How we can help
Need a new walk-in, compressor, or POS fast? We can fund equipment and installation as a fixed-term business loan, so you aren't limited to a single vendor's financing.
Check if my store qualifies →Key takeaways
- The equipment secures the loan, so it's often easier to qualify for than unsecured financing.
- Match the term to the equipment's useful life. Don't finance a POS over 7 years.
- Energy-efficient refrigeration can lower utility bills enough to offset part of the payment.
- Section 179 may let you deduct the cost of qualifying equipment in the year it's placed in service. Ask your CPA.
Market overview
- Amounts
- Roughly $5,000–$500,000+
- Terms
- 2–7 years (up to 10 with SBA)
- Down payment
- 0%–20%
- Collateral
- The equipment itself
- Speed
- Often 2–10 business days
Typical market ranges, not offers.
What liquor store equipment can you finance?
| Equipment | Typical useful life | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-in coolers / beer caves (glass-door) | 10–15+ years | Often the most valuable equipment in the store; includes condensing units, doors, and installation |
| Reach-in coolers and merchandisers | 8–12 years | Check whether distributor-provided coolers are allowed in your state, since tied-house rules vary |
| Compressors and refrigeration systems | 10–15 years | Replacement can be urgent; equipment financing can fund in days |
| POS system with age verification and inventory | 3–5 years | Includes hardware, ID scanners, and sometimes software. Shorter term recommended |
| Security: cameras, alarm, safes | 5–7 years | Can lower insurance premiums and shrink |
| Shelving, gondolas, wine racks, checkout counters | 10+ years | Often bundled with a remodel |
| Delivery vehicle | 5–7 years | Where delivery is permitted under your license |
| Signage (LED, exterior) | 7–10 years | Check local sign codes |
Equipment loan vs. equipment lease
| Equipment loan | $1 buyout lease | Fair market value (FMV) lease | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership | You own it from day one | You own it at end for $1 | Lessor owns it; you can buy, renew, or return |
| Payments | Moderate | Moderate | Lowest |
| Best for | Long-life equipment (coolers, shelving) | Long-life equipment, simpler approval | Tech that becomes outdated (POS) |
| Tax treatment | Depreciation + interest deduction | Usually treated like a purchase | Payments typically deducted as expense |
Tax treatment depends on the lease structure and your situation, so confirm with your CPA.
Illustrative example: Replacing a walk-in cooler
A store replaces a 20-year-old walk-in with a new glass-door beer cave for $60,000 installed. Financed over 5 years at an assumed 11%, the payment is about $1,305/month. If the new unit's efficiency saves a few hundred dollars a month in electricity and prevents spoilage and downtime, the net cost is noticeably lower.
Hypothetical scenario for illustration. Numbers are rounded and are not a quote or offer.
Expert tip
Get a written quote that separates equipment, installation, and electrical work. Many lenders finance “soft costs” like installation, but some cap them. Look for ENERGY STAR-certified commercial refrigeration, and check with your utility for efficiency rebates.
Qualification
- Time in business: often 1+ year; startups can qualify with strong credit or as part of an SBA package
- Personal credit: roughly 600+ for many equipment lenders; lower scores may need a down payment
- A vendor quote or invoice
- Recent bank statements; tax returns for larger amounts
Opening a new store? Equipment is usually bundled into an SBA 7(a) or startup loan. Remodeling? See expansion and renovation loans.
Frequently asked questions
Can I finance a walk-in cooler for my liquor store?
Can I finance used equipment?
Can my distributor or beer supplier give me a cooler?
Is a POS system worth financing?
Sources
We cite primary sources: federal agencies, regulations, and official program rules. Rules vary by state and change over time.
General education, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Loan programs, state alcohol laws, and lender requirements change and vary by state. Disclosures.