Business loan for a restaurant 2026 – finance kitchen, equipment and start-up
Starting or expanding a restaurant requires a professional kitchen, furnishings and an initial stock. Compare business loans and finance a Rational combi oven, Winterhalter dishwasher and Metos lines flexibly.
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Restaurant industry investments focus on professional kitchen equipment, interior and initial stock. In Finland, the start-up package for a 40 – 80 seat restaurant typically costs €80,000 – €200,000. A large investment requires combined financing: business loan, equipment leasing and Finnvera products. Interest is tax-deductible and the margin over seasonal swings typically pays back the loan in 5 – 8 years.
What restaurants invest in 2026 – the most common purchases
The choice of professional kitchen equipment defines the menu possibilities, work efficiency and profitability. In Finland, Metos is the largest supplier, but the range also extends to Dieta (dieta.fi), Restaeq (used) and Kyrönhovi Oy.
Combi oven (the most important device)
A combi oven replaces 6 – 8 traditional devices and shortens cooking time by 30 – 50 %. The most popular in Finland is German Rational (Metos System Rational partnership), others: UNOX ChefTop MIND.Maps, Convotherm 4, Fagor.
- Rational iCombi Pro 6-1/1 (Metos System Rational) 12 000 – 16 000 €
- Rational iCombi Pro 10-1/1 (large restaurants) 16 000 – 22 000 €
- UNOX ChefTop MIND.Maps XEVC-1011 9 000 – 13 000 €
- Convotherm 4 easyDial 6.10 11 000 – 15 000 €
Dishwashers
A professional dishwasher's efficiency saves working hours: an ideal model washes 500 – 1,200 items per hour. Popular in Finland: Winterhalter (German, representative Winterhalter Finland), Meiko, Metos, Hobart.
- Winterhalter UC-M undercounter machine 4 500 – 7 500 €
- Winterhalter PT-M rack machine (side connection) 9 500 – 14 000 €
- Meiko M-iClean UM rack machine 8 500 – 12 500 €
- Metos Hood ETH hood machine 10 000 – 15 000 €
Refrigeration and freezers
Finnish Porkka (Hollola) and Metos (Kerava) dominate in Finland. Others: Dieta, Norpe.
- Porkka Future refrigerator 700 L 2 400 – 3 400 €
- Metos Proff refrigerator 2-door 4 800 – 7 500 €
- Norpe freezer 700 L 2 800 – 4 200 €
- Porkka Coldliner cold basin cabinet 3 500 – 5 500 €
Stove, fryer, grill
Metos Diamante is Finland's most popular restaurant stove range. Others: Lincat, Modular.
- Metos Diamante 700 stove (4 burners) 3 500 – 6 000 €
- Metos Diamante 700 fryer 3 200 – 5 500 €
- Metos Diamante 700 grill/griddle 3 800 – 6 500 €
- Josper JX25 charcoal grill (premium) 18 000 – 28 000 €
Bar and service equipment
Bar furniture and alcohol service equipment.
- Draught beer system (2 – 4 taps) 2 500 – 6 000 €
- Ice cube machine (Manitowoc, Scotsman) 2 800 – 4 800 €
- Bar cabinet + cold bottle refrigerator 3 200 – 5 500 €
POS system + ordering systems
Popular restaurant POS in Finland: Solteq Cloud Commerce, Restolution, Kassamagneetti. Table reservations: Bookatable, Tabletop.
- Solteq Cloud Commerce 55 – 200 €/kk + laitteet
- Restolution restaurant POS 45 – 150 €/kk + laitteet
- Tabletop reservations 45 – 100 €/kk
Interior and furniture
Contract furniture for professional use: Isku Interior, Martela, Vepsäläinen Contract, Piiroinen. €15,000 – €40,000 for a 40 – 80 seat restaurant.
- Isku Interior contract furniture 15 000 – 35 000 €
- Martela / Vepsäläinen Contract 13 000 – 30 000 €
- Task lighting + LED 3 500 – 8 000 €
Total investment: 60-seat restaurant start-up
Example of a medium-sized lunch/à la carte restaurant in central Helsinki.
| Rational iCombi Pro 10-1/1 combi oven | 18 500 € |
| Winterhalter PT-M rack dishwasher | 11 500 € |
| Metos Diamante 700 stove + fryer | 9 500 € |
| Porkka Future + Coldliner (2 cabinets) | 6 800 € |
| Norpe freezer | 3 500 € |
| Stainless-steel work surfaces and shelves (custom) | 5 500 € |
| Draught beer system + bar furniture | 4 800 € |
| Ice cube machine (Manitowoc) | 3 200 € |
| Solteq Cloud Commerce + 3 payment terminals | 2 400 € |
| Interior (60 seats, Isku Interior) | 22 000 € |
| Tableware + tools | 5 500 € |
| Initial stock (ingredients + wines) 3 months | 12 500 € |
| Signage + branding + WordPress site | 4 500 € |
| Rent deposit (2 months rent) | 8 000 € |
| Ventilation/grease duct + HVAC modifications | €15,000 |
| Employee salaries for the first 2 months | 18 500 € |
| Total investment | 151 700 € |
Of this, €80,000 – €100,000 is typically financed with a combination of business loan + equipment leasing + Finnvera. According to the restaurant entrepreneur network, 40 % of Finnish restaurants use equipment leasing.
Financing options for starting a restaurant
Loan requirements for a restaurant entrepreneur
- Business ID at least 6 – 12 months old (big banks 2 years)
- Clean credit records for the company and its responsible persons
- Food premises notification to the municipality
- Alcohol licence (AVI, A-licence €550/yr)
- Restaurant operating permits: food safety competence (Hygiene Passport)
- A realistic business plan and margin analysis (Finnvera requires this)
- At least 20 – 30 % own capital for large investments
How to apply for a business loan to start a restaurant – 7 steps
- Prepare a business plan, purchase budget and 12-month cash-flow analysis.
- Check Finnvera options (investment loan + start-up guarantee) – apply in parallel with a private business loan.
- Kilpailuta yksityisiä yrityslaina-tarjoajia Lainafyssä – vertaile 3 – 5 vaihtoehtoa.
- Request equipment and leasing quotes from Metos, Winterhalter Finland and Dieta.
- Negotiate the lease – a restaurant needs 100 – 250 m², a ventilation/grease duct and 3-phase electricity (32 – 63 A).
- Accept the financing package and order the equipment – delivery times 6 – 12 weeks + installation.
- Apply for an AVI alcohol licence, open the restaurant and market (Google Maps + Instagram + Bookatable).
Case example: Anitra's restaurant – 75 seats, Helsinki
Anitra was a 41-year-old chef with 18 years of experience as head chef. She wanted to open a Scandinavian-Mediterranean à la carte restaurant in Punavuori, Helsinki. Initial investment estimated at €165,000. Own capital €45,000. Financing need: €120,000.
- Finnvera Investment Loan (7 yr, APR 6.2 %)
- 50 000 €
- Business loan (5 yr, APR 8.5 %)
- 30 000 €
- Leasing Rational + Winterhalter (7 yr, €620/mo)
- €40,000 worth of equipment
- Own capital
- 45 000 €
Result: Anitra secured the total financing in 8 weeks. The restaurant opened 8 months after planning began. First-year turnover €895,000, margin 22 %. Profitability positive 5 months after opening. Monthly instalment (loan + leasing) ~€2,100/mo.
The most common mistakes in restaurant financing
- Underestimating ventilation/grease-duct costs – a new system in old premises €10,000 – €30,000.
- Buying new equipment with loan money – leasing is almost always more profitable for big equipment.
- Not assessing seasonal swings – summer terrace 30 – 50 % growth, January 40 – 60 % drop.
- Not using Finnvera's investment loan – state support is the cheapest financing form.
- Not comparing Metos, Dieta and Restaeq – used prices (RestaEQ, Kyrönhovi Oy) are 40 – 60 % cheaper.
- Not making a 12-month cash-flow plan – 60 % of restaurant bankruptcies are due to working-capital shortages.
- Not marketing in Google Maps profile – 70 % of customers find the restaurant via Google.
Frequently asked questions
How much does starting a restaurant cost in 2026?
In Finland, starting a 40 – 80 seat restaurant costs €80,000 – €200,000. The biggest costs are kitchen equipment (€35,000 – €70,000), interior (€15,000 – €40,000), ventilation/grease duct (€10,000 – €30,000) and rent deposit.
Should you buy or lease a combi oven?
Leasing is recommended for Rational and Convotherm ovens (€12,000+). Monthly payment €300 – €500, 5 – 7 year term. Benefits: monthly payment 100 % deductible, service often included, equipment refreshes every 5 years. 60 % of Finnish restaurants lease the oven.
What is the best dishwasher?
Popular professional dishwashers in Finland: Winterhalter PT-M (~€12,000), Meiko M-iClean UM (~€10,000), Metos Hood ETH (~€12,500). Winterhalter is also known for quality service.
Does a restaurant require an alcohol licence?
Practically all à la carte restaurants need one. AVI alcohol licence: A-licence (all beverages) €550/yr, B-licence (max 22 %) €300/yr, C-licence (max 4.7 %) €200/yr. Application process 2 – 4 months. A responsible-supervisor training is also required.
How quickly can you get a Finnvera investment loan?
Processing time 6 – 10 weeks for big loans (€50,000+). Rate usually 5 – 8 %, guarantee period up to 10 years. Worth applying in parallel with a private business loan so the process doesn't delay opening.
Can I use kitchen equipment as loan collateral?
Yes. Rational, Metos and Winterhalter equipment holds its value well (after 5 years 40 – 50 % of purchase price) and is accepted as collateral. A secured business loan can bring the rate down to 5 – 7 %.
Is it worth buying a used professional kitchen?
Very often yes. RestaEQ and Kyrönhovi Oy sell serviced Metos, Dieta and Rational equipment 40 – 60 % cheaper than new. Recommended used: combi ovens, refrigerators, work surfaces. Buy new: dishwashers and range hoods.
Are business loan interest costs tax-deductible for a restaurant?
Yes, all business loan interest costs are fully deductible in business taxation. The net rate is the nominal rate × 0.80.
How large a business loan should I take?
A combination is recommended: 30 – 40 % own capital, 30 – 40 % leasing (equipment), 20 – 30 % business loan (furniture + initial stock). This optimises the financing cost.
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