your adviser early to plan exit strategies.
The take-away sector in the UK continues to evolve — delivery platforms, ghost kitchens, contactless payments and sustainability are shaping investment needs:
We offer a practical, hands-on service:
© Gable Asset Finance — Specialist finance for the UK hospitality and take-away sector.
Gable Asset Financed is has a particular specialty focussed on the business of creating helpline businesses finance equipment and furniture required for take away food shops.
Gable Asset Finance has since built up a solid reputation around the UK. We are proud to offer take away food business operators access to business finance and leasing solutions to purchases new, reconditioned & second hand equipment for your take away business.
Forget about purchasing brand new products, which can strain your commercial budget and leave you with little money for anything else. We can provide you with a competitive business finance and leasing solution to give you all of the equipment you need to run your take away operation.
Who we finance:
Gable Asset Finance can arrange all the business finance and leasing a take away business need to grow and to develop your takeaway, whether that is franchising your restaurant, adding an automated online ordering system or re-branding to move to the top of the food chain.
In terms of business finance and leasing Gable Asset Finance is one stop resource for professional & independent cafe operators, bakeries, juice bar, ice cream retailers and entrepreneurs looking for practical business finance and leasing solutions for a take away food business.
We can arrange business finance and leasing on all the equipment required for a take away food business such as:-
We have been delighted to support and work with a wide range of customers over the years, from independant take-away shops and restaurant,colleges and schools to hotel chains and hospitals, and can offer affordable and speedy business finance and leasing solutions for any take way business.
Whatever the scale and scope of your ambitions; looking at a new development or refurbishing an take away food business, Gable Asset Finance has the business finance and leasing options readily available. if you require business finance and leasing for a take way food business please call us today or apply online.