Lease-to-Keep

Spread equipment cost over 2-5 years

Interest rate fixed for entire term

Own the equipment at end of lease

Apply Now

Get approval for $10,000

or more within 2 business days

No obligation to use approved finance

A cash flow-friendly finance solution that allows you to get the equipment you want now and spread its cost over time

COMMERCIAL kitchen equipment can be expensive and, for many businesses, beyond their budget. 

Even if you have the money to purchase the equipment up front, you risk putting pressure on your business’s cash flow.

Lease-to-Keep makes equipment more affordable and reduces your financial risk by enabling you to spread the equipment’s cost over several years.

May suit you if you’re…

  • A business that’s traded for more than 12 months
  • After at least $10,000 of equipment funding
  • Looking to own the equipment but would prefer to pay for it in smaller instalments over a longer term.

Key features

  • 24-, 36-, 48 or 60-month hire-purchase agreement
  • Low, monthly payments
  • Fixed interest rate
  • Own the equipment at the end of the agreement
  • Interest component of the equipment leasing payments and the equipment’s depreciation are tax deductible.

How Lease-to-Keep works

01

We buy the equipment for you

You select the commercial kitchen equipment you want and, after approving your finance application, we buy it for you.

02

You lease it from us

You lease the equipment from us for low, monthly payments over two, three, four or five years.

03

You own it

At the end of the lease, you own the equipment.

01

We buy the equipment for you

You select the commercial kitchen equipment you want and, after approving your finance application, we buy it for you.

02

You lease it from us

You lease the equipment from us for low, monthly payments over two, three, four or five years.

03

You own it

At the end of the lease, you own the equipment.

Cost of finance

Our Lease-to-Keep interest rate is based on your circumstances, including the amount you borrow, how long your business has been trading, and its creditworthiness. Your circumstances also determine the equipment-value amounts and term lengths you’re eligible for. For more information, please call us on 1800 337 153.

Benefits of Lease-to-Keep

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Better cash flow

Instead of paying for the equipment in one big lump sum, you can spread the cost and pay for it in low, monthly amounts out of the revenue it helps generate.

This helps protect your business’s cash flow, enabling you to meet your other expenses and grow your business more easily.

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Fixed interest rate

The interest rate is fixed for the entire length of the agreement. You won’t have to worry about interest-rate rises if the Reserve Bank decides to lift the cash rate. 

Because you pay the same amount every single month, it’ll also make your budgeting and cash-flow projections easier.

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Superior equipment

You can choose higher-quality equipment than you would otherwise be able to afford, improving your business’s efficiency and productivity. 

It means you can get the equipment you want rather than having to make do with second best.

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Tax-effective

The interest component of your hospitality equipment leasing payments is a tax-deductible expense.

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Early-payout option

If you have the cash, you can pay out the equipment early. 

We’ll discount the interest on your remaining payments (though you’ll incur a modest early-termination fee).

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Transfers allowed

If you sell your business while leasing equipment from SilverChef, you can ask us to assign, or transfer, the lease agreement to the new business owner (with their consent, and subject to them meeting our standard credit-assessment criteria).

What our customers say

We’re a new business and money is tight. SilverChef allowed us to get equipment to make our business grow without leaving us strapped for cash.

Without SilverChef, we literally couldn’t operate! SilverChef has freed up our cash to buy more produce, meet running costs, and pay the day-to-day bills.

Being able to rent from SilverChef has made my dream of opening a coffee shop a reality. The budget-friendly repayments are kind to the hip pocket, especially when starting out.

Being able to rent our equipment has allowed us to consistently upgrade [the equipment] as our business has grown and not worry about having to store or sell our old equipment.

Just when you think you’ve run out of time to pursue your dreams, you’re given a lifeline to do what you once thought was impossible. SilverChef was that for me and more.

To be honest, it’s the easiest and simplest way to get hospitality equipment installed for new businesses. The team are truly a pleasure to deal with. As we continue to grow, we will continue to partner with them. 

SilverChef not only provided finance for my new fridges, they were there to help me when my previous fridges blew up. They came to the rescue and got me sorted in no time. Best customer service any business could ask for.

I took a ‘crazy’ leap of faith to buy a cafe during [COVID] lockdown. SilverChef has made it possible to turn my ‘crazy’ into a vibrant, positive and productive cafe. Without Silverchef I would be struggling with the old equipment that was holding me back.

SilverChef should be renamed GoldChef, because that's the service they provide. I feel so proud to show off my new equipment. Every day is a great day because of SilverChef— they've made my experience amazing.

GET FINANCE BEFORE OR AFTER YOU’VE CHOSEN THE EQUIPMENT

Our equipment-finance process

Find out what happens from the time you select your commercial kitchen equipment or apply for finance right through to the moment the equipment is delivered to your business premises.

Equipment before finance


If you’re like most people, you’ll want to choose your equipment before figuring out how to pay for it. No worries!

Show process Hide process

1. Shop for equipment

Select the hospitality equipment you want in an accredited dealer’s showroom or on their website; or on the SilverChef website.

2. Apply for finance

You can apply for finance one of three ways:

  • in the dealer’s showroom or on their website 
  • on the SilverChef website
  • by calling us on 1800 337 153.

3. Sign agreement

Upon approval of your application, we’ll ask you to electronically sign and return the Lease-to-Keep agreement and pay the upfront costs (a lease establishment fee and one month’s lease payment in advance).

4. Take delivery

We’ll buy the equipment you’ve selected and the dealer (new equipment) or SilverChef (‘Certified Used’ and clearance equipment) will deliver it to your business premises. You’ll then start paying your monthly lease payments.

Finance before equipment


We’re happy to approve your finance before you go shopping , so you know how much you’ve got to spend.

Show process Hide process

1. Apply for finance

You can apply for finance one of three ways:

  • in an accredited equipment-dealer’s showroom or on their website 
  • on the SilverChef website
  • by calling us on 1800 337 153.

2. Sign agreement

Upon approval of your application, we’ll ask you to electronically sign and return the Lease-to-Keep agreement and pay the upfront costs (a lease establishment fee and one month’s lease payment in advance).

3. Shop for equipment

Select the hospitality equipment you want in the equipment dealer’s showroom or on their website; or on the SilverChef website.

4. Take delivery

We’ll buy the equipment you’ve selected and the dealer (new equipment) or SilverChef (‘Certified Used’ and clearance equipment) will deliver it to your business premises. You’ll then start paying your monthly lease payments.

Frequently asked questions

What is your interest rate?

The Lease-to-Keep interest rate is based on the customer’s business circumstances. 

The rate varies according to the amount the customer borrows, how long their business has been trading, whether it has enough cash to service the lease, and its creditworthiness. 

To find out the rate that would apply to you, please call us on 1800 337 153.

Do I have to provide a personal guarantee / director’s guarantee?

Yes — a director’s guarantee is required for all Lease-to-Keep agreements (regardless of the lease equipment’s value). 

For more information, please contact us. 

Are there any other fees or charges?

Aside from the interest charged on the finance amount, the only fees that apply are:

  • lease establishment fee of $495 (paid up front)
  • early-termination fee of $300 (only if you pay out the equipment early).

When do the lease payments start?

Your equipment leasing payments will start after we’ve confirmed the equipment has been delivered to your business premises. 

If you’re doing a full fit-out or refurbishment and could experience delays — for example, due to council or construction issues — we recommend you hold off ordering the equipment until shortly before your venue is ready to start trading.

(Equipment in stock can usually be delivered to your venue in 1–14 days, depending on your location. If it’s out of stock, you’ll need to allow for a longer lead time and order it sooner. Your equipment dealer will be able to advise you.)

If for whatever reason your lease payments start before you commence trading, please contact us as soon as possible.

Who owns the leased equipment?

Though the equipment is in your possession, we own it until you make your final lease payment, at which point you become the owner.

As the owner of the equipment, we’ll record an interest in the equipment on the Personal Property Security Register (PPSR).

During the term of the lease you can use the equipment as you see fit, provided it’s only used for business (not personal/domestic) purposes; and you don’t sell, give, assign, lend or release the equipment to a third party to use without our approval.

Also, if you move the equipment from the location you originally gave us, you must tell us immediately.

Can I upgrade the equipment?

No — if you lease commercial kitchen equipment you don’t have the option to upgrade it during the finance term.

If you’d like the flexibility of being able to upgrade the equipment at any time, Rent–Try–Buy may be a better solution for you.

Still have unanswered questions? See all our FAQs

* This advice is general in nature and does not consider your personal circumstances. Professional advice should be sought that is tailored to your personal situation.

Want more flexibility?

If you’d prefer not to commit to a multi-year lease or you’re unsure which hospitality equipment you need, Rent–Try–Buy may be the solution you’re looking for.

It’s a 12-month rental agreement that allows you to try the equipment before deciding whether to buy it.

Read more