Restaurant Equipment Appraisal Services, USPAP-Certified Valuations Nationwide

Serving restaurants, catering operations, franchise groups, and food service businesses nationwide. Equipment value plays a critical role in financing, business planning, insurance, and ownership transitions, whether you’re renewing a lease, applying for a loan, or preparing to sell. Will my lender accept a desktop appraisal for restaurant equipment? Yes. Our USPAP-compliant desktop valuation reports are accepted by SBA lenders, commercial banks, credit unions, and accounting firms nationwide, with no on-site visit required.

The Classification Question Most Restaurant Appraisals Get Wrong

Not everything in a commercial kitchen is “equipment” in the way insurance, tax, and lease agreements define it. Walk-in coolers, exhaust hoods, grease traps, and built-in ventilation systems can be classified as trade fixtures or real property, permanently attached items tied to the building, rather than personal property, the movable equipment (ranges, fryers, mixers, POS systems) a business owns independently of the space it occupies.

This distinction isn’t academic. It determines:

Insurance coverage. Building-attached fixtures are typically covered under a property owner’s building policy, while movable equipment falls under the tenant’s contents or business personal property policy. Misclassifying an asset can mean a claim gets denied or underpaid.

Tax depreciation. Personal property (Section 1245) and real property or structural components (Section 1250) follow different depreciation schedules. Getting this wrong on a valuation used for tax purposes can create real compliance exposure.

Lease-end and sale disputes. When a lease ends or a restaurant sells, disagreements over what the outgoing party can remove, and what stays with the building, are common. A report that clearly classifies each asset heads off this dispute before it starts.

Our appraisals identify this classification for every major asset, not just its value, so your report holds up whether it’s supporting an insurance claim, a tax filing, or a lease negotiation.

How Restaurant Equipment Actually Depreciates

Beyond classification, restaurant equipment depreciates in ways a generic schedule misses. We assess effective age relative to actual usage intensity (a fryer run continuously in a high-volume kitchen wears differently than the same model in light use), functional obsolescence (working equipment can still lose value when newer models offer meaningful efficiency or compliance advantages, a fast-moving factor in food service technology), and condition against verified market comparables, not generic depreciation tables.

What We Support

SBA and commercial loan applications
Refinancing and asset-based lending
Business sales and acquisitions
Franchise transactions
Financial reporting and audits
Insurance documentation and claims
Lease-end and landlord-tenant disputes
Partnership and legal matters

Restaurant Equipment We Appraise

Commercial kitchen equipment. Ovens, ranges, cooktops, grills, fryers, broilers, refrigerators, freezers, prep tables, dishwashers and sanitation systems.

Food preparation and processing equipment. Mixers, slicers, food processors, packaging equipment, temperature-controlled storage systems.

Beverage and specialty equipment. Coffee and espresso machines, ice machines, bar and draft systems, beverage dispensers.

Technology and point-of-sale systems. POS hardware, kitchen display systems, ordering terminals, integrated payment systems.

Building-attached systems requiring classification review. Exhaust hoods, walk-in coolers and freezers, grease traps, and fire suppression systems, assessed for personal property vs. fixture status as part of your report.

Furniture, fixtures, and dining area assets. Seating, booths, and banquettes; bar and host stands; custom millwork; dining and prep tables. Often appraised alongside kitchen equipment as part of a combined FF&E valuation for financing, sale, or insurance purposes.

All reports are prepared in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

Beyond Restaurants

Our restaurant and food service valuation expertise also serves hospitality and resort dining operations, educational institution cafeterias, healthcare facility kitchens, event management companies, and government dining services.

Why Restaurant Owners and Lenders Trust Our Reports

Every report includes detailed asset descriptions, personal property vs. fixture classification, market comparisons, depreciation and obsolescence analysis, and clear valuation methodology, prepared by our Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraisers (CMEAs). For complex scenarios involving litigation, tax implications, or specialized banking requirements, we work in strategic affiliation with Pro Business Valuations to provide an all-encompassing solution. Most restaurant equipment appraisals are completed within 3 to 7 business days of receiving complete documentation. Learn more about our credentials and experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a walk-in cooler or exhaust hood considered equipment or part of the building?

It depends on how the asset is attached and used, it may be classified as a trade fixture or real property rather than personal property. This classification affects insurance coverage, tax depreciation, and what can be removed at lease-end. Our reports identify this for each major asset.

How is restaurant equipment depreciation calculated?

We assess effective age relative to actual usage intensity, functional obsolescence, and condition against verified market comparables, rather than applying a generic straight-line depreciation schedule.

Will my lender accept a desktop appraisal for restaurant equipment?

Yes. Our reports meet USPAP standards and are accepted by SBA lenders, commercial banks, credit unions, and accounting firms nationwide.

Do you appraise equipment for lease-end or landlord-tenant disputes?

Yes. We provide clear personal property vs. fixture classification specifically to support these situations, in addition to franchise, financing, and insurance appraisals.

How long does a restaurant equipment appraisal take?

Most appraisals are completed within 3 to 7 business days of receiving complete documentation. Share your equipment details or deadline with us, and we'll confirm the timeline for your specific situation.

Ready to Value Your Restaurant Equipment

Desktop Equipment Appraisals provides restaurant owners, franchise operators, lenders, CPAs and attorneys with USPAP compliant, appraiser certified restaurant and food service equipment appraisals and consulting.