Finance for new starts and established businesses
We are happy to consider both established businesses and new-start ventures. That matters in catering, where many businesses are built on a strong idea, a good site, and the right equipment rather than years of trading history. If you are opening a café, launching a new restaurant, fitting out a takeaway, or starting a catering business from scratch, we will look at the bigger picture.
Many funders focus too heavily on historic accounts and standard credit boxes. We take a more practical view. If the proposal makes commercial sense, the equipment is suitable, and the plan is realistic, we will look at it properly. That gives newer businesses a genuine route to funding instead of shutting them out before the conversation has started.
What catering equipment can be financed?
Catering equipment leasing can support a wide range of business needs, including:
• Commercial ovens and ranges.
• Fridges, freezers, and cold rooms.
• Dishwashers and glasswashers.
• Coffee machines and beverage equipment.
• Fryers, grills, and food preparation machines.
• Extraction systems and ventilation.
• Stainless steel prep tables and kitchen furniture.
• Complete kitchen installations and refurbishment projects.
For many businesses, leasing is a sensible alternative to paying cash. It helps protect working capital, improves budget control, and allows you to invest in the equipment you need without draining your reserves. That can be especially important in hospitality, where cash flow often needs to cover stock, wages, rent, energy, and day-to-day running costs at the same time.
Catering equipment leasing FAQ’s
Catering equipment leasing lets you spread the cost of commercial kitchen equipment over fixed monthly payments instead of paying everything upfront. It is commonly used for ovens, refrigeration, dishwashers, coffee machines, and full kitchen fit-outs.
Can Oaklease fund new-start catering businesses?
Yes. Oaklease says it works with startups needing their first fit-out or specialist equipment, and that it can support both new starts and established businesses.
Why choose leasing instead of buying outright?
Catering equipment is essential, but it is also expensive. Buying everything outright can tie up cash that you may need elsewhere in the business. Leasing gives you a way to use the equipment now and pay for it over time, which can make expansion, refits, and new openings more manageable.
It can also help businesses move faster.
If you have a launch date, a refurbishment plan, or a replacement requirement, waiting to save up in full may not be the best option.
Leasing can help you act when the opportunity is right, rather than delaying decisions because of cash pressure.
Clear, transparent, and easy to understand
At Oaklease, we want customers to feel informed, not confused. That means explaining the structure of the finance, what the monthly commitment looks like, and what happens at the end of the agreement.
We do not believe finance should be wrapped in vague promises or complicated wording.
Instead, we focus on simple, honest communication. We want businesses to understand the deal they are entering into, how it supports their plans, and whether it is the right fit. That approach is especially important in catering, where time, trust, and certainty matter.
A different kind of funder
What makes Oaklease different is not just that we arrange finance.
It is the way we work, we have been funding catering equipment for over thirty three years. We understand that catering businesses need a funding partner who can look at the real-world situation, not just a set of numbers on a screen.
We are particularly useful where the case is not completely standard. That might include a new-start business, a bespoke kitchen fit-out, a supplier-led proposal, or a customer who wants straightforward advice before committing.
We work hard to match the right funding route to the right business, rather than pushing every enquiry through the same process.
