Quick answer
Event hire companies borrow for marquees, furniture, staging and lighting, trucks and trailers, warehouse space and peak-season staff. Lenders look at the booking pipeline and deposits, the asset register, wear and damage, weather risk and seasonality. Smaller gear purchases can be unsecured; larger fleets and warehouses usually use property security.
Key points
- Event hire is seasonal and asset-heavy.
- Deposits and forward bookings show demand ahead.
- Hire assets wear out — lenders look at replacement cycles.
- Weather cancellations are a known risk.
- Common uses
- Marquees, furniture, trucks, warehouse
- Lenders focus on
- Bookings, deposits, assets
- Unsecured options
- Typically $5k – $500k
- Property-secured
- $20k – $5m
Event hire businesses make weddings, festivals, corporate functions and parties happen: marquees, furniture, staging, lighting, dance floors, heaters and décor. The work is seasonal, physical and asset-heavy. Gear takes a beating, the weather has opinions, and the best weekends are booked months ahead. Lenders look at how you manage bookings, deposits and a warehouse full of hard-working assets.
What do event hire companies usually borrow for?
- Marquees and structures. Pole and frame marquees, flooring and walls.
- Furniture and décor. Chairs, tables, lounges, linen and styling.
- Staging, lighting and AV. Stages, lighting rigs and sound.
- Trucks and trailers. Delivery vehicles and loading equipment.
- Warehouse space. Storage, cleaning and repair areas.
- Peak-season staff. Crews for delivery, set-up and pack-down.
How do lenders look at an event hire business?
Bookings and deposits. Forward bookings show demand, and deposits show commitment. Lenders like to see deposits held for the events they relate to.
Seasonality. Spring and summer wedding and event seasons are peaks; winter is quieter. Lenders look at a full year of bank statements.
Assets. The asset register shows what you own, its age and condition. Hire gear wears out and needs replacing; lenders check the cycle. Our guide to specialised equipment as security explains how assets like these are valued.
Weather risk. Cancellations and damage from wind and rain are part of the business. Insurance and cancellation policies matter.
Staff. Crews may fall under various awards; the Amusement, Events and Recreation Award covers parts of the events industry.
business.gov.au’s tips to improve your cash flow are also useful for seasonal businesses like event hire.
Wedding season on the way? See what your hire business could access — no credit check to enquire.
A closer look: growing the hire fleet
Event hire businesses grow by adding stock: another marquee, more chairs, a second truck. Each addition increases what you can hire out on a peak weekend — but only if it’s booked. Lenders look at utilisation: how often existing stock is hired out, and whether you’re turning away bookings for lack of gear.
If you can show that you regularly turn down weekends because all your marquees are out, or that you hire in chairs from competitors to meet demand, you have a strong case for buying more. Pair that with a realistic estimate of extra bookings, and a lender can see how the new stock pays for itself.
The other side is replacement. Hire gear has a working life. Planning replacement cycles and budgeting for them avoids a sudden, expensive refit of the whole fleet.
Documents that help
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Business bank statements | Seasonal income and costs |
| Forward bookings and deposits | Demand ahead |
| Asset register | What you own and its condition |
| Quotes | What the funds will buy |
| BAS and financial statements | Turnover and margins |
Red flags for event hire loans
- Deposits spent before events.
- Weather cancellations without insurance or policies.
- Damaged stock without a replacement plan.
- Seasonal gaps with no buffer.
- Concentration in one venue or client.
Questions a lender will ask
- How many events do you service a year, and when?
- What’s booked for the coming season?
- How often is your stock fully hired out?
- How do you handle weather cancellations?
- What will the funds let you do?
How to strengthen an event hire application
Summarise bookings by month for the past year and the coming season. Show your asset register and utilisation. Keep deposits separate. For new stock, estimate extra bookings.
When should a hire company apply?
In winter, before spring bookings require new stock. For warehouses, before leases end.
Common misconceptions about event hire finance
“The gear is enough security.” Hire equipment helps, but it wears and its resale value varies. Lenders look at trading strength and, for larger amounts, property security.
“A big season means a big loan is fine.” Seasonal income needs a facility that fits the season. A line of credit or repayments timed to peak months can be more comfortable than a fixed monthly amount.
“Deposits are income.” They’re money received for work not yet done. Spending them early leaves a gap on the day of the event.
“Weather is just bad luck.” It’s a predictable risk. Cancellation policies and insurance show a lender you’ve planned for it.
Hire companies that know their utilisation, manage deposits carefully and plan asset replacement usually find lenders comfortable backing the next season’s growth.
Illustrative scenarios
Illustrative: marquees and a truck. An event hire company needs $120k for marquees and a truck ahead of wedding season. Property security supports the larger amount.
Illustrative: furniture top-up. A styling business wants $30k for extra furniture and décor after turning away bookings. Banked income supports an unsecured loan.
Secured or unsecured for event hire?
Unsecured options of $5k to $500k suit smaller gear, sized on turnover and bank statements. Property-secured loans from $20k to $5m suit larger fleets and warehouses. Caterers and florists working the same events have their own guides for catering and floristry.
Could your hire business qualify?
A 60-second enquiry starts things off. There’s no credit check when you first enquire, and your details aren’t passed to a crowd of lenders who’ll call during bump-in. A real person who understands seasonal, asset-heavy businesses will call you. Please be accurate about turnover, the amount and any property so we can match you properly first time.
Frequently asked questions
Can an event hire company borrow for marquees?
Yes. Lenders look at banked income, bookings and utilisation. Unsecured options suit smaller purchases; property security helps for larger ones.
Do deposits help my application?
They show forward demand. Lenders also want to see that deposits are kept for the events they relate to.
How do lenders treat hire equipment?
Hire equipment has a second-hand market, but it wears. Lenders look at age, condition and utilisation alongside trading strength.
Can I borrow to buy a warehouse?
Yes. Warehouse purchases typically use property-secured lending.