Opening or fitting out a venue
Separate the equipment budget from renovations, deposits and operating cash needed before trading begins.
CANADA & UNITED STATES
Restaurant Equipment / Rent-Try-Buy
Compare restaurant equipment rental, purchase and leasing before you commit.
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How restaurant equipment / rent-try-buy works
Rent-Try-Buy is a rental-based arrangement with purchase options defined by the agreement. It may suit certain hospitality equipment needs, but it is not a free trial and does not automatically include a right to return or upgrade. Confirm availability for your location, supplier and equipment.
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Learn how this financing option works and what to prepare for a discussion.
Start with what the business needs.
Replacing kitchen equipment
Identify essential specifications, installation, ventilation, utilities and food-service requirements.
Assessing rental versus ownership
Compare the minimum rental period, any purchase option and total cost against a loan or conventional lease.
Compare the agreement, not just the payment.
Minimum commitment
Ask about the minimum term, rental schedule, deposits and charges. Confirm what happens if plans change.
Purchase option
Get the purchase-price calculation and any rental credits in writing. Do not assume all rental payments reduce a future purchase price.
Return and maintenance
Review return eligibility, notice, transport costs, condition requirements, repairs and insurance responsibilities.
Understand the rental before planning to own
A trial period is still a contract
Rent-Try-Buy is an equipment rental structure with purchase and other options defined by its agreement. Some programs use an initial 12-month period, but the available structure depends on the supplier, equipment and location. Confirm the minimum commitment, payments, deposits and notice requirements in the written proposal. Trying equipment in the business does not mean it can be returned at any time without cost.
Buying and rental credits
Where a purchase option includes a credit for some rental payments, ask which payments qualify, the credit percentage and the purchase-price calculation. Do not assume every dollar paid reduces the purchase price. An illustrative $4,000 of eligible rent with an assumed 50% credit produces a $2,000 credit—not ownership of the equipment. These invented figures explain the calculation only; the actual agreement determines the available credit and amount still due.
Continue, change or return
An agreement may provide options to continue renting, change equipment or return it, subject to its conditions. Clarify when each option can be exercised and who pays transport, cleaning or reinstatement costs. Changing the menu or closing a venue does not automatically end payment obligations. If flexibility is the main reason for choosing the arrangement, verify the practical process as carefully as the initial payment.
Choose equipment for the kitchen you will operate
Capacity and compatibility
Combi ovens, refrigeration, ice machines, dishwashers and food-preparation equipment need to fit the menu, volume and premises. Check dimensions, power, ventilation, water and drainage with qualified suppliers or tradespeople. Financing approval does not establish that an appliance can be installed in the space. Include installation and commissioning costs so the equipment can actually be used once delivered.
New concepts and established venues
A new restaurant can explain the opening plan, relevant experience and available contribution. An established venue can provide trading records and describe the replacement or capacity need. Neither status guarantees approval. For a new concept, distinguish expected covers and sales from proven demand; for a replacement, consider how downtime affects receipts while the new equipment is delivered and installed.
Used equipment and maintenance
Ask whether the specific used unit is eligible, what inspection or certification applies and which warranty is included. Rental does not automatically include repairs or maintenance. Identify responsibility for service calls, consumables and damage. A lower equipment price may be offset by installation, condition or downtime costs, so compare the complete operating setup rather than choosing solely on the advertised rental amount.
Compare Rent-Try-Buy, leasing and a purchase loan
Ownership intention
If you are certain the equipment suits the business for many years, compare the total cost of a purchase loan or fixed-buyout lease. If you need to evaluate capacity or a concept, rental options may be relevant—but only if their conditions fit the plan. None of these labels alone establishes the cheapest route. Compare cash paid at the start, during use and when retaining or returning the asset.
Cash flow through the opening period
Forecast deposits, installation, rent, inventory, staffing and equipment payments together. A venue can have equipment on site before it is ready to trade. Test a delayed opening and lower initial sales, and keep a separate operating reserve. The arrangement should be assessed as part of the entire opening budget rather than treated as a way to remove all upfront cash needs.
Accounting and local availability
Ask your accountant to review the specific contract instead of assuming all rental payments receive the same tax treatment. Confirm availability for the business’s province or state and the proposed supplier. Canada and USA service coverage does not mean identical Rent-Try-Buy programs are offered in both countries. The written agreement should resolve purchase credits, return conditions and ongoing responsibilities before you commit.
A practical comparison checklist
Review point
Purchase financing
Lease structure
Existing equipment
Ownership
Read purchase and security terms
Check lessor ownership and purchase options
Distinguish refinance from sale-leaseback
Cash at the start
Contribution and eligible project costs
Advance rentals, deposits and charges
Net proceeds after payouts and fees
During the agreement
Payments, maintenance and insurance
Rentals and operating responsibilities
New obligations alongside existing needs
At the end
Any final balance and security release
Buyout, return or renewal conditions
Ownership outcome and remaining payments
Use this checklist to compare actual proposals for the same asset and period of use. It does not establish that a particular structure is available or cheaper. Record the answer to each question, including amounts still payable at the end, so the comparison reflects the complete commitment rather than a selected monthly figure.
Explore equipment examples
Relevant equipment can include Rational, Hobart, Hoshizaki. These links provide equipment context; brands are examples, not partners or endorsements. Eligibility depends on the specific asset, condition, seller and financing review.
For a dealer quote, ask for a clear equipment specification and itemized extras. For an auction or private seller, clarify ownership, inspection and payment conditions before committing. An equipment page or brand listing is not a pre-approval for a particular purchase. Keep the intended location, currency and operating purpose consistent across the quote and application so the review addresses the real transaction.
What to prepare
These details help frame the review. Additional documents may be requested for your business, location or proposed transaction.
Itemized equipment quote
Supplier, equipment model, condition, individual prices and installation requirements.
Venue and business details
Location, operating history or opening plan, ownership and any franchise context.
Cash-flow plan
Available contribution, expected trading pattern and financial records requested for review.
Build a complete request
Include the equipment quote, business location, intended use and available financial records. For used or privately sold equipment, ask which ownership, inspection and lien documents are needed.
From enquiry to a considered decision.
01 / Share the request
Describe the business, equipment, location and purpose. Include the quote or asset schedule when available.
02 / Complete the review
Respond to requests for documents and clarify the available structure, costs, conditions and any outstanding checks.
03 / Review before committing
Read the written agreement and confirm obligations, conditions and next steps before signing or committing to the purchase.
Canada and United States: confirm the local requirements.
Tell us where your business is registered, where the equipment will operate and the transaction currency. We serve businesses in Canada and the United States; individual products and transaction structures vary by location.
Canada
Include the province or territory, business registration and equipment location. Confirm applicable taxes, documentation and security requirements in the written proposal.
United States
Include the state, business entity and equipment location. Confirm state-specific availability, documentation, taxes and any security requirements before committing.
Explore your industry
Find guidance for your sector and how your business operates.
9 industries · Swipe, scroll or choose a group below.
Transportation & logistics
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Explore financing considerations for commercial aviation and marine operations.
Explore industry →Frequently asked questions
Is Rent-Try-Buy available throughout Canada and the USA?
Availability is specific to the program, supplier, asset and location. Our broader service area does not mean this arrangement is available for every request.
Can I return equipment at any time?
Do not assume so. The agreement determines the minimum commitment, return rights, notice and costs.
Can I buy the equipment later?
Check whether a purchase option is included, when it can be exercised and how the price is calculated.
Can a new restaurant be considered?
Share the opening plan, experience, location, equipment quote and available contribution. Approval and terms are assessed for the request.
Can I apply before choosing equipment?
You can discuss a planned purchase before selecting the final asset. A discussion or preliminary review is not an approval. A specific quote, seller and equipment details may be needed to complete the assessment.
How long will the review take?
Timing depends on the application, supporting documents, equipment and transaction checks. Ask what remains outstanding and when to expect the next update; no approval or funding timeframe is guaranteed.
Financing guides for your next step.
CANADIAN FINANCING GUIDE
Restaurant Business Loan Requirements — Canada
Plan the business records and operating budget behind a restaurant financing request.
Read article →CANADIAN FINANCING GUIDE
$1 Buyout Lease vs FMV Lease Canada
Compare ownership plans, purchase options and end-of-term obligations.
Read article →Explore related financing options.
Use estimates as a planning aid. Actual costs and conditions depend on the written proposal.
Equipment financing calculator →Tell us what you are planning.
Start with the business location, equipment or assets, and the purpose of your request.
Apply for financingFinancing is subject to application review and approval. Availability, terms, costs and documentation vary by product, business and location. This page provides general information and is not a financing offer. Tax and accounting treatment should be reviewed with your adviser.