What can I fund with fit-out finance?

Fit-out finance covers the cost of preparing a commercial premises for trading: shopfittings, partitioning, flooring, lighting, mechanical and electrical work, kitchen equipment, refrigeration, signage, branding, plumbing, HVAC, and compliance upgrades. It is a specialist category of asset finance designed for restaurants, retail, dental and medical practices, gyms, salons, offices and pubs.

Typical fit-out finance facilities run from £25,000 to £500,000, with terms of 3 to 7 years. Some lenders combine the fit-out spend with the equipment list in a single facility (kitchen, till system, furniture, signage) so the borrower deals with one repayment, one underwriting team and one charge.

Three structures dominate. Hire purchase across the full spend gives you ownership at the end of term and is the cleanest route for fixed assets. Finance lease keeps assets on the lender's books, useful for items you expect to refresh (POS, AV). A separate working capital loan can layer on top to cover non-financeable spend like rent deposit, training, marketing or initial stock.

Ask the lender if labour is included. Specialist fit-out lenders like Time Finance and Aldermore will fund labour costs alongside materials, which mainstream asset finance often refuses. For restaurant or hospitality fit-outs specifically, see can I finance a restaurant fit-out or refurbishment.