Is your site big enough for a drive-thru lane?
Check the site before anything else. A drive-thru needs a lane that wraps to a service window, enough stacking space for cars to queue without blocking parking, driveways or the street, safe pedestrian crossings, and room for the order point and menu board. Many urban and strip-center sites simply don't fit.
A site designer or civil engineer can sketch the lane, turning radius and queue length against your lot, parking count and access points. Local rules often require minimum stacking and may limit where lanes cross walkways. Paying for a feasibility sketch before signing anything, or before committing to a full design, is money well spent.
Does a drive-thru need zoning approval?
Usually. Many jurisdictions treat drive-thrus as a use requiring specific zoning, a special or conditional use permit, or site plan review, and some areas restrict new drive-thrus entirely. Approval can involve public hearings, traffic review and neighbor input, which is why zoning often sets the project timeline.
Contact your local planning or zoning office early and ask what approvals apply at your address, what studies they expect and how long the process typically runs. Your landlord or property owner must also approve, and shopping centers may have their own restrictions. We don't give zoning or legal advice; the local planning office is the official source.
What does a drive-thru project include?
A drive-thru project typically includes site work such as paving, curbs and striping, a building opening for the service window, the window unit, an order point with speaker or screen, a menu board and canopy, lighting, underground conduit for power and data, signage, and kitchen changes to support a dedicated drive-thru station.
- Site: demolition, grading, paving, curbs, drainage, striping and directional signs.
- Building: structural opening, window, air curtain, interior service station.
- Order technology: speaker or digital order point, headsets, timers, menu and preview boards.
- Kitchen: added holding, a KDS routing drive-thru tickets, sometimes more fryer or oven capacity.
- Soft costs: engineering, traffic study, permits and fees.
How do restaurants usually fund a drive-thru?
Most restaurants split the funding. Site work, paving, the building opening, canopy, electrical and permits usually go on a term loan, since they're built into the property. The service window, headsets, digital menu boards, timers and added kitchen equipment can often go on equipment financing when itemized.
- Build-out and renovation loan: site, structure, canopy, conduit, permits and engineering.
- Equipment financing: order technology, menu boards and kitchen equipment.
- Working capital: design and zoning costs incurred before construction funding is arranged.
For larger projects with flexible timing, compare an SBA loan as well.
How long does adding a drive-thru take?
Construction can be the shorter part. Feasibility, design, zoning approval, permits and equipment lead times often take longer than building the lane and window. Plan the funding timeline around realistic approval dates, and avoid committing to equipment deposits before approvals are in hand.
- Site feasibility and landlord or owner approval.
- Zoning and site plan review.
- Engineering and building permits.
- Order and fabricate window, boards and canopy.
- Site work and building opening.
- Installation, testing, inspection and opening.
Construction may partly disrupt parking or the entrance, so plan how to keep the dining room and pickup open.
When does a drive-thru not make sense?
A drive-thru may not make sense when the menu doesn't travel well in a car, when the site can't stack enough cars safely, when zoning approval is unlikely, or when the lease is too short. A walk-up pickup window can capture much of the convenience at a fraction of the scope.
Look at your off-premise order data, nearby traffic patterns and whether guests would realistically order from a car. If a drive-thru fits, line up feasibility and approvals first, then apply online with your bids to compare funding.
What you’ll typically need
- Site feasibility sketch or plan
- Landlord or property owner approval
- Contractor and site work bids
- Equipment quotes for window, order point and boards
- Recent business bank statements
Frequently asked questions
What equipment does a drive-thru need?
Typically a service window, an order point with speaker or screen, headsets, a menu board and preview board, timers, and kitchen equipment that supports drive-thru speed, like holding cabinets and a display system routing tickets to a dedicated station.
Can construction and equipment be funded together?
Sometimes one request covers both, but the most common approach is a term loan for site and construction plus equipment financing for technology and kitchen equipment. A funding specialist can compare a single request with a split.
What do funders review for a drive-thru project?
Requirements vary by product and funder; many look at time in business, monthly revenue and credit. Funders also review bank statements, existing obligations, construction and equipment bids, property owner approval and your lease or ownership documents.
Can I add a drive-thru to a leased building?
It's possible with landlord approval and if zoning allows it. Because the improvements stay with the property, many owners negotiate lease terms around the investment. Have an attorney review any lease changes.
Should I apply before zoning approval?
You can talk through options early, but most construction funding depends on firm bids and approvals. Many owners fund design and zoning costs with working capital, then arrange construction funding once approval is in hand.
Is your site ready for a drive-thru?
Apply online with your bids and compare funding for site work and equipment.
Updated September 14, 2026 · Prime Kitchen Capital Funding Team