The short answer
Why seasonal businesses need timing help
A pool service company buys chemicals and hires techs in March, but the busiest months are June through August. A holiday retailer orders stock in September for sales in December.
That gap between spending and earning is the whole problem. Revenue-based financing bridges it by advancing cash now against the revenue that the peak will bring.
The MFE seasonal revenue-based financing page outlines the funding-side approach.
How sizing works for seasonal deposits
Reviewers usually look at 3 to 4 months of statements. If those months are your slow season, the average looks small, and so does the offer.
Some reviewers will consider a full year of statements to see the cycle. Ask whether sending 12 months helps your file. The MFE guideline of roughly 0.5x to 1.5x monthly revenue is illustrative, and seasonal files often land toward the conservative end.
Applying just as the peak begins, with one strong month on the statements, can also change the picture.
Check what your business qualifies for
Merchant Fund Express reviews seasonal revenue-based financing requests from $5,000 to $5,000,000. Scores from 500 are considered, and same-day decisions are common on complete files.
Check funding options with Merchant Fund ExpressIllustrative example: a beach-town ice cream shop
The figures below are illustrations built on stated assumptions, not offers or quotes. Real pricing depends on the full file.
Assumptions: off-season deposits of $30,000 a month and peak deposits of $90,000. In April the shop takes $45,000 (1.5x off-season revenue) for staff, freezers, and supplies. Total repayment at 1.30x, a 2% fee, and 9% of deposits retrieved.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Funded amount | $45,000 |
| Fee (2%) | $900 |
| Net cash received | $44,100 |
| Total repayment ($45,000 x 1.30) | $58,500 |
| Payment in a $90,000 peak month (9%) | $8,100 |
| Payment in a $30,000 slow month (9%) | $2,700 |
| Repaid after three peak months | $24,300, leaving $34,200 |
Payments rise and fall with the season. If the same total were collected as a fixed amount, the slow months would carry a payment designed for July.
Who it fits, and who it does not
- Fits: businesses with at least one full season of history, a predictable peak, and a specific pre-season spend like stock, hiring, or ads.
- Fits: owners who can show last year's peak months on statements to support the plan.
- Does not fit: a first-season business with no proof the peak will come.
- Does not fit: funding taken at the end of the peak to survive the off-season. That stretches repayment across your weakest months.
Funding brings customers. Is your website ready for them?
A seasonal peak only pays back the funding if customers can find your current hours, menu, or booking page the week the season opens. Cheap Cheap Websites builds professional sites from $399, and Website Care at $30/month handles seasonal updates like hours, specials, and booking links without extra invoices.
What to prepare
- 3 to 4 months of recent business bank statements, plus last year's peak months if available.
- Photo ID, a voided check, and a short application.
- A short plan: what you will buy, when, and when the revenue arrives.
- A list of any current advances or loans.
When another option or waiting is better
A seasonal line of credit can be cheaper if you qualify, often around 650+ credit and a year in business, because you only pay on what you draw.
If the off-season is close to break-even and the peak is uncertain this year, waiting until bookings or orders confirm demand is safer. For holiday retail specifically, see the holiday season funding guide.
Related funding guides
Cheap Cheap Websites builds websites. It does not lend or make funding decisions. Funding is offered by our funding partner, Merchant Fund Express, and every request is subject to its review and approval. Figures on this page are illustrations, not offers. Updated October 15, 2026.