Top Refrigeration Finance Lenders for Convenience Stores in 2026
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Refrigeration Finance Lenders for Convenience Stores Compared
| Rank | Lender | Best for | Published loan range | Loan rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty Leasing | Independent convenience stores needing mid-range refrigeration asset finance | £10,000 to £2,000,000 | interest 11% to 16% annually |
| 2 | Lombard | Convenience stores trading over 12 months needing refrigeration finance | Up to £5,000,000 | interest 4% to 11.5% monthly |
| 3 | Reward Funding | Larger convenience chains funding major refrigeration refits over £100,000 | £100,000 to £5,000,000 | interest 0.99% to 3% monthly |
| 4 | Time Finance | Convenience stores seeking flexible refrigeration equipment finance | Up to £5,000,000 | interest 5.5% to 13.5% annually |
| 5 | Admiral leasing | Small independent shops funding single refrigeration units from £1,000 | From £1,000 | interest 5.5% to 13.5% annually |
| 6 | Lloyds Bank | Convenience stores preferring high-street bank refrigeration finance | £1,000 to £50,000 | interest 10.65% to 11.2% annually |
| 7 | Barclays | Shops and chains needing scalable refrigeration finance from a major bank | £1,000 to £25,000,000 | interest 8.5% to 14.9% annually |
| 8 | Rivers Leasing | Independent convenience stores funding mid-range cold storage equipment | £5,000 to £100,000 | interest 4% to 11.5% monthly |
| 9 | Aldermore Asset finance | New convenience stores funding refrigeration with minimal trading history | £1,000 to £10,000,000 | interest 5% to 15% annually |
| 10 | Close Brothers | Included for comparison; suits larger retail chains with high turnover | £25,000 to £100,000,000 | bespoke 3.5% to 10% monthly |
Asset finance lets convenience store owners spread the cost of commercial refrigeration over time instead of paying upfront. The equipment secures the loan, so the lender simply reclaims it if payments stop. This matters for food retail shops because fridges and freezers are essential for stock preservation and food safety compliance. Financing chillers and display cabinets keeps working capital free for stock, staffing, and daily running costs.
Comparing refrigeration finance lenders goes beyond headline rates. Convenience store owners should check whether a lender understands retail equipment leases, allows seasonal payment flexibility, and can fund mixed fleets of display fridges and cold storage units. Some lenders require minimum trading history that bars newer shops, while others welcome startups. Loan size limits also vary, affecting whether a lender suits a single replacement unit or a complete store refit.
Important note:
Funding Agent
Published loan rangeFrom £10,000 to up to £1,000,000
Rate typeInterest from 6.8% annually
Why it is included:It is included because many business owners need to compare several finance routes before choosing where to apply.
Funding Agent can help businesses compare suitable options across a lender panel, especially when eligibility depends on turnover, sector, trading history, credit strength and available documents.
Best use case: When the borrower wants to avoid applying to one lender at a time.
More info
Company stats
Eligibility
Loan range
Rates and debtor rules
Why it stands out
- Useful when a business wants to compare lender fit rather than guess which lender to apply to first.
- Can help position the application around the funding purpose, trading profile and available documents.
- Works well as a conversion route for readers who are unsure whether a direct lender will approve a larger unsecured facility.
Need to know
- Funding Agent is a broker, not a lender.
- The lender, not Funding Agent, sets the final rate, term, fees and approval decision.
- The best match may be unsecured, secured, revolving credit, invoice finance or another product depending on the case.
Expert take
Funding Agent is a useful honourable mention for business owners who want to compare lender options before submitting a full application. A larger unsecured loan is not always approved by the first lender a business finds, so understanding lender fit early can reduce wasted time and avoid unnecessary declines.
Liberty Leasing
Published loan range£10,000 to £2,000,000
Rate typeinterest 11% to 16% annually
Overview: Convenience stores with limited trading history are often approved here, where other lenders might decline. Liberty Leasing funds refrigeration purchases from £10,000, suiting independent shops kitting out cold storage for the first time. Rates range from 11% to 16% annually, so the cost reflects the open eligibility rather than the lowest headline.
Best next step: Check eligibility for refrigeration asset finance
More info
Company stats
Eligibility
Loan range
Rates and debtor rules
Benefits
- Startup-friendly underwriting for newer shops
- Funding decisions typically within 24 hours
- Covers full fit-out costs up to £2m
Need to know
- Rates higher than bank-backed asset finance
- Asset itself secures the finance agreement
- May require a deposit on the equipment
Expert take
A specialist asset funder working with smaller retail businesses and shorter trading histories. Independent convenience stores needing display fridges or walk-in chillers find underwriting more accommodating than high-street banks, particularly with thin trading records.
Lombard
Published loan rangeUp to £5,000,000
Rate typeinterest 4% to 11.5% monthly
Overview: Where cost matters most, Lombard's rates starting from 4% make refrigeration finance considerably cheaper over the asset's life. The lender backs convenience store equipment purchases up to £5 million, though underwriting leans towards established retailers with solid accounts. Funding can complete within 24 hours for straightforward applications.
Best next step: Explore Lombard's refrigeration finance rates
More info
Company stats
Eligibility
Loan range
Rates and debtor rules
Benefits
- Competitive rates from 4% for strong applicants
- Backed by a major UK asset finance name
- Facilities available up to £5 million
Need to know
- Strong trading history preferred
- Rates rise for higher-risk retail profiles
- Asset serves as security throughout the term
Expert take
One of the UK's largest asset finance providers, suited to convenience stores with established records and clean credit. A chain upgrading refrigeration across multiple sites finds the scale and rate structure hard to beat.
Source:https://www.lombard.co.uk/
Reward Funding
Published loan range£100,000 to £5,000,000
Rate typeinterest 0.99% to 3% monthly
Overview: Reward Funding targets larger refrigeration investments, with a minimum facility of £100,000 that suits multi-site convenience store chains or major cold-room installations. Monthly rates from 0.99% keep costs predictable for retailers managing seasonal cash flow. The lender funds within 24 hours once terms are agreed, though smaller independent shops will find the entry threshold too high.
Best next step: Compare Reward Funding's refrigeration finance options
More info
Company stats
Eligibility
Loan range
Rates and debtor rules
Benefits
- Low monthly rates from 0.99%
- Facilities scale up to £5 million
- Quick 24-hour turnaround on agreed terms
Need to know
- Minimum facility size is £100,000
- Not suited to single-shop purchases
- Monthly repayment structure applies
Expert take
A higher-ticket asset funder that serves growing retail chains rather than single-site shops. Convenience store groups rolling out refrigeration across several locations benefit from the low monthly rate structure and the lender's appetite for larger facilities.
Source:https://rewardfunding.co.uk/
Time Finance
Published loan rangeUp to £5,000,000
Rate typeinterest 5.5% to 13.5% annually
Overview: Annual rates from 5.5% and facilities up to £5 million give convenience stores room to finance refrigeration alongside other business needs. Time Finance pairs asset funding with invoice finance capabilities, which helps retailers who supply other businesses and need working capital to bridge gaps. The lender funds within 24 hours, though underwriting scrutiny increases with facility size.
Best next step: See Time Finance refrigeration funding options
More info
Company stats
Eligibility
Loan range
Rates and debtor rules
Benefits
- Combines asset and invoice finance
- Annual interest rates from 5.5%
- Facilities available up to £5 million
Need to know
- Invoice finance suits B2B convenience suppliers
- Larger facilities face stricter underwriting
- Asset-backed security required throughout term
Expert take
A flexible funder for convenience stores that also supply other businesses, blending asset finance with working capital solutions. A shop buying refrigeration while managing trade receivables gets a more joined-up funding package than from a pure asset lender.
Source:https://www.timefinance.com/
Admiral leasing
Published loan rangeFrom £1,000
Rate typeinterest 5.5% to 13.5% annually
Overview: Admiral Leasing can approve refrigeration finance in as little as four hours, which matters when a chiller breaks down and stock is at risk. Facilities start from just £1,000, so independent convenience stores replacing a single display fridge are not forced into borrowing more than needed. Annual rates run from 5.5% to 13.5%, and equipment leasing keeps upfront costs low.
Best next step: Get rapid refrigeration finance from Admiral Leasing
More info
Company stats
Loan range
Rates and debtor rules
Benefits
- Funding decisions in as little as four hours
- Low entry point from £1,000
- Leasing keeps upfront costs manageable
Need to know
- Equipment leasing, not outright purchase
- Rates vary significantly with applicant profile
- Leased assets carry end-of-term conditions
Expert take
A responsive equipment leasing specialist that works well for small independent convenience stores needing quick fridge or freezer replacements. The four-hour decision window and low minimum facility make it a practical option when refrigeration equipment fails unexpectedly.
Lloyds Bank
Published loan range£1,000 to £50,000
Rate typeinterest 10.65% to 11.2% annually
Overview: Lloyds Bank brings familiar high-street lending to refrigeration finance, with asset facilities from £1,000 to £50,000 that match the typical spend of a single convenience store. Annual rates between 10.65% and 11.2% are transparent and fixed. The bank underwrites more cautiously than specialist lenders and takes around 48 hours, though existing business banking customers may find the process smoother.
Best next step: Apply for Lloyds Bank refrigeration asset finance
More info
Company stats
Eligibility
Loan range
Rates and debtor rules
Benefits
- Fixed annual rates with no surprises
- Ideal facility range for single-shop buys
- Existing customers may get faster decisions
Need to know
- Stricter credit and trading history checks
- Funding slower than specialist lenders
- May require a Lloyds business account
Expert take
A high-street banking name that brings stability and transparency to refrigeration asset finance. Convenience stores with clean credit and a Lloyds business current account find the application journey familiar and the fixed-rate structure reassuring for budgeting.
Barclays
Published loan range£1,000 to £25,000,000
Rate typeinterest 8.5% to 14.9% annually
Overview: Barclays stretches from £1,000 for a single under-counter chiller to £25 million for nationwide refrigeration programmes, giving convenience stores of every size a funding path. Annual rates range from 8.5% to 14.9% and the bank funds within 24 hours on approved applications. Underwriting favours retailers with at least a year of trading and demonstrable turnover.
Best next step: Explore Barclays refrigeration finance
More info
Company stats
Loan range
Rates and debtor rules
Benefits
- Facilities from £1,000 to £25 million
- 24-hour funding on approved applications
- Backed by a major UK clearing bank
Need to know
- Preference for at least one year trading
- Higher rates for newer retail businesses
- Full credit assessment required
Expert take
A clearing bank with an asset finance arm that scales from corner shops to supermarket chains. Independent convenience stores with at least a year behind them access competitive rates for refrigeration, knowing the lender has capacity to grow with them.
Rivers Leasing
Published loan range£5,000 to £100,000
Rate typeinterest 4% to 11.5% monthly
Overview: Rivers Leasing concentrates on the £5,000 to £100,000 bracket, which captures most convenience store refrigeration projects from walk-in cold rooms to full shop refits. Monthly rates from 4% keep repayments manageable for retailers watching weekly cash flow. The lender takes about 48 hours to decide, so it suits planned upgrades rather than emergency replacements.
Best next step: Check Rivers Leasing refrigeration funding
More info
Company stats
Loan range
Rates and debtor rules
Benefits
- Focused on mid-range equipment finance
- Monthly repayments suit retail cash flow
- Covers full shop refit refrigeration costs
Need to know
- 48-hour decision, not for emergencies
- Monthly rate means higher annual cost
- Asset security required throughout term
Expert take
A mid-market asset finance provider that concentrates on the £5,000 to £100,000 range where most convenience store refrigeration projects sit. Planned upgrades rather than breakdown replacements are where this lender adds most value, given the two-day decision window.
Aldermore Asset finance
Published loan range£1,000 to £10,000,000
Rate typeinterest 5% to 15% annually
Overview: Aldermore's asset finance stretches from £1,000 to £10 million with annual rates between 5% and 15%, giving convenience stores a wide eligibility net. The lender funds refrigeration purchases for both new and established retailers, though decisions take around 48 hours. Its appetite for smaller deals alongside large ones makes it versatile for independent shops planning staged fridge and freezer upgrades.
Best next step: View Aldermore asset finance for refrigeration
More info
Company stats
Eligibility
Loan range
Rates and debtor rules
Benefits
- Broad eligibility from startups to chains
- Rates from 5% for strong applicants
- Facilities from £1,000 to £10 million
Need to know
- 48-hour turnaround on most applications
- Higher rates for newer or weaker profiles
- Full asset security required
Expert take
A versatile funder whose wide credit appetite serves convenience stores at both ends of the scale. A newly opened shop buying its first chiller and an established chain funding walk-in freezers both fall within Aldermore's underwriting scope.
Source:https://www.aldermore.co.uk/business/business-finance/asset-finance/
Close Brothers
Published loan range£25,000 to £100,000,000
Rate typebespoke 3.5% to 10% monthly
Overview: Close Brothers writes bespoke asset finance from £25,000 upward, targeting established convenience stores and retail chains with £500,000-plus turnover. Monthly rates from 3.5% are tailored to the asset and the applicant's profile. The lender funds within 24 hours and can handle refrigeration programmes up to £100 million, though smaller independent shops below the turnover threshold will need to look elsewhere.
Best next step: Enquire about Close Brothers refrigeration finance
More info
Company stats
Eligibility
Loan range
Rates and debtor rules
Benefits
- Bespoke rates tailored to each facility
- Handles programmes up to £100 million
- 24-hour funding on approved deals
Need to know
- £500k minimum turnover typically required
- Minimum facility size of £25,000
- Not suited to small independent shops
Expert take
A long-established merchant bank whose asset finance division serves the mid-to-upper retail market. Regional convenience store chains with solid turnover and multi-site refrigeration needs are the natural fit here, rather than single-shop operators.
Asset Finance Calculator
Lease vs hire purchase for convenience store refrigeration equipment
When financing commercial fridges and freezers for a convenience store, you typically choose between a lease agreement and hire purchase. Both sit under asset finance, but they work differently for a retail shop.
With a lease, the lender buys the refrigeration equipment and you pay a fixed monthly amount to use it. At the end of the term, you usually return the asset, upgrade to newer units, or pay a final balloon payment to keep it. This suits convenience stores that want to refresh display chillers every few years without tying up capital.
Hire purchase spreads the cost over a set term, and you own the equipment outright once the final payment clears. This works well for long-life assets like walk-in cold rooms or branded freezer cabinets you plan to keep.
Your choice affects cash flow, tax treatment, and balance sheet reporting. Most lenders on this list offer both structures, and a broker can help you compare the total cost across each option before committing.
What refrigeration assets convenience stores can finance
Asset finance covers most commercial refrigeration equipment a convenience store needs. Lenders on this list fund a broad range, from small under-counter chillers to large walk-in cold storage.
Commonly financed assets include open-front display fridges for drinks and dairy, upright freezers for frozen goods, ice cream cabinets, bottle coolers, deli counters with integrated refrigeration, and bespoke cold rooms. Supplemental equipment such as temperature monitoring systems and shelving fitted to the units can often be bundled into the same facility.
Loan sizes vary by lender. Admiral leasing starts at £1,000 for smaller upgrades, while Aldermore Asset finance also accepts facilities from £1,000. For larger refits involving multiple units or full cold storage, lenders like Lombard and Time Finance can fund into the millions. Most convenience store projects sit comfortably within the middle of these ranges.
The equipment itself secures the finance, so you typically do not need to offer your shop premises as additional collateral beyond the refrigeration units being funded.
Deposits, guarantees, and VAT on refrigeration finance for convenience stores
Most refrigeration finance agreements expect a deposit, though the amount varies. Your deposit reduces the amount you borrow. Lenders set their maximum loan-to-value limits: Aldermore Asset finance can fund up to 100% of the equipment cost, while Reward Funding caps LTV at 85% and Close Brothers at 90%. A higher LTV means a smaller upfront deposit.
Personal guarantees are standard across many asset finance providers. Liberty Leasing, Reward Funding, Time Finance, Aldermore, and Close Brothers all require a director's personal guarantee. This means you are personally liable if the business cannot meet the payments. It is a serious commitment and worth discussing with your accountant before signing.
VAT treatment depends on your business structure. If you are VAT-registered, you can usually reclaim the VAT on the equipment purchase. Under a lease, VAT is typically paid on each monthly rental rather than upfront, which can ease short-term cash flow. Always confirm the VAT position with your lender and accountant.
What convenience store owners need to qualify for refrigeration finance
Eligibility for refrigeration asset finance is generally more flexible than for unsecured business loans, because the equipment itself acts as security. Still, lenders assess your trading history and turnover.
Minimum trading time varies. Lombard and Close Brothers ask for at least one year of filed accounts. Aldermore Asset finance will consider businesses trading for just six months, which helps newer convenience stores. Several lenders on this list do not publish a fixed minimum business age, leaving room for case-by-case assessment.
| Lender | Min business age | Min turnover |
|---|---|---|
| Lombard | 1 year | £25,000 |
| Aldermore Asset finance | 6 months | £0 |
| Close Brothers | 1 year | £500,000 |
Turnover expectations differ widely. Lombard requires at least £25,000 in annual revenue, while Close Brothers sets a higher bar at £500,000. Aldermore states a £0 minimum turnover, which can suit very small independents or shops with fluctuating income. None of the lenders with confirmed data require you to be a homeowner, which distinguishes refrigeration finance from some secured loan products. Your shop's trading performance carries more weight than your personal property status.
