Business loans for function venues

Ardent Capital Group brings the same method to every client: execution and strategy, clear advice for smart lending, and long-term growth. That means the right lender, structure and timing, straight advice so you borrow with confidence, and today's deal built toward where you want to be tomorrow. We are specialists in helping business owners secure finance to purchase their own property, and we understand the complex structures that often sit around it, including multiple trusts, holding companies and self-managed super funds. Through that work we also understand what the business needs from its cash flow, and where an overdraft or line of credit fits for working capital. A venue that banks deposits months ahead of the costs they cover, then earns in event-day lumps, is a profile a generalist credit team often reads as seasonal or lumpy rather than strong. Our role is to know the bank and non-bank lenders, more than sixty on our panel, that fund hospitality and events on forward bookings rather than the freehold alone, so you are not approaching each one yourself. We stay on well beyond settlement, growing the facility as you add rooms, upgrade the kitchen or buy the next venue. Every figure is subject to serviceability, lender appetite and approval.

It depends on how quickly you need it and what you are willing to offer as security. Unsecured facilities are assessed mainly on trading strength and can be arranged in days, which suits a limit of $100K to $500K for equipment or a fit-out. Secured facilities, backed by property or plant, support larger amounts and longer terms, and make sense once you are funding a premises purchase or an acquisition. Most established venues end up with a mix, and we shape which sits where.

It depends on your trading, your structure and the purpose, but lending here commonly runs from $100K to well into seven figures, and our range extends to $100M for larger operators. Function venues are commonly assessed as a going concern, so trading performance and the premises are read together rather than the property alone. The binding constraint is usually serviceability rather than security, and we shape the funding early so you know your number before you commit.

Yes, and the works or the equipment is normally the security rather than the freehold. We arrange hospitality fit-out finance for reception rooms and event spaces, and commercial kitchen equipment finance for the catering plant, funded new or used. Terms are typically matched to the life of the asset, and established businesses can often be assessed on bank statements and BAS rather than full financials. AV, lighting, furniture and a full room refit can all go on one facility, and we compare dealer and manufacturer programs against a bank facility.

By sizing a facility to the peak of the gap rather than an average month. Deposits land early but the kitchen, the casuals, the beverages and the suppliers all fall due around the event, so the facility carries those costs until the balance is paid and the function revenue clears. We structure repayments to fall as event balances settle, and it works best opened before the season turns rather than when the bills are already due. Subject to serviceability and lender approval.

Yes. Many lenders assess established businesses on 6 to 12 months of bank statements and recent BAS rather than full year-end financials, which suits operators whose accounts lag the current run rate. It works best where the trading account shows regular receipts and the ATO position is current. If you have a payment plan in place, say so early, because several lenders will still proceed when it is disclosed and being met.

Often, yes. A tax or BAS obligation that falls in a slow stretch of the calendar is a common reason venues reach out, and it is usually a cash-timing issue rather than a trading one. An unsecured facility can bridge the bill and be repaid as the next run of events settles, and where you already have an ATO payment plan, disclose it early because several lenders will still proceed when it is being met. Subject to serviceability, lender appetite and approval.

Yes, and it is a commercial property deal rather than a working capital one. Function venues are usually assessed as a going concern, so your trading performance and the premises are read together rather than the bricks alone, and getting the trading presented properly is most of the work. Owner-occupiers can generally borrow a higher proportion than a passive investor would. Our commercial property team handles these end to end through our function venue commercial mortgage service.

Yes, and income that moves with the wedding calendar, corporate cycles and local events is normal rather than a problem, as long as the facility is built for it. The mistake is sizing a limit to an average month, which leaves you short in the quiet stretch and paying line fees on unused headroom at the peak. We size to the peak of the gap and structure repayments to fall when the money actually arrives. Lenders that fund hospitality and events expect the pattern and price it accordingly.

Most of the time, no. We are paid a commission by the lender once your facility settles. Where a deal requires significant preparation or involves unusual complexity, a small mandate fee may apply. We will always be upfront about this before any work begins.

Although we are based in Sydney, we service clients across all major Australian cities, including Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart, along with their surrounding regional areas. Wherever your business is located, we can arrange your finance.

Although our main speciality is property loans for business owners, such as a property loan to buy your function venue, we also assist with venue fit-out finance and working capital. On asset finance, that covers commercial kitchen equipment finance, AV, furniture and room fit-out. On working capital, we arrange business overdrafts, lines of credit and cash flow funding. We also arrange commercial mortgages if you are buying or refinancing the premises your venue operates from.