The licensed trade has one of the sharpest gaps between a good week and a bad one. A wet August or a quiet January lands directly on takings, while rent, wages, and brewery and supplier accounts continue at the same level.
Fixed costs against seasonal takings
Rent, payroll and supplier accounts run at the same level in a quiet January as in a busy December.
Refurbishment is usually done in the quiet season — the exact point at which cash is already thinnest.
What operators in this sector actually fund
- Refurbishing the bar, kitchen or garden ahead of the season
- Stock and staffing for a known busy period
- Covering a quiet trading month without missing supplier terms
- Outdoor covered seating or heating
- Kitchen equipment to add or expand a food offer
A £25,000 advance, both terms
Here is what a £25,000 advance looks like on our published rates:
| £25,000 advance | 20 weeks | 26 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Approved advance | £25,000 | £25,000 |
| Arrangement fee (5%, deducted at funding) | −£1,250 | −£1,250 |
| Paid to your account | £23,750 | £23,750 |
| Factor rate | 1.48 | 1.55 |
| Total repayable | £37,000 | £38,750 |
| Weekly payment | £1,850 | £1,490 |
| Total cost on cash received | £13,250 | £15,000 |
Illustrative, using our published factor rates. Your own rate is set by underwriting and is stated in pounds on your agreement before you sign it.
Whether you qualify
Four minimums. Meeting them is not the same as being approved — it is the point at which applying is worth your time:
- UK limited company or LLP — incorporated and registered at Companies House.
- 6+ months trading — six months is the least we can work with.
- £25,000+ monthly turnover — consistent, and visible in the business bank account.
- Active UK business current account — this is where the underwriting actually happens.
Repayments are a fixed weekly amount and do not fall in a quiet week. If your trade is heavily seasonal, size the advance against your quietest weeks, not your best ones.
Why the decision being ours matters here
Licensed-trade accounts swing hard by season, which automated scoring often reads as instability. Where we fund from our own book, that swing can be read as the trading pattern it is.
Solvo funds £10,000 to £75,000 from its own book, usually within 24–72 hours of final documents. One decision, made by us — your file is not shopped around a panel. Above £75,000 we arrange the facility with a lending partner.
About 3 minutes. No obligation. Limited companies and LLPs only.
Frequently asked questions
Do you lend to pubs and bars?
Yes, to UK limited companies and LLPs in the licensed trade, with at least six months trading and £25,000 a month turnover.
Do repayments fall in a quiet week?
No. Our advances repay a fixed weekly amount over 20 or 26 weeks. That is the trade-off for a known total and a known end date, so size the advance against your quietest weeks.
Can we fund a refurbishment before the season?
Yes, and it is a common use. Advances run from £10,000 to £75,000 from our own book, typically funded within 24 to 72 hours of final documents.
Is a tenancy or lease a problem?
No. We do not take security on the property; the advance is assessed against the trading shown in the business bank account.
Illustrative only. Solvo Funding is a UK direct lender for limited companies and LLPs and also acts as an intermediary for facilities above £75,000. Advances are subject to underwriting; meeting the minimum criteria is not the same as being approved and we cannot guarantee an offer. Finance for limited companies and LLPs is generally not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.