Industry expertise
Food Truck Financing for Equipment, Inventory, and Slow Seasons
From a replacement generator to commissary kitchen fees and slow winter months, TrustFi helps food truck owners get funded without the wait.
- Applying will not impact your credit score
- Funding decisions in as little as 24 hours
- A dedicated funding specialist, not a call center
- Businesses funded
- 10,000+Businesses funded
- In funding secured
- $500M+In funding secured
- Industries served
- 50+Industries served
Why it's different
Funding built around how food trucks actually run
A food truck is a restaurant, a kitchen, and a vehicle all breaking down at once. A failed generator, a refrigeration unit that stops holding temperature, or a fryer that finally gives out can shut down service for days, and each one costs real money to replace fast. On top of equipment, you're paying commissary kitchen fees for prep and storage space, plus a different health permit and parking arrangement in nearly every city or county you serve. TrustFi helps food truck owners cover those costs without pulling cash out of the business at the worst moment.
Revenue for most food trucks swings hard with the calendar. Festival and event season can bring back-to-back bookings and long lines, while winter months and slow weekdays can leave a truck parked more than it's serving. Event organizers sometimes require a deposit or fee just to secure a good spot, and fuel and propane costs eat into margins no matter how many plates you sell. TrustFi financing can smooth that swing, covering payroll and inventory in the slow months so you're fully stocked and staffed when festival season picks back up.
What we hear
The cash-flow pressures you know too well
Equipment Failure Means Zero Revenue
When a generator, fryer, or refrigeration unit fails, the truck can't legally serve food until it's fixed. Unlike a brick-and-mortar kitchen with backup equipment, a single breakdown can shut down your only revenue source for days.
Commissary and Permit Fees Stack Up
Most cities require food trucks to operate out of a licensed commissary kitchen and carry separate health permits and parking approvals for each jurisdiction you serve, adding recurring costs before you sell a single meal.
Festival Season Creates Extreme Cash Swings
Bookings cluster around festival and event season, and winter or slow weekdays can leave a truck parked far more than it's serving. Payroll and loan payments still come due in the flat months between rushes.
Event Deposits Are Due Before You Earn
Popular events and festivals often require a deposit or spot fee weeks or months in advance, before you know how much you'll actually sell. That cash has to come from somewhere while the truck is still between events.
Where the money goes
What food trucks use funding for
- Replace a failed generator, fryer, or refrigeration unit
- Cover commissary kitchen fees and multi-city health permits
- Pay event deposits to secure festival and fair spots
- Stock inventory ahead of a busy festival weekend
- Cover payroll during slow winter months
- Wrap or upgrade the truck to refresh your brand
Our recommendation
Funding options that fit food trucks
Based on how businesses in your sector earn and spend, these three structures tend to work best.
- Option 1
Merchant Cash Advance
Repayment tied to a percentage of daily card sales rises and falls with your revenue, which fits the boom-and-bust rhythm of festival season better than a fixed weekly payment.
How it works - Option 2
Business Line of Credit
Draw funds only when a generator fails or an event deposit comes due, then pay interest only on what you use, which suits unpredictable truck expenses.
How it works - Option 3
Business Term Loans
A fixed lump sum with a set schedule works well for a planned purchase like a new truck wrap, refrigeration unit, or point-of-sale system.
How it works
Getting started
Three steps, no runaround
- 1
Tell us your story
Share a few details about your business and what you need the capital for. It takes under 10 minutes and never touches your credit score.
- 2
Review your options
A specialist reviews your file and comes back with clear, side-by-side options — real numbers, plain English, no pressure.
- 3
Fund your future
Pick the option that fits. Once you approve, funds can reach your account in as little as 24 hours.
Client stories
We're proud to be part of their journey.
The success of our clients is our greatest reward — 350+ five-star Google reviews and counting.
TrustFi was fantastic to work with on our business capital funding needs. They were professional, efficient and provided the best customer service experience I've had in this industry. We will continue to partner with TrustFi on our funding needs going forward. Highly recommend!
MMaria O. My experience with Griffin Ferro and his team at TrustFi was fantastic. He was able to get me funding in one day. Griffin's communication was awesome. He made sure I knew what was going on every step of the way. He took the time to make sure I completely understood all the aspects of the transaction.
JJohn Highly recommend and a great experience. Gary had our best interest in mind, with professionalism, dedication and care. They really supported our business needs. Great customer service as well!
TTim F.
Can I get financing to replace broken equipment?
Yes. A business line of credit is often the fastest fit for an unexpected equipment failure, since you draw funds only when you need them. For a larger planned purchase like a new refrigeration unit or the truck itself, a term loan gives you a fixed lump sum with a set repayment schedule.
How does a merchant cash advance work for a food truck?
A merchant cash advance provides a lump sum upfront that you repay through a percentage of your daily card sales. Because the repayment scales with revenue, it can be a good fit for a business with the seasonal ups and downs food trucks typically see around festival and event bookings.
Will applying for financing affect my credit score?
No. Applying for financing through TrustFi does not impact your credit score. You can review options like a merchant cash advance, a line of credit, or a term loan and see what you qualify for before deciding anything. The application takes under 10 minutes to complete.
How fast can I get funded before a festival?
TrustFi offers a 2-hour response guarantee, and qualified applicants can see funding in as little as 24 hours, which can matter when a festival deposit or equipment repair is due on short notice. Actual timing depends on the product you choose and your documentation.
Can new food trucks qualify for financing?
Qualification depends on your overall business picture, including time in business, revenue, and cash flow, not just how long the truck has been on the road. TrustFi reviews each application individually, and there are no hidden fees in the process, so it costs nothing to see what you qualify for.
What can food truck financing be used for?
Common uses include replacing equipment like generators and fryers, covering commissary and permit fees, paying event deposits, stocking inventory before a busy weekend, and covering payroll during slower winter months. Many owners combine a line of credit for ongoing costs with a term loan for larger one-time purchases.
Funding for food trucks, without the runaround.
Apply in under 10 minutes. A specialist who understands your sector will walk you through the options within two hours.
- Applying will not impact your credit score
- Funding decisions in as little as 24 hours
- A dedicated funding specialist, not a call center
- Transparent terms with no hidden fees