Buying a fast food takeaway?

A busy takeaway with consistent weekly takings, lean overheads, and a strong delivery platform presence can be a very fundable purchase. Food delivery platforms — Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats — have added meaningful, trackable income streams that lenders can assess alongside till data and cash sales, making a well-run takeaway easier to underwrite than it might appear on paper. The key is going to lenders who understand how takeaway businesses generate and verify their income rather than those who apply standard retail assessment criteria to a cash-heavy operation.

What lenders look at

Weekly takings and income verification are the foundation. Lenders will examine the weekly turnover across all income channels — till receipts, bank deposits, and platform settlement statements from Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats. Platform income is particularly valuable from a lender's perspective because it is fully digital, independently verifiable, and clearly attributed to the business. A takeaway generating a significant and growing proportion of its income through delivery platforms — in addition to strong walk-in trade — presents a cleaner, more verifiable income picture than one dependent entirely on cash sales.

The lease and premises are assessed carefully. Most takeaway acquisitions are leasehold — lenders will examine the remaining lease term, the annual rent, and the rent-to-turnover ratio. A takeaway paying rent that represents no more than eight to ten percent of annual turnover on a lease with five or more years remaining is a reasonable leasehold proposition. The A5 planning use class — which permits hot food takeaway use — must be confirmed for the premises. A unit already holding A5 consent is significantly easier to fund than one where a change of use application would be needed.

Kitchen equipment and extraction are assessed alongside the trading performance. Fast food takeaways carry significant kitchen equipment — fryers, grills, ovens, warming equipment, and extraction systems. Lenders will examine the age, condition, and ownership status of key equipment. Extraction systems in particular are expensive to replace and must comply with current ventilation regulations — a well-maintained extraction system with current compliance documentation strengthens the application. Equipment subject to existing lease or finance arrangements needs to be disclosed.

Operator experience and food safety compliance are reviewed as part of due diligence. Takeaway lenders assess the buyer's experience in the food sector — previous ownership or management of a food business, relevant qualifications, and demonstrable knowledge of the cuisine and operation strengthens the application. A Food Hygiene Rating of four or five stars is a baseline expectation — a lower rating or outstanding improvement notices need to be explained and addressed before a funding offer is issued.

How we help

We are acquisition finance and loans brokers, not lenders. We package your application, present it to the funders with genuine hospitality sector appetite, and manage the process from first conversation through to completion.

We also arrange government-backed facilities for fast food takeaway acquisitions — helping buyers access up to £2 million toward their purchase where the criteria are met.

Every takeaway acquisition is different. Tell us about the business. We will take it from there.