While banks are reporting that demand for business finance remains sluggish, some of the industry's minnows are enjoying much better conditions. The small business equipment financier, Silver Chef, reported a 34 per cent increase in rental income and a 34.4 per cent increase in net profit for the year to June.Silver Chef's core business is supplying rental assets to cafes, restaurants and other businesses in the hospitality industry. It also operates a general commercial equipment finance business, GoGetta. Silver Chef chief executive Charles Gregory said in a statement that the company picked up new business in the food retailing sector during the year.The company made its entry into the New Zealand market during the year, which also contributed to its growth.And it secured two sources of expansion capital: it made a $10 million rights issue; and it extended its Commonwealth Bank facility from $70 million to $110 million.Rental assets on the company's books increased by 31.3 per cent to A$185.4 million, while rental income increased from $62.7 million to $84 million.Net profit rose from $6.7 million to $9 million. The company's return on equity was 23.6 per cent.A fall in bad and doubtful debt expenses helped the company's bottom line. BDD fell from $1.6 million in 2010/11 to $574 million in the year to June.