Short answer
Merchant Fund Express funds seasonal franchise locations through the slow months and into the peak. Revenue-based financing fits best when sales swing, because payments track revenue. A line of credit fits recurring short gaps, and working capital fits a one-time pre-season buy or staffing ramp. Funding runs from $5,000 to $5,000,000, sized on twelve months of real seasonality when you show it. A complete file usually gets a decision in 2–4 hours.
Which structure fits your season
| Your pattern | Fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Big swings month to month | Revenue-based financing | Payment tracks revenue, lighter in slow months |
| Short gaps that come back every year | Line of credit | Draw in the dip, repay in the peak |
| One pre-season stock-up or hiring push | Working capital | One lump sum, repaid as the season pays |
| Card-heavy store that wants speed | Merchant cash advance | Repaid as a percentage of deposits |
| Off-season equipment upgrade | Equipment financing | Install while it is quiet |
Who feels the season hardest
Frozen and cold drinks
Shops in Desserts and bakery and Smoothies and juice peak in summer and thin out in winter.
Holiday-driven
Stores in Retail and Shipping and printing earn heavily in the last quarter.
Weather and calendar
Brands in Home services and Automotive swing with weather.
Resolution season
Gyms in Fitness see a January surge and a summer dip.
Show the whole year, get a better answer
Three months of statements is the standard ask. If those three months are your slowest, the review can underrate the store. Fix it in thirty seconds: add a short note with your peak months, and if you have them, send the same months from last year. That shows a reviewer the dip is a season, not a decline.
- Time itApply before the dip, not in the middle of it. Decisions take hours, but planning takes a week.
- Match the payment to the low monthIf the slowest month cannot carry it comfortably, pick revenue-based financing or ask for less.
- Use the quiet monthsOff-season is the cheapest time to replace equipment or refresh. See remodel funding.
Comparing structures? Read RBF vs MCA and the site's main revenue-based financing page.
Hypothetical: a frozen dessert shop in February
An owner of one dessert franchise earns most of the year's sales between May and September. February deposits are thin, but rent, royalties and a small core crew still need paying, and the owner wants to hire and stock up in April.
The owner applies in January with three months of statements, a note on peak months and last summer's statements. The reviewer sees the dip is a season, not a decline, and places revenue-based financing so the payment stays light while sales are low and rises when summer arrives.
This is an illustration of how a file is reasoned, not a past transaction. Show the season and the season works for you.
What it costs you to wait
Owners who wait until the slow month is half over often end up asking for more, later, with thinner deposits on the most recent statements. Owners who apply before the dip show stronger months and get a cleaner answer. Neither one changes the season; one just meets it with cash already in the account.
If the season also brings a rush of business customers who pay on 30-90 day terms, for example commercial cleaning before the holidays, invoice factoring turns those open invoices into cash now. And if you need the crew back before sales return, payroll funding covers the ramp. The goal is the same: no payroll missed, no peak week lost.
What to send
No tax returns to apply. 500+ FICO accepted. Same-day funding is available on approved files.
Owner questions, answered
What is the best funding for a seasonal franchise?
Revenue-based financing usually fits best, because payments track revenue. A line of credit fits short recurring gaps.
Will a slow month hurt my application?
Not if you show the pattern. Add a note on peak months and, if you can, last year's statements for the same period.
When should I apply?
Before the slow season starts. The decision takes hours, but cash in hand before the dip is what protects payroll.
Can I fund pre-season inventory?
Yes. Working capital fits a one-time pre-season buy. See the inventory page.
How fast is it?
A complete file usually gets a decision in 2–4 hours; most files reach funding in under 72 hours.
Keep going
Merchant Fund Express is a separate company with no franchisor ties. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.