# Culver's Franchise Funding for Existing Owners

> Funding for existing Culver's owner-operators: frozen custard machines, dipping cabinets, kitchen lines, payroll and owned real estate payments, read from deposits.

Source: https://mfebusinessloans.com/franchise-funding/brands/culvers/ (Merchant Fund Express, updated 2026-10-21)

## The short answer

Already running a Culver's and need capital? Merchant Fund Express funds existing Culver's owner-operators with lines of credit, equipment financing, business loans, revenue-based financing, working capital and merchant cash advances, from $25,000 to $5,000,000. We read your deposits after royalty, the advertising contribution and any mortgage on the real estate you own, then size the payment. A complete file gets a same-day decision, and funding often follows the next business day.

## Who is this Culver's page for?

Owner-operators of open Culver's restaurants. The franchisor expects full-time, hands-on owners, and most own their real estate. Restaurants are mostly freestanding with a drive-thru, and the menu pairs a cooked-to-order kitchen with Fresh Frozen Custard made daily, so custard equipment, freezers and a big crew drive most funding questions.
Read this with the burger franchise sector guide and our restaurant industry page.

## What the franchisor publishes

Culver's: facts from official sources
Franchisor: Culver Franchising System, LLC (source)
Initial franchise fee: $65,000 for the basic 15-year term; $40,000 for a 10-year renewal (source)
Royalty: 4% of gross sales (source)
Advertising fund: New franchisees contribute 2.5%, plus at least 1% of gross sales spent each year on local advertising (source)
Liquid assets / net worth asked of new franchisees: $500,000 liquid assets minimum; $750,000 liquid if the owner will own the real estate, building and equipment (net worth not stated) (source)
Locations: Over 1,000 restaurants in 26 states (as stated by the franchisor, 2026) (source)
Published formats: Mostly freestanding restaurants; drive-thru zoning required; buildings up to 4,500 sq. ft. with about 55 to 60 parking stalls (source)
US franchising status: Actively franchising in a 26-state development market (source)
Checked Oct 2026 against official sources: the franchisor's own franchising site, its FDD or SEC filings, or the SBA Franchise Directory. Figures change; confirm current numbers in the latest Franchise Disclosure Document. Figures we could not confirm from an official source are left out.

## Every way to fund your Culver's location

Already running a Culver's location and need capital? Merchant Fund Express funds existing franchise owners with every product below. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.
Franchise business loan: a term loan for a roof, lot or lane project on property you own.
Merchant cash advance: paid from card sales, when speed matters most.
Revenue-based financing: payments that follow sales through slower winter months.
Business line of credit: a revolving line for food orders, property taxes and insurance.
Equipment financing: custard machines, dipping cabinets and freezers on an approved-dealer quote.
Working capital: short capital for summer crew hiring and training.

## Which problems do Culver's owner-operators bring to a review?

A custard machine or freezer fails
A down custard machine takes the signature product off the menu. Equipment financing on a dealer quote replaces it; see emergency refrigeration funding.
Owning the building means owning the repairs
Roofs, HVAC, lots and lanes are the owner's bill, on top of a mortgage. A term loan spreads a big project; see remodel or relocate a restaurant.
Large crews and seasonal staffing
Summer peaks need hiring and training before sales arrive; see franchise payroll funding.

## Which product fits which Culver's need?

Need | Product | Published requirement it leans on | What to send |
Custard machine, dipping cabinet | Equipment financing | Vendor quote and useful life | Dealer quote, 3 months of statements |
Roof, HVAC or lot work on owned property | Business loan | Tier 1: 3+ years, FICO 650+, applicant owns 50%+ | Contractor bid, statements |
Summer crew hiring and training | Working capital | Tier 2: 6+ months, FICO 600+, $60K verifiable revenue | Statements, payroll summary |
Property tax and insurance lumps | Line of credit | Tier 1: about $25K/month revenue, 8+ deposits a month | Statements, debt schedule |
Winter slowdown | Revenue-based financing | Tier 2: $800 minimum daily balance, up to 2 current advances | Statements |

## How does the review read a Culver's restaurant?

Operating and property entities. We read the operating entity holding the deposits and note rent or mortgage paid to the property side.
Seasonal deposits. Statements are read with the time of year in mind.
Royalty and advertising. Including required local marketing, read as recurring costs.
Food and dairy drafts. Cost of goods, not debt.
Existing positions. Equipment notes and any advances are counted; a new structure can sometimes lower the combined payment.

## Which documents does a Culver's owner-operator send?

About 3 months of business bank statements for the operating entity (bank PDFs)
The five-minute application, starting with a soft credit pull
Approved-dealer quotes for custard or kitchen equipment
Mortgage and equipment note payments in a debt schedule
Full financials only if the request is above $250,000
Merchant Fund Express offers Spanish-speaking support and accepts ITIN applicants.

## A hypothetical Culver's budget scenario

Imagine a restaurant depositing $260,000 in a summer month. Food and paper run $80,000, payroll $72,000, royalty, advertising and local marketing $19,500, the real estate mortgage $14,000 and existing equipment payments $5,000. The owner wants two custard machines and a dipping cabinet quoted at $96,000.
Monthly deposits$260,000
Less food, payroll, franchisor and marketing, mortgage, payments$260,000 - $80,000 - $72,000 - $19,500 - $14,000 - $5,000 = $69,500
$96,000 over 60 monthsabout $1,600/month before cost of funds
Share of what remains$1,600 / $69,500 = about 2.3%
Figures in this example are illustrations of the arithmetic, not an offer, quote or approval. Real terms depend on the file and the funder.

## What if you are buying or opening a Culver's instead?

A restaurant that is still in development has no deposits, so it needs an operating history before Merchant Fund Express can review it; start with buying a franchise. An owner-operator adding a second restaurant is read on the first one's deposits; see second location funding. Taking over an operating restaurant follows franchise transfer financing.

## Keep reading

Burger franchise funding: how burger and custard concepts are reviewed
Franchise brands we cover: every brand page in this guide
Franchise refrigeration funding: freezers, walk-ins and cabinets
Seasonal cash flow funding: summer peaks and winter dips
Emergency refrigeration funding: when a freezer fails mid-season

## Common questions

### Can I finance frozen custard machines for my Culver's?

Yes. Custard machines, dipping cabinets and freezers are financed against the dealer's quote and the equipment's useful life.

### I own my Culver's real estate. Does that help?

Owned property shows up as a mortgage payment rather than rent. We read the operating entity's deposits and count that payment like any other fixed cost.

### Is a Culver's slower in winter a problem for funding?

No. We read about three months of statements with the season in mind, and revenue-based financing can follow lower winter sales.

### Can a Culver's owner with a partner apply?

Yes. For Tier 1 products the applicant should own at least 50%.

### Are you affiliated with Culver's?

No. Merchant Fund Express is independent. We use the Culver's name only to identify the owners this page is for; it does not mean the franchisor endorses or works with us.

Merchant Fund Express is independent. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Culver's or its franchisor.

Apply with Merchant Fund Express: https://merchantfundexpress.com/current-application.html?utm_source=mfebusinessloans.com&utm_medium=franchise&utm_campaign=franchise-funding&utm_content=culvers