Restaurant-Specific Lenders vs Generic Business Lenders
Restaurant-specific lenders (Prime Restaurant Capital, Toast Capital, Square Capital) understand restaurant economics — daily cash flow, perishable inventory, hurricane/seasonal patterns, sub-2-year time-in-business norms. Generic business lenders (OnDeck, Kapitus, Fora) treat restaurants like every other industry, often pricing in extra risk premium.
For restaurants, specialized lenders typically offer larger amounts, faster decisions, and better-fit repayment schedules.
Comparison Table
| Lender | Type | Speed | Amount | Min Revenue | Min FICO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Restaurant Capital | Direct private | 4-24h | $25K-$5M | $20K/mo | 500 |
| Toast Capital | POS-tied | 1-3 days | $5K-$300K | Toast user | 600 |
| Square Capital | POS-tied | 1-3 days | $300-$250K | Square user | 600 |
| Kapitus | Direct private | 1-3 days | $10K-$5M | $25K/mo | 600 |
| Fora Financial | Direct private | 1-3 days | $5K-$1.4M | $15K/mo | 500 |
| Rapid Finance | Direct private | 1-3 days | $5K-$1M | $10K/mo | 580 |
When Prime Restaurant Capital Wins
You need $250K-$5M (above POS-tied lender ceilings) You need money in 4-24 hours You run multiple POS systems or no POS at all Your FICO is 500-680 (rejected by banks/POS lenders) You want underwriting from people who actually understand restaurants
Restaurant Use Cases We Fund
- Payroll bridge during slow weeks
- Equipment purchases (ovens, walk-ins, POS upgrades)
- Build-out for new locations
- Inventory pre-buy for peak season
- Marketing campaigns for grand openings
- Vendor early-pay discounts
- Hurricane/storm recovery and prep