Events businesses run on one of the most awkward cash shapes in the economy. Bookings are taken months ahead with a small deposit, the bulk of the cost is incurred in the final fortnight, and the balance is often settled after the event. Layer a season on top — summer weddings, the Christmas corporate run — and the quiet months still carry storage, vehicles, insurance and core staff.
The gap between the deposit and the balance
A £40,000 wedding might be booked on a £4,000 deposit. Staff, catering, hire equipment and transport for the day itself are paid in the fortnight before. The remaining balance may not clear for weeks afterwards. Between those points the business funds the event out of its own capital.
Off-season makes it sharper. January and February carry fixed costs against very little income, and the deposits received for the summer are already committed to delivering it.
What operators in this sector actually fund
- Staffing and supplier costs in the fortnight before a large event
- Equipment, marquees, vehicles or AV kit ahead of a season
- Covering fixed overheads through the off-season
- Taking a larger booking than current cash flow comfortably supports
- Deposits to venues and suppliers before client balances clear
A £25,000 advance, both terms
A catering company needs £25,000 to staff and supply a run of summer events before the balances clear. 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.
- £10,000+ monthly turnover — consistent, and visible in the business bank account.
- Active UK business current account — this is where the underwriting actually happens.
Match the term to the season honestly. A 20-week advance taken in April is repaid across the busiest trading of the year; the same advance taken in October is repaid through the quietest. That choice matters more in events than in almost any other sector.
Why the decision being ours matters here
Seasonality is the thing that gets events businesses declined by automated scoring — a quiet January reads as decline rather than as a calendar. Solvo lends its own book, so the pattern can be looked at as what 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
Our income is highly seasonal. Does that rule us out?
No. Seasonality is expected in this sector. What underwriting looks for is a consistent annual pattern and a well-managed account through the trough — not identical months.
Can we borrow against confirmed future bookings?
The advance is priced against overall trading rather than secured on specific bookings. A strong forward diary is useful context for underwriting, but it is not the security, which is why the decision is fast.
Which term should a seasonal business choose?
Think about which twenty or twenty-six weeks the repayments fall across. Repaying through your peak is far easier than repaying through your off-season. We will price both and show you side by side.
How quickly can we be funded before an event?
24–72 hours after final documents. If an event is close, gather three to six months of bank statements before applying — document speed is what determines funding speed.
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.