Starbend Commercial Capital, a small-business funding service in Las Vegas, NV, explains business loans for coffee shop owners in Clark County, NV: espresso and coffee machine financing, refrigeration and build-outs, working capital, how to get a loan for a coffee shop, and the records partners may review.
| Coffee and snack bars with payroll, county | 615 (CBP 2023) |
|---|---|
| Employees | 8,390 |
| Under five employees | 24.4% |
| Locations with one to four staff | 150 (CBP 2023) |
| Without payroll, county | 138 (NES 2024) |
| Census category | Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars |
Small tickets, big machines
A coffee shop's revenue is built from many small transactions. Its capital costs are not small: a multi-group espresso machine, two or three grinders, a water filtration system, under-counter and display refrigeration, a blender or two, ovens for pastries and a point-of-sale setup. A new shop also builds out a counter, plumbing and electrical, and a new shop may open in a leased suite that needs significant work.
That mismatch is why equipment financing is one place a cafe can start.
Espresso and coffee machine financing
An espresso machine loan or lease spreads the machine's cost over its working life, secured by the machine itself. Coffee machine financing can cover the espresso machine, grinders and filtration together, and sometimes installation. Partners look at the vendor quote, the machine's make and model, and whether it is new or refurbished. The post on commercial espresso machine financing walks through one quote line by line, and the equipment financing page explains soft costs.
Coffee shop equipment financing options beyond the bar
- Refrigeration: milk fridges, display cases, a reach-in or walk-in
- Ovens and warming equipment for food
- Ice machines and blenders for cold drinks
- Point-of-sale hardware and order screens
- Furniture and fixtures for the seating area
Bundling several items into one financing request keeps the paperwork in one place, as long as each item is itemized on the quote.
Getting a cafe request in front of a partner
For an operating cafe, partners read bank and card statements, tax returns and the lease. For a new location by an existing owner, the first shop's track record is the main evidence; a term loan can fund the build-out of a second site. A brand-new concept with no operating history gives a partner less to review, and Starbend does not target startup financing.
If the shop serves food, health-district plan review may affect what equipment you can install; confirm with the district before ordering.
Working capital in a cafe
A cafe pays for coffee, milk and food on supplier terms and pays baristas each pay period. Working capital can cover a temporary gap, such as a repair that closes the bar for days, or the first weeks of a second location before it builds a following.
Illustrative example: a two-group machine and grinders (not an offer)
A cafe prices a two-group espresso machine at $19,000, two grinders at $3,400 each and filtration at $900: $26,700 in equipment. With $2,700 down and $24,000 financed over 48 months at an annual rate of 12%, chosen for arithmetic, the payment is about $632 a month. At 500 drinks a day, that is roughly 4 cents a drink across a 30-day month. Actual terms come from a partner's offer.
Counting Clark County, NV cafes
Census County Business Patterns places coffee shops in snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars, which numbered 615 employer locations in Clark County, NV in 2023, with 8,390 employees; 24.4% had fewer than five employees. ZIP 89103 had 15 of them (ZBP 2023). Nonemployer Statistics, a separate program, counted 138 coffee-shop businesses without payroll in 2024. The category also includes juice and smoothie bars. See the Las Vegas, NV page and the industries page for related trades.
Leased suites and the build-out question
A cafe may open in a suite that was not built for food service. Plumbing for sinks and the espresso machine, a floor drain, electrical capacity for several high-draw machines and ventilation can all be needed before a single coffee is sold. Landlords sometimes contribute a tenant improvement allowance; the lease spells out what is included and when it is paid. Partners read that clause, because an allowance paid after completion still has to be funded during construction.
If you are taking over a former cafe, ask what equipment conveys with the space and whether it is owned or still under someone else's lease.
Comparing offers for coffee shop equipment
- Total payback across the term, not just the monthly payment
- Whether grinders and filtration are included in the financed amount
- End-of-lease terms: buyout price, return conditions, upgrade options
- Who carries service and repairs during the term
- Whether the lien covers only the equipment or the whole business
By Starbend Commercial Capital · Updated