Business funding for restaurants and food trucks
Reviewed by Turan Zeynal, Co-Founder, Outset Funding Partners ·
Restaurants and food trucks with $10k+ in monthly card and cash sales can typically access $10k–$500k in working capital within a few business days, depending on the lender. Because most restaurant revenue lands on card, an MCA or revenue-based advance is the fastest path — but a business line of credit at 8–25% APR is meaningfully cheaper if you have 650+ credit and can wait 1–3 weeks.
Quick facts
- Typical amount
- $10k – $500k
- Speed to funding
- Often days (MCA); 1–3 weeks (LOC)
- Min monthly revenue
- $10,000
- Min credit score
- 500 (MCA) / 650 (LOC/term)
- Time in business
- 6+ months
- Repayment
- Daily/weekly % of sales or fixed monthly
The 60-second answer
Restaurants live and die by cash flow. Payroll runs weekly, food costs move daily, and one broken walk-in cooler can wipe out a month of profit. Traditional banks are historically slow to fund independent restaurants — they see thin margins and high failure rates and pass — which is exactly why revenue-based funding took over the industry.
The good news: if your restaurant processes $10k+/month in card sales, lenders in our network will look at your last 3–4 months of statements and weigh revenue heavily. Credit still matters for pricing, and approval is always set by the lender.
Pros and cons
- ✓Lenders weigh revenue heavily, so thin credit may not rule you out
- ✓Often one of the faster options when timing matters
- ✓Repayment scales with sales — slow week means smaller pull
- ✓No collateral required for most working capital
- ✓Can be used for anything: payroll, inventory, remodel, equipment
- ×MCAs are expensive vs a bank LOC — use only when speed or credit is the constraint
- ×Daily/weekly ACH pulls tighten cash flow if you over-borrow
- ×Stacking multiple MCAs is dangerous — one product at a time
Who qualifies
- •Sit-down restaurants, QSR, cafes, bars, and food trucks
- •$10,000+ in monthly card + cash revenue
- •6+ months in business (12+ preferred for best pricing)
- •US-based, active business bank account
- •500+ FICO (better pricing at 650+)
Frequently asked questions
Can a new restaurant under 1 year old get funding?
Yes, if you have 6+ months of revenue history and $10k+/month in sales. Pricing is a bit higher under 12 months, but there are lenders in our network who fund newer operators.
Do I need to give up card processing to get an MCA?
No. Modern MCAs (revenue-based advances) debit a fixed daily/weekly amount from your bank account instead of holding back card revenue. You keep your existing processor.
How much can a food truck get funded for?
Food trucks with $15k+/month in sales typically qualify for $15k–$75k. Bigger deals are possible with multiple trucks or a commissary.
Can I use funding to open a second location?
Yes. SBA 7(a) and 504 loans are the cheapest route for expansion, but they're slow (60–90 days). Working capital and equipment financing can bridge the gap in the meantime.
Related answers
Explore more
Get matched with funding partners in our network. Fast pre-qualification, no hard credit pull, no obligation.
Check funding options