Restaurant Loan Payment Calculator — Equipment, Working Capital & Expansion

If the monthly payment shown above fits comfortably into your cash flow, you're likely a candidate to move forward—getting a rate quote takes 2 minutes and won't affect your credit score. Your actual rate depends on credit profile, time in business, and debt-service coverage ratio, so adjust the fields above to test different scenarios.

What changes your rate or payment

• Credit score. Borrowers with 740+ FICO typically qualify for SBA loans restaurants at 8–10% APR; those in the 620–679 range often see a 3–5 point premium, landing closer to 10–13% APR. A hard inquiry can cost 5–10 points temporarily, so soft-pull quotes are your first move.
• Debt-service coverage ratio (DSCR). Lenders want to see at least 1.25x monthly revenue after all other debt obligations. If your last 3–6 months of bank statements show thin margins, a longer term (more months) lowers the monthly bite but increases total interest cost.
• Equipment vs. working capital. Equipment loans stretch to 84 months under most SBA programs, while restaurant line of credit products typically run 36–60 months. The longer you stretch it, the more you pay overall—but seasonality matters for restaurants.
• Down payment. Putting 10–20% down reduces the financed amount and improves your odds of approval. Equipment you already own can sometimes be pledged as collateral, lowering your rate.
• Time in business. If you've operated fewer than 24 months, rates climb and term options shrink. Multi-unit operators with stable revenue history get better pricing.

How to use this

• Principal. Enter the total amount you need—whether it's equipment, restaurant cash advance against future sales, or inventory. Round to the nearest $5,000 for speed.
• Rate (APR). Start with 10.5% as a middle estimate for fair-to-good credit. Adjust downward if you have 24+ months of operation and strong personal credit; adjust upward if you're in the bad credit restaurants space or turnaround mode.
• Term (months). Most equipment runs 60–84 months; working capital often runs 36–60. Shorter terms cut total interest but raise monthly payment. Compare what your operating budget can absorb.
• Monthly payment. This is your baseline. Add it to other debt service (SBA loans, lines of credit, equipment) and divide by gross monthly revenue—lenders want that ratio below 40%.

Bottom line

A workable monthly payment is the first filter, not the last. Once you land on a number that fits, get a soft-pull rate check to see your actual terms—no credit-score hit, and you'll know within hours if you qualify. If you're rebuilding credit or managing thin margins, stress-test your cash flow before committing; most lenders review 3–6 months of bank statements to verify your DSCR holds up.