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Retail, food and hospitality

Business financing and working capital for restaurants in Canada

Tell us what your restaurant needs. We review your situation, explain in plain terms which options may fit and what each costs in total, and introduce you to independent lenders. There is no obligation, and Xito is not a lender.

Request a financing review Call 403-827-1014
Independent advisory • Discreet • Structured

Cash-flow pressures restaurants often face

Food, wages and rent are paid daily, weekly and monthly, while sales can swing with seasons, weather and events.

Renovations, equipment repairs and a slow winter can drain cash quickly.

Delivery apps and card processors may hold back or delay payouts.

What owners use financing for

  • Cover payroll and food costs in slow months
  • Repair or replace kitchen equipment
  • Renovate or open a second location
  • Pay rent, taxes and suppliers

What lenders usually look at

  • Monthly card sales and deposit consistency
  • Time in business and lease status
  • Existing loans or cash advances and CRA balances

Each lender sets its own requirements. Typical working capital programs also look for at least 6 months in business, regular deposits into a Canadian business bank account and roughly $10,000 or more in monthly revenue.

A hypothetical example

A hypothetical restaurant needs to replace a walk-in cooler and cover payroll during a slow February. The owner asks about a short-term working capital loan. A lender reviews six months of statements and card deposits and, if there is an offer, shows the total repayment in dollars.

This is a hypothetical illustration, not a client story or a promise of results. Approval, amounts, terms and timing are decided by each lender and depend on your own numbers.

We show you total repayment in dollars. Short-term working capital is usually faster and easier to qualify for than a bank loan, and usually costs more. You compare the options before you decide, and nothing goes ahead without your approval.

How it works

1

Request your review and gather documents

Fill in the short form below, pick your funding range to see what to have ready, and send your documents through our secure upload link. You can upload right away.

2

We call you

We call Monday to Friday during business hours to understand what you need and how fast.

3

You choose

We bring back your options with the total cost of each. Nothing proceeds without your approval.

Choose your funding range and see what to send

    Send documents securely

    Please put your business name in each file name. Send documents only through our secure upload link. The full list is on our document checklist.

    Request a financing review for your restaurant

    No obligation. We call you back within 2 hours during business hours.

    Prefer to talk? Call 403-827-1014 or email intake@xitocapital.com.

    What Xito does

    Xito is not a lender. We introduce businesses to independent lenders and funding providers.

    We review your numbers, explain your options and introduce you to lenders whose programs fit. The lender, not Xito, makes the credit decision and sets the terms.

    Who you will deal with

    Xito Capital Partners is a Calgary-based advisory firm led by Andrew Apedoe, with a background in valuation and investment banking. Many clients come to us before a sale, a refinancing or a lender review.

    How lenders read the financials of a restaurant

    Sales, food cost and labour

    Lenders look at food cost and labour as a share of sales, often called prime cost, because they show how much of each dollar is left to run the business. Be ready to show both over several months.

    Card deposits and delivery platforms

    Most sales arrive through card processing and delivery platforms, so deposit history is a key record. Platform fees and payout delays also affect cash, so show them separately from dine-in sales.

    Lease and build-out

    Restaurants carry a long lease and a large build-out and equipment cost. Lenders ask how many years remain on the lease and how the build-out was funded.

    Seasonality and location

    Patio season, holidays and local events move sales through the year. A full year of deposits helps a lender see that a slow month is part of a pattern.

    Financing options to look at

    Which option fits depends on your history, your customers and how quickly you need funds. Each lender sets its own requirements and makes its own credit decision.

    What to have ready before a review

    Xito is not a lender. We explain which options may fit, show the total cost of each and introduce you to independent lenders.

    Common questions from restaurants

    Can a restaurant get financing in a slow season?

    Sometimes. Lenders look at deposits over several months. We explain total costs before you decide.

    Does Xito lend money?

    No. Xito is not a lender. We review your situation and introduce you to independent lenders and funding providers. The lender makes the credit decision and sets the terms.

    What will financing cost?

    It varies by lender, amount and term. Short-term working capital is usually more expensive than a bank loan, so we show you the total repayment in dollars for each option before you decide.

    How long does it take?

    Timing depends on the lender, how quickly you send a complete file and approval. Smaller requests can move faster than larger ones. Timing is never guaranteed.

    What do I need to apply?

    Lenders commonly ask for recent business bank statements, owner identification and a void cheque. Larger requests may need financial statements, receivables aging and CRA balances. Each lender sets its own requirements.

    Related industries

    Also see our general business financing page, the document checklist and the advance cost calculator.