Coffee van finance
Espresso machine, grinder, water and power in a van that can park where the customers already are, funded as one asset.
- FCA regulatedAppointed Representative, FRN 1031964
- 60+ lendersWhole-of-market panel, not one bank
- 5.0 from 19 Google reviews
- No credit checkEnquiring leaves no mark on your file
Yes, mobile coffee vans are fundable, normally as a base vehicle plus catering conversion on one agreement. Used coffee vans are fundable too. Be aware that lenders treat this as a start-up hospitality asset rather than a straightforward commercial vehicle, so the application is judged on whether the business behind it looks real. The thing that catches people out is the pitch. A coffee van with a secured regular site, an events calendar or a business park agreement is a proposition; one bought on the hope of finding somewhere to park is much harder to place.
Who finances this
Baristas leaving a coffee shop to trade independently, event and festival caterers building a season, and people buying a round or a pitch at a business park, retail estate or park. Also established cafes adding a mobile unit for outside catering and weddings. The trigger is often a pitch becoming available or an events season being booked in advance, which creates a hard deadline for getting a van on the road.
How lenders see it
Catering conversions are funded by a specific part of the market, not by every vehicle funder. The base van is easy; the fit-out, espresso machine, grinder, water system, gas or electric heating, serving hatch, is where the value sits and where the resale risk lives. A commercial espresso machine from a recognised brand holds value reasonably; a bespoke cabinet build does not. Funders also weigh seasonality, because outdoor trading income is lumpy and the winter months are thin. Applicants with contracted pitches, corporate event bookings or a franchise behind them present far better. Deposits are common. New starts with no bookings, no deposit and a hand-built conversion are the usual declines, along with applications where the gas or electrical certification is missing.
Buying used
Yes. Used coffee vans are funded, and a well-specified used conversion with a known-brand espresso machine is often easier to value than an unusual new build.
Also in van and light commercial finance
See everything we fund in van and light commercial finance →
Van buying guides
We are a broker, not a dealer. We have no stake in which van you choose. These are written on that basis.
The van is one cost
Flowzo covers fuel, wages and the wait for customers to pay, working capital rather than the vehicle itself.
Machines we have funded
| Citroen H Van replica conversion | Vintage-look van for events and markets |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Transporter coffee conversion | Compact coffee van with serving hatch |
| Fiat Doblo coffee van | Small van fitted for espresso service |
| Ford Transit Custom coffee van | Medium van with full coffee bar |
| Piaggio Ape coffee unit | Three-wheel coffee unit for pitches |
| Renault Trafic mobile coffee bar | Medium van with counter and sink |
| Fiat Ducato coffee conversion | Large van for high-volume service |
| Volkswagen Caddy coffee van | Small van for a single barista |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter coffee van | Large van with twin group machine |
| Citroen Relay coffee conversion | Long van for festival trading |
Do I need a pitch before I can get finance?
Not always, but it transforms the application. A signed pitch agreement, a business park arrangement or a diary of booked events gives the lender evidence of income. Without one, you are asking a funder to back an idea, which usually means a larger deposit and a narrower choice.
Can the espresso machine be included in the finance?
Yes, if it is supplied as part of the converted vehicle on the same invoice. Commercial machines from recognised brands are treated as real value by funders. A machine bought separately afterwards can sometimes be funded on its own agreement as catering equipment.
Is seasonality a problem for coffee van finance?
Lenders are aware that outdoor trading dips in winter, and they will look at whether your business can carry payments through the quiet months. Showing indoor or contracted winter work, office parks, indoor markets, corporate bookings, makes a real difference to how the deal is viewed.
What certification does a coffee van need?
You will normally need food hygiene registration with your local authority, a gas safety certificate if you use LPG, an electrical safety check on the installation, and appropriate public liability insurance. Buyers of used vans should confirm this paperwork exists before agreeing a price.
Is a trailer cheaper than a coffee van?
A trailer usually costs less to buy and can be funded, but it needs a tow vehicle and somewhere to store it, and some pitches will not take trailers. A self-propelled van is more flexible for events. Compare total cost including the towing vehicle before deciding.
Tell us what you need
About a minute of plain questions, and no documents to dig out.
Prime is established and profitable with clean credit. Specialist covers newer businesses and credit that needs explaining, the asset carries part of the risk, so finance is often available where an unsecured loan is not.
Illustrative only, not a quote, a flat rate is not an APR, so the APR on a given agreement will be higher. VAT and fees excluded.
Start my enquiryNo credit check, and enquiring leaves no mark on your credit file. Finance is subject to status. We are a credit broker, not a lender.
Only pricing it up?
An enquiry is a conversation, not an application. Nothing runs against your file until you tell us to go ahead.
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Conor reads every enquiry himself. We will call you within 24 business hours, and it will be the person who actually arranges the finance, not a call centre, and not a form that disappears.
A real person on your side
One adviser from your first enquiry to the money in your account. No call centres.
Your adviser
Conor HullMon to Fri, 9am–6pm
5.0 from 19 Google reviews
Thinking about coffee van finance?
A few questions, and we will tell you what the panel can do. No obligation, and no call centres.
