Rent–Try–Buy

Flexible, 12-month rental agreement

Upgrade or buy the equipment at any time

If you buy, get back 75% of your net rental payments

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Get approval for up to $65,000

of equipment funding in under 5 minutes

If you need more than $65K, please contact us | No obligation to use approved finance

A flexible funding solution that lets you try out hospitality equipment before you purchase it

WITH SO MUCH commercial kitchen equipment on offer, making the correct choice can be complicated. And what if the equipment you get can’t keep up with demand or your business alters course and needs different equipment?

No one wants to pay a wad of cash or get tied down by a long-term lease for equipment that proves to be ill-suited.

SilverChef Rent–Try–Buy fixes this problem by enabling you to try out the equipment before deciding whether to purchase it. 

May suit you if you’re…

  • A new or established business
  • After $1,000 or more of equipment funding
  • Looking to try the equipment before deciding whether to buy it, including items you're not sure about or think you might quickly outgrow.

Key features

  • Flexible, 12-month rental agreement
  • Manageable, weekly rental payments
  • Upgrade or buy the equipment at any time
  • If you buy, get back 75% of your net rental payments — to put towards the purchase price ^
  • Continue renting or return the equipment after 12 months
  • Rental payments are 100% tax deductible.*

How Rent–Try–Buy works

01

We buy the equipment for you

You select the commercial kitchen equipment you want and, after approving your finance application, we buy the equipment for you.

02

You rent it from us

You rent the equipment from us for manageable, weekly payments under a flexible, 12-month Rent–Try–Buy agreement.

03

You choose from several options

You can upgrade or buy the equipment at any time or, at the end of the agreement, continue renting it or return it to us — whatever suits you best.

01

We buy the equipment for you

You select the commercial kitchen equipment you want and, after approving your finance application, we buy the equipment for you.

02

You rent it from us

You rent the equipment from us for manageable, weekly payments under a flexible, 12-month Rent–Try–Buy agreement.

03

You choose from several options

You can upgrade or buy the equipment at any time or, at the end of the agreement, continue renting it or return it to us — whatever suits you best.

MID-TERM OPTIONS

At any time during the 12-month rental agreement you can…

Upgrade the equipment

If your business grows or changes direction and the equipment you’re renting from us is no longer suitable, you can upgrade it.

You can upgrade it to the same or a different type of equipment — as long as it’s standard hospitality equipment with a value equal to or higher than the original equipment. 

We’ll ask you to return the original equipment to us and sign a fresh 12-month rental agreement covering the upgraded equipment. 

The new agreement will give you all the options you were entitled to under the original agreement.

Customers are responsible for transporting the original equipment back to us and the cost for us to clean and service the equipment so it can be certified and remarketed.

Enquire now

Buy the equipment

If after trying your rental equipment you decide it’s exactly what your business is after, and you have the cash, you can buy the equipment at any time.

We’ll give you back 75% of the net rent you’ve already paid us, which you can put towards the purchase price.

Unlike other lenders, we won’t slug you with an early repayment fee.

You’ll just need to give us four weeks’ notice of your intention to buy the equipment.

Enquire now

END-OF-TERM OPTIONS

At the end of 12-month rental agreement you can…

Upgrade the equipment

If your business grows or changes direction and the equipment you’re renting from us is no longer suitable, you can upgrade it.

You can upgrade it to the same or a different type of equipment — as long as it’s standard hospitality equipment with a value equal to or higher than the original equipment. 

We’ll ask you to return the original equipment to us and sign a fresh 12-month rental agreement covering the upgraded equipment. 

The new agreement will give you all the options you were entitled to under the original agreement.

Customers are responsible for transporting the original equipment back to us and the cost for us to clean and service the equipment so it can be certified and remarketed.

Enquire now

Buy the equipment

If after trying your rental equipment you decide it’s exactly what your business is after, and you have the cash, you can buy the equipment at any time.

We’ll give you back 75% of the net rent you’ve already paid us, which you can put towards the purchase price.

Unlike other lenders, we won’t slug you with an early repayment fee.

You’ll just need to give us four weeks’ notice of your intention to buy the equipment.

Enquire now

Continue renting the equipment

If after trying the equipment you’d like to keep your options open or review your equipment needs farther down the track, you can continue renting the equipment month-to-month for as long as you need to (all the while continuing to steadily reduce its purchase price). 

If you agree to rent the equipment for another 12 months, we’ll  reward your loyalty by giving you a 10% discount on your weekly rental payments (Loyalty agreement).

Your rental payments are 100% tax deductible.*

If you continue to rent, you’ll still be able to:

  • upgrade the equipment at any time
  • buy the equipment at any time
  • return the equipment — at any time if you’re renting month-to-month; or after 12 months if you’ve signed a Loyalty agreement. 

If you buy the equipment, we’ll give you back 75% of your first year’s net rental payments and 25% of all the payments you made thereafter — to put towards the purchase price. 

You’ll just need to give us four weeks’ notice of your intention to buy the equipment.

Enquire now

Work towards owning the equipment

If after trying the equipment you’d like to own it, but want to preserve your working capital, you can work towards owning the equipment over another two or three years (Easy Own®).  

We’ll give you a 15% or 30% discount on your weekly payments respectively.  

These payments are 100% tax deductible.*

It’s important you’re certain the equipment is right for your business: Unlike your original rental agreement, you don’t have the option to upgrade or return the equipment.

At the end of the term you own the equipment.

Enquire now

Return the equipment

If your circumstances have changed or the equipment no longer suits your business’s needs (and you don’t want to upgrade it), you can return it to us when the 12-month rental agreement expires.

You’ll just need to give us four weeks’ notice of your intention to return the equipment.  

At the end of that notice period we’ll send you a letter explaining how to get the equipment back to us.   

Customers are responsible for transporting the equipment back to us and the cost for us to clean and service the equipment so it can be certified and remarketed.

We’ll deduct the cleaning and servicing costs from your security bond, the balance of which will be refunded to you.

Enquire now

Watch how it works

Benefits of Rent–Try–Buy

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Unrivalled flexibility

Let’s your equipment grow and change with your business by allowing you to try the equipment before deciding whether to upgrade it, buy it, continue renting it, or return it.

Flexibility no other financier, cash or credit card can match.

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75% net rental rebate

If you’re happy with the rental equipment, you can buy it at any time.

If you buy it within 12 months, we’ll give you back 75% of the rent you’ve already paid us — to put towards the purchase price.

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Better cash flow

Rent–Try–Buy’s manageable, weekly rental payments mean your business can get the equipment it needs while maintaining a healthy cash flow.

Instead of draining your cash reserves to pay for the equipment up front, you pay for it in manageable  amounts out of the revenue it helps generate.

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Income-tax deductions

If your business is profitable, you can reduce your taxable income by claiming your rental payments as deductible expenses. 

This effectively saves you 25 cents in each dollar of rent you pay.*

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Borrowing capacity unaffected

Your equipment rental payments are ‘off balance sheet’. 

This means Rent–Try–Buy does not affect your business’s ability to borrow money from other lenders (or any existing loan covenants your business has with other lenders).

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No personal guarantees

We typically don’t require director’s guarantees for funding amounts under $100,000. The funding is secured using the rental equipment as collateral. 

So, if your financial circumstances change and/or you no longer need the equipment, you simply return it to us.

WHY WAIT?

Stop dreaming and start doing

Get approval for up to $65,000 in under 5 minutes

Apply Now

What our customers say

We’re a new business and money is tight. SilverChef allowed us to get equipment to make our business grow without leaving us strapped for cash.

Without SilverChef, we literally couldn’t operate! SilverChef has freed up our cash to buy more produce, meet running costs, and pay the day-to-day bills.

Being able to rent from SilverChef has made my dream of opening a coffee shop a reality. The budget-friendly repayments are kind to the hip pocket, especially when starting out.

Being able to rent our equipment has allowed us to consistently upgrade [the equipment] as our business has grown and not worry about having to store or sell our old equipment.

Just when you think you’ve run out of time to pursue your dreams, you’re given a lifeline to do what you once thought was impossible. SilverChef was that for me and more.

To be honest, it’s the easiest and simplest way to get hospitality equipment installed for new businesses. The team are truly a pleasure to deal with. As we continue to grow, we will continue to partner with them. 

SilverChef not only provided finance for my new fridges, they were there to help me when my previous fridges blew up. They came to the rescue and got me sorted in no time. Best customer service any business could ask for.

I took a ‘crazy’ leap of faith to buy a cafe during [COVID] lockdown. SilverChef has made it possible to turn my ‘crazy’ into a vibrant, positive and productive cafe. Without Silverchef I would be struggling with the old equipment that was holding me back.

SilverChef should be renamed GoldChef, because that's the service they provide. I feel so proud to show off my new equipment. Every day is a great day because of SilverChef— they've made my experience amazing.

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GET FINANCE BEFORE OR AFTER YOU’VE CHOSEN YOUR EQUIPMENT

Our equipment-finance process

Find out what happens from the time you select your equipment or apply for finance right through to the moment the equipment is delivered to your business premises.

Equipment before finance


If you’re like most people, you’ll want to choose your equipment before figuring out how to pay for it. No worries!

Show process Hide process

1. Shop for equipment

Select the hospitality equipment you want in an accredited dealer’s showroom or on their website; or on the SilverChef website.

2. Apply for finance

You can apply for finance one of three ways:

  • in the dealer’s showroom or on their website 
  • on the SilverChef website
  • by calling us on 1800 337 153.

3. Sign agreement

Upon approval of your application, we’ll ask you to electronically sign and return the Rent–Try–Buy agreement and pay the upfront costs (your first week’s rent and a refundable security bond).

4. Take delivery

We’ll buy the equipment you’ve selected and the dealer (new equipment) or SilverChef (‘Certified Used’ and clearance equipment) will deliver it to your business premises. You’ll then start paying your weekly rental payments.

Finance before equipment


We’re happy to approve your finance before you go shopping , so you know how much you’ve got to spend.

Show process Hide process

1. Apply for finance

You can apply for finance one of three ways:

  • in an accredited equipment-dealer’s showroom or on their website 
  • on the SilverChef website
  • by calling us on 1800 337 153.

2. Sign agreement

Upon approval of your application, we’ll ask you to electronically sign and return the Rent–Try–Buy agreement and pay the upfront costs (your first week’s rent and a refundable security bond).

3. Shop for equipment

Select the hospitality equipment you want in the equipment dealer’s showroom or on their website; or on the SilverChef website.

4. Take delivery

We’ll buy the equipment you’ve selected and the dealer (new equipment) or SilverChef (‘Certified Used’ and clearance equipment) will deliver it to your business premises. You’ll start paying your weekly rental payments.

GET CASH OUT OF YOUR EQUIPMENT…AND INTO YOUR BUSINESS

Buy Back

Have you bought commercial kitchen equipment recently? And has cash flow become a challenge for your business? If so, Buy Back may be the solution you’re looking for.

It can help ease your cash-flow pressures by enabling you to quickly access capital from a hidden source: The money tied up in your equipment.

Read more

Frequently asked questions

What is your interest rate?

As Rent–Try–Buy is a rental agreement, there is no interest rate. 

However, you can use our online rental calculator to work out your weekly rental payments, and to find out how much it would cost to own the equipment if you decided to purchase it after 12 months of renting.  

As the calculator reveals, the net cost of owning the equipment could be as low as 10% (after taking into account tax deductions* and the rental rebate).

This figure reflects:

  1. the unrivalled flexibility our customers enjoy and which no other financier, cash or credit card can give them. 
  2. the risks we take by, for example, allowing customers to:
  • get the equipment they want without having to commit to the full purchase price
  • secure up to $100,000 of equipment finance — in most cases without providing a director’s guarantee / personal guarantee 
  • upgrade the equipment at any time without having to worry about how to dispose of the original item
  • return the equipment to us after only 12 months for no penalty.

Are there any other fees or charges?

Aside from the weekly rental payments (including one week’s rent paid in advance), the fees and charges that apply are:

  • a refundable security bond — paid up front and equivalent to six weeks’ rent (less than $200,000 of funding) or 12 weeks’ rent ($200,000 or more of funding)
  • the cost of transporting any equipment the customer returns to us during or after the 12-month rental period (which the customer pays directly; this cost varies according to the equipment’s cubic weight and the distance it has to be transported)
  • the cost for us to clean and service any equipment the customer returns to us during or after the 12-month rental period, so it can be certified and remarketed. We pass this cost on to the customer; the cost varies according to the type of equipment and its condition. See our cleaning-and-servicing fees (PDF).

What’s the difference between Rent–Try–Buy and Rent-to-Own?

While they do have similarities, there’s a key difference between rent try buy commercial kitchen equipment and rent to own commercial kitchen equipment. 

Rent–Try–Buy (which is exclusive to SilverChef) and Rent-to-Own (offered by other companies) are agreements in which at least a portion of the rental payments go towards building equity in the equipment being rented. 

The main difference is that, at the end of a Rent-to-Own agreement (which typically ranges from one to five years), the renter automatically owns the equipment.

In contrast, at the end of a Rent–Try–Buy agreement (which is 12 months long), the renter does not automatically own the equipment. Rather, they have the option to buy it (which they can do at any time during the agreement). 

If they buy the equipment, they get back 75% of their first year’s net rental payments and 25% of any net rental payments made thereafter — to put towards the purchase price. 

When the Rent–Try–Buy agreement expires, will I automatically own the equipment?

No — while your rental payments will steadily reduce the equipment’s purchase price, there will still be money owing after 12 months.

To find out how much you’d need to pay us to buy your rental equipment, please call us for a payout quote on 1800 337 153.

You can buy, or pay out, the equipment at any time during the 12-month term (not only at the end of it). 

What happens if I want to buy the equipment?

If after trying the rental equipment you decide it’s the right fit for your business and want to buy it, you’ll need to give us four weeks’ notice of your intention to purchase it.

At the end of the notice period, we’ll send you a: 

  • payout quote to review (the quote clearly sets out how the payout amount has been calculated)
  • payment authorisation form to fill in.  

If you buy the equipment, you’ll get back 75% of your first year’s net rental payments and 25% of any net rental payments you made thereafter — to put towards the equipment’s purchase price.

When do I start paying rent?

Your rental payments will start after we’ve confirmed the equipment has been delivered to your business premises. 

If you’re doing a full fit-out or refurbishment and could experience delays — for example, due to council or construction issues — we recommend you hold off ordering the equipment until shortly before your venue is ready to start trading.

(Equipment in stock can usually be delivered to your venue in 1–14 business days, depending on your location. If it’s out of stock, you’ll need to allow for a longer lead time and order it sooner. Your equipment dealer will be able to advise you.)

If for whatever reason your rental payments start before you commence trading, please contact us as soon as possible.

Still have unanswered questions? See all our FAQs

^ If you rent the equipment for more than 12 months before buying it, we’ll reimburse 75% of your first year’s net rental payments and 25% of all subsequent payments — to put towards the purchase price.

* This advice is general in nature and does not consider your personal circumstances. Professional advice should be sought that is tailored to your personal situation.

Not what you're looking for?

If you’re confident which hospitality equipment you need or it’s a large investment and you’d prefer to pay for it in smaller instalments over a longer period, Lease-to-Keep may be the solution you’re looking for.

It allows you to use the equipment and make low, monthly payments over two, three, four or five years. After making the final payment, you own the equipment.

Read more