Rockglen Capital, a small-business funding service in Bentonville, AR, covers funding for Benton County restaurants: equipment financing for new and used kitchen equipment, working capital for food and payroll, term loans for build-outs and buying an existing restaurant, and how a merchant cash advance compares. It includes county restaurant counts and a worked equipment example.
At a glance
- Benton County, AR: full-service restaurant employers
195 (CBP 2023, NAICS 722511)
- Limited-service restaurant employers
219 (CBP 2023, NAICS 722513)
- Snack and coffee bar employers
67 (CBP 2023, NAICS 722515)
Census counts for Benton County, AR restaurants
Benton County had 195 full-service and 219 limited-service restaurant employers in 2023, 414 in our sum of the two codes, with 4,729 and 5,080 employees respectively (County Business Patterns 2023). Only 17.4% of full-service and 12.8% of limited-service restaurants had fewer than five employees, so most carry a sizable payroll. Another 67 snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars, the code that covers coffee shops, had payroll. The wider accommodation and food services sector had 614 employers.
Purchase used restaurant equipment in Bentonville, AR
Before buying used equipment, check it before money changes hands: have a technician inspect gas lines, compressors and controls, confirm the unit meets current code for your hood and fire suppression, and get a bill of sale that lists serial numbers. If the seller is a closing restaurant, confirm no lender holds a lien on the equipment. A partner financing used equipment reads the same bill of sale and may set a shorter term than for new.
Buying used commercial kitchen equipment for Benton County, AR businesses
- Walk-in coolers and freezers: check the compressor age and refrigerant type
- Ranges, ovens and fryers: confirm gas or electric matches your space
- Hoods and fire suppression: these are tied to the building and to code
- Dish machines: check the water and drain connections
- Ice machines and reach-ins: ask for service records
Bring the list with prices to equipment financing; a single request can cover several items.
How to get a loan for a restaurant for a Benton County, AR business
- Name the purpose: equipment, a build-out, working capital or buying a restaurant.
- Pull sales by month, card processor statements and bank statements.
- For equipment, get quotes or bills of sale; for a build-out, the bid and the lease.
- phone (479) 227-3671 or open the request page.
- Send the records the partner asks for, then read any written offer for its total cost.
Who buys used restaurant equipment for cash?
Used restaurant equipment dealers, auction companies and other restaurant owners buy it. Selling equipment you no longer need can raise cash before borrowing, or help pay down an existing equipment loan. If the equipment is financed, the lender's lien must be paid off before the buyer gets clear title; ask your lender for a payoff figure first.
Loan to buy existing restaurant in Bentonville, AR
Buying a running restaurant brings its sales history, staff, equipment and lease. A partner reads three years of the seller's tax returns and sales reports, the equipment list, whether the lease can be assigned and on what terms, and how much cash the buyer puts in. A term loan can fund the price less the buyer's cash and any seller note. Ask the city whether a change of owner needs new permits for food service or signage.
Restaurant build out contractor for Benton County, AR businesses
A restaurant build-out is involved: hoods, grease interceptors, plumbing, electrical and fire suppression, all inspected. Get bids from contractors who have built restaurants, check their state license where one applies with the license lookup guide, and confirm the permits with the city. A partner funding the build-out reads the bid, the lease and the opening budget.
A worked restaurant equipment example
Illustration only, invented figures, not an offer: a $48,000 kitchen line financed over 48 months at a rate of 10 percent comes to about $1,217 a month and about $58,435 in total payments. If the new line lets the kitchen serve 20 more covers a week at a $9 margin per cover, that is about $780 a month (our arithmetic), short of the payment. The line would need to earn its payment another way, such as replacing a unit whose repairs cost more.
Working capital and the merchant cash advance question
A restaurant that needs to restock and cover payroll after a slow stretch can use working capital or a line of credit. A merchant cash advance may also be offered against card sales; it is not a loan, a share of sales is remitted until the agreed total is met, and its total cost in dollars can be far higher. Compare totals before signing.
Paperwork behind a Benton County, AR restaurant request
- Sales by month from the point-of-sale system for the past year
- Card processor statements and business bank statements
- The lease, with term, renewal options and any personal guarantee
- Current equipment loans, leases and any merchant cash advances
- For a build-out or purchase: the bid or the purchase agreement
Leases, hoods and who owns the kitchen
In many restaurant leases the hood, grease interceptor and walk-in stay with the building when the tenant leaves. Before financing kitchen equipment, read which items the lease treats as fixtures. A partner may not finance an item the tenant will not own, or may want the landlord to sign a waiver letting the partner remove its collateral. Ask both questions before ordering.
Restaurants and nearby pages
Related pages: retail and salons and barbershops, both card-taking businesses. Benton County figures show the food service sector's place in the county, and the industry hub lists every page.
By Rockglen Capital ยท Updated