Fast hospitality finance: the quickest funding options for hotels, pubs and restaurants

Summary (TL;DR): If your hotel, pub or restaurant needs cash fast — for emergency repairs, seasonal staffing or urgent refurbishments — the fastest options are merchant cash advances, short-term business loans, invoice finance and overdraft/credit-card facilities. Each option trades speed for cost or flexibility; choose by balancing how quickly you need funds, the amount required (we work with loans from around £10,000+), and what security you can offer. Complete a short, no-obligation enquiry to get tailored, rapid quotes from lenders and brokers: Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

TL;DR — quickest financing options for hospitality

If time is the priority, consider these in roughly fastest-to-slower order (typical ranges):

• Merchant cash advance / revenue advance — hours to 48 hours
• Short-term business loan (unsecured or short-term secured) — 24–72 hours to a few days
• Invoice finance / factoring — same day to a few days once set up
• Asset / equipment finance — 24–72 hours after valuation
• Overdraft & business credit cards — immediate to a few days
• Peer-to-peer / marketplace lending — a few days
• Bridging finance (property-related) — several days depending on valuation

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Why getting funding fast matters for hotels, pubs and restaurants

Hospitality is high‑velocity and seasonal: bookings and reputation can be lost in a single day. A burst pipe, failed boiler, or unusable kitchen can cost thousands in lost trade and customer refunds. Fast funding fixes problems quickly, keeps premises open, secures staff, and protects customer confidence.

Example: a hotel with a faulty boiler facing a cold weekend rush needs emergency funds fast for repairs — waiting weeks for finance can mean lost bookings and damaged reviews.

Quick comparison: speed, typical amounts and suitability

Option	Typical speed	Typical amounts	Best for
Merchant cash advance	Hours–48 hours	£5k–£250k	High-card-take restaurants & busy pubs
Short-term business loan	24 hours–several days	£10k–£1m+	Refurb, seasonal working capital
Invoice finance / factoring	Same day once set up	Up to 90% of invoice value	Trade supplying events/contract caterers
Asset / equipment finance	24–72 hours	£10k–£500k	Kitchen kit, refrigeration, vehicles
Overdraft / credit cards	Immediate–days	Up to £100k+	Small short-term cash gaps
P2P / marketplace lending	Days	£10k–£500k	When banks decline or for speed/value mix
Bridging finance	Days–weeks (property checks)	£50k–£millions	Buying premises or urgent property needs

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Fast finance options explained

Merchant cash advance / revenue advance

Definition: an advance based on future card takings or revenues. Speed: often same day to 48 hours once approved. Amounts: typically from around £5,000 to £250,000 depending on turnover. Repayment: fixed percentage of daily/weekly card sales.

• Pros: extremely fast, minimal paperwork, repayments flex with takings.
• Cons: can be expensive compared with bank loans; daily remittance reduces operating cashflow.
• Good for: busy restaurants, cafés and pubs with consistent card volumes.

Example: a pub with steady weekend card sales can get a MCA the same week to cover emergency equipment replacement.

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Short-term business loans

Definition: loans for short-term working capital or one-off costs. Speed: from 24–72 hours to a few days depending on paperwork. Amounts: typically £10,000 upwards. Repayment: fixed term (weeks to a few years).

• Pros: predictable repayments, sometimes lower cost than MCA if credit profile is good.
• Cons: may require director guarantees or security for larger amounts.
• Good for: planned refurbishments, stock purchases, bridging seasonal peaks.

Invoice finance / factoring

Definition: release cash tied up in unpaid invoices. Speed: once facility set up, funds can be released same day for invoices. Setup typically takes a few days.

• Pros: improves cashflow without taking on new debt; scalable with sales.
• Cons: fees and discount rates apply; not suitable if you have few receivables.
• Good for: caterers, event suppliers and hospitality businesses invoicing corporate clients.

Asset / equipment finance

Definition: fund kitchen equipment, refrigeration, vehicles via loan or lease secured against the asset. Speed: often 24–72 hours after valuation. Amounts: from around £10k upwards.

• Pros: preserve working capital while paying for essential kit; flexible terms.
• Cons: asset acts as security; paperwork for higher amounts.
• Good for: new kitchens, HVAC, delivery vans.

Business overdraft & business credit cards

Definition: short-term revolving facilities or cards for everyday costs. Speed: often immediate or a few days to arrange. Amounts: variable.

• Pros: easy access for urgent small needs; interest only on use.
• Cons: rates can be high; limits may be too small for major repairs.
• Good for: small emergency costs, topping up cashflow between takings.

Bridging loans / property short-term finance

Definition: short-term loans secured against property to bridge a purchase or urgent property spend. Speed: from a few days for straightforward cases, longer if valuations or legal work required.

• Pros: useful for buying or refurbishing premises quickly.
• Cons: higher cost than long-term mortgages; security required.
• Good for: urgent premises purchases or rapid redevelopment projects.

Peer-to-peer & marketplace lending

Definition: loans funded by private or institutional investors through an online platform. Speed: a few days once the platform approves. Amounts: typically £10k–£500k.

• Pros: can be faster than traditional bank lending; competitive offers for some borrowers.
• Cons: criteria vary; commercial terms depend on investor appetite.
• Good for: businesses seeking alternatives to bank routes quickly.

How to choose the fastest, safest option for your hospitality business

Use this checklist to decide:

• Urgency vs cost — if you need cash immediately, accept higher cost; otherwise aim for competitive short-term loans.
• Amount — options under £50k are often faster (MCA, overdraft, invoice finance); larger sums may need more checks.
• Security available — property or assets unlock cheaper options.
• Trading & credit history — healthy card/invoice flow speeds approvals for MCA/invoice finance.

Quick guide: need under £50k fast → consider MCA, invoice finance or overdraft; need larger sums with a few days’ lead time → short-term loan or bridging (property) may be better.

Documents, process and tips to speed approval

Common documents lenders ask for:

• Bank statements (3–6 months)
• Recent management accounts and VAT returns (if applicable)
• Proof of ID and business registration
• Lease or proof of premises ownership
• Quotes or invoices for the work or equipment

Speed‑up tips: upload digital bank statements, prepare a clear short cashflow forecast, have EPoS or card‑taking records ready (for MCA), and be transparent about previous borrowing — being organised reduces turnaround from days to hours in many cases.

Typical costs & what to compare (don’t just chase speed)

Costs vary widely by product and lender. Compare:

• Effective cost (APR or equivalent) — for MCA this can be significantly higher than conventional loans.
• Fixed fees, arrangement fees and monthly charges.
• Early repayment fees or penalties.
• How repayments are taken (daily/weekly/direct debit) and impact on day‑to‑day cashflow.

Important: ask lenders for a clear total cost example over the proposed term so you can compare real cost, not just headline rates.

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How UK Business Loans helps

We don’t lend. We connect hospitality businesses with lenders and brokers who specialise in fast funding. Our process:

1. Complete a short enquiry (under 2 minutes) — Start your enquiry.
2. We match your request to lenders/brokers most likely to respond quickly for hospitality needs.
3. You receive calls or emails with quotes — many matches respond within hours, typically 24–48 hours for detailed offers.

Enquiry is free and no obligation. The form is for matching purposes only; it is not a lender application.

For more background on lending options for smaller companies see our small business loans overview: small business loans.

Frequently asked questions

Will applying via UK Business Loans affect my credit score?

No. Completing our initial enquiry will not affect your credit score. Individual lenders may perform credit or identity checks later if you choose to proceed with an offer.

How quickly will I see offers after submitting the form?

Many businesses are contacted in hours; typical response windows are within 24–48 hours depending on the funding complexity and documents provided.

Can businesses with poor credit get fast funding?

Some lenders specialise in imperfect-credit cases, but options and cost vary. We’ll match you to brokers experienced in assessing such cases quickly.

Are all lender offers regulated products?

Products differ. We introduce you to a range of lenders and brokers; they will identify whether a product is regulated and explain terms before you proceed.

Do you charge for matching or quotes?

No — our service is free for business owners. Lenders/brokers charge only if you accept and enter into a contract with them.

Next steps — get a fast, free eligibility check now

To get targeted quotes for your hotel, pub or restaurant, complete our short enquiry form and we’ll match you to finance providers who can respond quickly. No obligation, no upfront fees: Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

Legal, compliance and transparency

UK Business Loans is an introducer — we do not lend money or provide regulated financial advice. The enquiry form collects basic information to help match your business to suitable lenders and brokers. Any contract, terms and credit checks will be between you and the lender or broker you choose to proceed with. Your data is shared only with selected partners to help respond to your enquiry; please see our Privacy Policy and Terms for full details.

1. How quickly can I get funding for my hotel, pub or restaurant?
Depending on the product you choose, merchant cash advances can fund in hours–48 hours, short‑term loans and asset finance often 24–72 hours, invoice finance same day once set up, and overdrafts/credit cards are immediate to a few days, with most matches via UK Business Loans receiving responses within 24–48 hours.

2. What are the fastest finance options for hospitality businesses?
The quickest options are merchant cash advances, short‑term business loans, invoice finance, asset/equipment finance and overdrafts/credit cards, chosen by balancing speed, cost and available security.

3. Will submitting an enquiry through UK Business Loans affect my credit score?
No — completing the initial enquiry is a non‑credit‑impact matching step; individual lenders may perform credit or ID checks only if you decide to proceed.

4. Is the enquiry form the same as applying for a loan?
No — the enquiry form is a free matching tool to connect you with suitable lenders and brokers and is not a lender application or contractual offer.

5. How much can I borrow quickly for urgent hospitality needs?
Typical fast facilities range from around £5k–£250k for MCAs, £10k+ for short‑term loans and asset finance, up to higher sums (including bridging) depending on security and lender appetite.

6. Can businesses with poor or imperfect credit get fast funding?
Yes — specialist lenders and brokers work with imperfect‑credit cases, though available options, speed and cost will vary compared with prime credit profiles.

7. What documents should I have ready to speed up approval?
Prepare 3–6 months of digital bank statements, recent management accounts and VAT returns (if applicable), proof of ID and business registration, EPoS/card‑taking records and any quotes or invoices for the work or equipment.

8. Are the lenders and products you introduce regulated?
UK Business Loans works with reputable partners, many of whom are FCA‑regulated brokers or lenders, but regulation and product status vary and will be confirmed by the lender before any agreement.

9. How do I compare the real cost of fast finance options?
Compare the effective cost (APR or equivalent), arrangement and monthly fees, early repayment penalties and how repayments are taken (daily/weekly/direct debit) to see the true impact on cashflow.

10. Does UK Business Loans charge for matching me with lenders and how fast will I get quotes?
No — the service is free and no obligation; after a short enquiry you can often receive tailored calls or emails with quotes within hours and usually within 24–48 hours.