Best Restaurant Loans for Small Businesses 2021

Types of restaurant business loans

• SBA loans: These government-backed loans provide the lowest rates among small-business financing and the longest repayment period. SBA loans are best for expansion or large expenses. To qualify, you need strong personal and business finances.
• Working capital loans: These loans typically provide short-term financing to help run your day-to-day restaurant operations. Online lenders can providing working capital loans quickly and often have less stringent qualifications than banks.
• Equipment financing: If you're looking to purchase large items like an oven or dishwasher, you can turn to restaurant equipment financing. This type of financing can be easier to qualify for than a traditional small-business loan because the equipment serves as collateral.
• Inventory financing: You can turn to this funding option to buy food for your restaurant. Inventory financing can come in the form of a term loan or a business line of credit.
• Business credit cards: You can use business credit cards to fund your small restaurant purchases. Though your line of credit may be lower than you’d get with a loan, it’s a solid option for recurring expenses, and you’ll be able to earn rewards, such as cash back, on your purchases. If you have strong credit, a business credit card can offer competitive APR between 12% and 22%.

Compare more small-business loan options

NerdWallet has created a round-up of small-business loans to meet your needs and goals. We gauged factors including lender trustworthiness, market scope and customer experience, and arranged the lenders by categories that include your revenue and how long you’ve been in business.