Ghost Kitchen Buildout Loans
Capital to build a delivery-only commercial kitchen from a vacant shell — hood and fire suppression to NFPA 96, refrigeration, prep stations, POS hardware, and full code-compliant buildout. Loans from $50,000 to $1,500,000 covering typical buildout costs of $80,000 to $750,000.
What does a ghost kitchen buildout loan cover?
A single buildout loan funds the full kitchen: hood and fire suppression to NFPA 96, refrigeration, prep stations, three-compartment sinks, POS hardware, plumbing rough-in, electrical, and the general contractor scope. Most lenders include the lease deposit and first-month rent when they are part of the buildout package — see our line-item buildout cost breakdown for the full stack.
How much does a ghost kitchen buildout actually cost?
Typical buildouts run $80,000 on the leanest end (single-brand, shared commissary fit-out) to $750,000 or more for a multi-brand flagship from a vacant shell. The loan range through our network is $50,000 to $1,500,000, with acquisitions and multi-unit deals reaching the higher end — see buy vs build for when each is the better capital case.
Who needs a ghost kitchen buildout loan?
First-time ghost kitchen operators, multi-unit restaurant entrepreneurs scaling into delivery-only formats, and ghost kitchen networks opening flagship sites. The financing case is different from a traditional restaurant: operators are buying speed-to-revenue, not flagship visibility — every week a delivery-only kitchen sits unbuilt is a week of platform orders that do not exist.
How long does buildout financing take to close?
Standard close is 2 to 4 weeks from soft-pull preview to first draw. Equipment lenders close faster than SBA-7(a) — which routinely takes 60 to 90 days — because they underwrite to the kitchen as collateral rather than 5-year cash flow projections.
Are loan draws tied to permit milestones?
Yes — most buildout loans draw in 3 to 5 tranches keyed to permit milestones: lease signed, rough-in inspection, hood and fire suppression sign-off, and final health department certificate of occupancy. The structure protects both lender and operator from over-funding before code compliance is verified.
What does the lender need to underwrite this?
The signed lease, contractor scope of work with a fixed quote, equipment list, projected revenue model (using third-party platform benchmarks for the metro), 2 years of operator tax returns, and 3 to 6 months of bank statements. Acquisitions add the seller's P&L and platform-statement history.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a ghost kitchen buildout loan cover?
- A buildout loan funds the full kitchen: hood and fire suppression to NFPA 96, refrigeration, prep stations, three-compartment sinks, POS hardware, plumbing rough-in, electrical, and the general contractor scope. Most lenders include the lease deposit and first-month rent when they are part of the buildout package.
- How much does a ghost kitchen buildout actually cost?
- Typical buildouts run $80,000 on the leanest end (single-brand, shared commissary) to $750,000 or more (multi-brand flagship from a vacant shell). Loans through our network cover the $50,000-to-$1,500,000 range, with acquisitions and multi-unit deals reaching the higher end.
- Will lenders fund a first-time ghost kitchen operator?
- Yes — lenders in our network underwrite first-time operators when there is documented restaurant experience (W-2 or 1099 from a comparable operation), a clear lease, and a contractor scope. Newer operators usually price 100-to-300 basis points higher than established multi-unit operators and may need a personal guarantee.
- How long does buildout financing take to close?
- Standard close is 2 to 4 weeks from soft-pull preview to first draw. Equipment lenders close faster than SBA-7(a) — which routinely takes 60 to 90 days — because they underwrite to the kitchen as collateral rather than 5-year cash flow projections.
- Are loan draws tied to permit milestones?
- Yes — most buildout loans draw in 3 to 5 tranches keyed to permit milestones: lease signed, rough-in inspection, hood and fire suppression sign-off, final health department certificate of occupancy. The structure protects both lender and operator from over-funding before code compliance is verified.
- What does the lender need to underwrite a ghost kitchen?
- The signed lease, contractor scope of work with a fixed quote, equipment list, projected revenue model (using third-party platform benchmarks for the metro), 2 years of operator tax returns, and 3 to 6 months of bank statements. Acquisitions add the seller's P&L and platform-statement history.
- Why is this better than an SBA-7(a) loan?
- SBA-7(a) often takes 60 to 90 days and treats ghost kitchens as untested collateral, which can produce a "no" after months of underwriting. Equipment and alternative business lenders comfortable with the model can close in 2 to 4 weeks because they underwrite to projected delivery-channel revenue, which third-party platforms publish category benchmarks for.
- Does the soft-pull preview affect my credit score?
- No — the match preview uses a soft credit pull with no impact to your score. A hard pull only happens when you sign with the specific lender you select.
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