Independent research
How trades finance their equipment
We explain how the deals are actually structured and what they cost, so you can compare offers on the same terms instead of on the monthly payment somebody quoted you.
Financing
The money pages: how each structure works and what it costs.
- financing guideRestaurant Equipment Financing: How It Works and What It Costs
How restaurant equipment financing works, what lenders look for, and how leasing compares to a loan. Written for operators buying their first or fifth kitchen.
- comparisonRestaurant Equipment Leasing: When It Beats Buying
How restaurant equipment leases are structured, what a dollar buyout and a fair market value lease actually cost, and which equipment is worth leasing.
- eligibility guideRestaurant Equipment Loans: Qualifying and Comparing Offers
What restaurant equipment lenders require, how to compare a factor rate against an annual rate, and what to do when your first application is declined.
What it costs
What drives the number before you finance it.
- cost guideWalk-In Cooler Cost: What Drives the Number
What a walk-in cooler actually costs to buy and install, which specification choices move the price most, and the installation costs operators forget to budget.