How we can help
Dining room refreshes, patios, bar upgrades, and franchise reimages are exactly what our program funds, with fixed payments up to 36 months and funding in 3–7 business days.
Check if my restaurant qualifies →Key takeaways
- Renovations are mostly leasehold improvements, so lenders rely on your restaurant's cash flow rather than on collateral.
- Small and medium remodels fund fastest with a term loan; large projects get longer terms with SBA.
- Build in a 10%–15% contingency, and plan around downtime. Closed days are a real project cost.
Market overview
- Common projects
- Dining room, patio, bar, kitchen, franchise reimage
- Options
- Term loans, SBA 7(a), equipment financing
- Terms
- Up to 36 months (term loans); up to 10 yrs (SBA)
- Key factor
- Your current sales and the project's payback
Typical market ranges, not offers.
Popular restaurant renovation projects
- Dining room refresh: lighting, seating, finishes, acoustics
- Patio or rooftop seating (often one of the fastest paybacks)
- Bar expansion or new draft system
- Kitchen re-layout for speed, new hood, or added capacity
- Takeout and delivery pick-up areas
- Franchise-required reimage
- ADA and code upgrades
Choosing the right financing
| Project size | Good fit |
|---|---|
| Under ~$150K | Term loan (fast, fixed payments) |
| $150K–$500K | Term loan or SBA, depending on timing and payment goals |
| $500K+ or with real estate | SBA 7(a) or 504 |
| Mostly equipment | Equipment financing |
Plan a renovation lenders will fund
- Get written contractor bids, with equipment listed separately
- Show what the project does for sales: added seats, faster ticket times, new revenue like brunch or catering
- Map the downtime and how you'll keep revenue or staff during construction
- Confirm landlord approval and permits before you borrow
- Add a 10%–15% contingency
Expert tip
Before you renovate, check how many years are left on your lease. If you're spending heavily on a space with two years left, negotiate an extension first. Lenders will ask, and the landlord has more reason to say yes before your improvements are in place.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a loan to remodel my restaurant?
How do franchisees finance a reimage?
Sources
We cite primary sources: federal agencies, regulations, and official program rules. Rules vary by state and change over time.
General education, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Loan programs, licensing rules, and lender requirements change and vary by state. Disclosures.