Cash advances for UK off-licences.
For off-licences, independent wine shops, and specialist drinks retailers. Funded against your card takings, built for operators serving discerning local customers.
A note on the lender panel for off-licences
Pure-alcohol off-licences have a narrower panel than mixed convenience. Specialist wine shops and craft beer retailers fare better than corner shops with alcohol as the dominant category. Some lenders require a minimum non-alcohol category split. Fixed costs sit in the 1.28-1.40 range typically. We'll be honest about fit at application.
What MCA means for an off-licence.
Off-licence card volume is reliable but the sector's lender panel is narrower than general retail. Specialist shops (wine merchants, craft beer specialists, spirits retailers) tend to get better rates than generic corner-off-licences, because the card data shows steadier trade and lower volatility. MCA uses: seasonal stock buy (Christmas, summer, Father's Day), EPOS with stock tracking, shopfit refresh, wine tasting or event space investment, online store launch, delivery infrastructure.
Sound familiar?
Christmas stock buy needs paying for in October.
Spirits, champagne, wine, £15k to £40k of stock for the November-December peak. Suppliers often want 30-day terms or payment on delivery.
MCA covers the buy. Christmas trading repays fast; off-licence December takings often 2-3x annual average.
You want to run wine tastings or a private event space.
Fit-out of a tasting area, glassware, event licences, marketing, £8k to £20k of investment to diversify beyond retail.
MCA funds the investment. Event revenue plus increased retail takings from visiting customers feed repayment.
Online delivery infrastructure needs building.
Website, inventory integration, local delivery vehicles or courier contracts, age-verification at the door, £6k to £20k.
MCA enables the channel. Online orders add to card takings; delivery infrastructure pays back through increased local reach.
Here's what it actually costs.
An independent wine merchant borrows £15,000 for Christmas stock buy. Monthly card takings: £25,000 average, £50,000 December peak. £15,000. Average monthly card takings £25,000. Fixed cost 1.3. 13% daily repayment % on card sales, total cost £4,500.
These figures are illustrative. If a term loan or asset finance fits your situation better, we'll tell you.
Open the fixed cost calculator →Work out the real cost.
New businesses typically start at a higher daily % and a shorter term.
Illustrative only, not a quote.
- Advance£15,000
- vs card takings60%
- Fixed cost1.30
- Daily repayment£107
- Avg monthly£3,250
- Est. term6.0 months
Illustrative. The fixed cost is set on day one; daily repayment varies with takings. Term capped at 18 months.
Illustrative only, not a quote. Every figure here is subject to the funder. Funders advance anywhere from 100% up to 150% of monthly card takings, so 150% is not guaranteed, and the fixed cost is not guaranteed either. Your actual advance, fixed cost and terms depend on the funder and your business profile.
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£12,000 funded Christmas stock and a tasting bar build, repaid by end of February.
Illustrative composite. Single-site wine shop, £22k/mo card takings, £48k December peak. MCA at 1.28 factor, 14% daily repayment December, 8% off-peak. Stock arrived mid-October, tasting events ran weekly November-December driving footfall, advance repaid by end of February.
Illustrative composite scenarioOff-licences, quick answers.
Yes, the lender panel is narrower. Specialist wine and craft beer retailers fare better than generic off-licences. Expect fixed costs 1.28 to 1.40 range, higher than for mixed convenience stores.
Funding options for off-licences
Off-licences take constant small-ticket card payments through the day and into the late evening. A merchant cash advance (MCA), also called a PDQ cash advance or card machine loan, lets you turn that card flow into working capital for stock, refit, or chiller upgrades. Repayments flex with daily takings. Advances from £10,000 to £1,000,000. See PDQ cash advance →
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