Brewery Business Loans

From fermentation tanks to a taproom fit-out, fund your brewery with confidence. Explore business funding through Fundably. Eligibility criteria apply.

Typical Range

£15k – £750k

Average Loan

£120k

for brewery

Decision Speed

24–48 hrs

for unsecured loans

Eligibility requirements

Minimum 12 months trading history (some lenders will consider start-ups with strong pre-orders or a licensed premises)
Registered UK business holding the relevant HMRC excise approvals for brewing
Evidence of trading relationships with pubs, wholesalers, or retailers for invoice finance
Personal guarantee typically required from the business owner or directors

Loan types available

Asset Finance

Rate: 5.4% – 13.9% APR
Term: 1 – 10 years
Security: The asset being financed
Best for: Brewing and fermentation equipment, canning or bottling lines, kegs, and cold storage

Secured Business Loan

Rate: 4.9% – 15.9% APR
Term: 1 – 20 years
Security: Commercial property or personal property
Best for: Expanding brewing capacity, buying or fitting out a taproom, or acquiring a larger production site

Invoice Finance

Rate: Discount rate 1.5% – 4% + service fee 0.2% – 3% of turnover
Term: Rolling facility, reviewed annually
Security: Secured against outstanding invoices
Best for: Breweries selling on payment terms to pubs, wholesalers, and supermarkets that need cash flow released sooner than the invoice due date

Representative example

Borrow £120,000 over 36 months at 9.9% APR (fixed). Monthly repayment: ~£3,866. Rates depend on your circumstances and the type of loan.

Common challenges

Excise duty is payable to HMRC ahead of or shortly after goods are released for sale, which affects cash flow timing separate from when customers actually pay
Route-to-market risk, since many breweries depend heavily on pub trade, a single wholesaler, or a small number of supermarket listings
Specialist brewing and packaging equipment carries a high upfront cost and a limited resale market if plans change
Seasonal demand peaks over summer months and around Christmas, with quieter trading in the new year

Bad credit?

Some specialist lenders consider brewery businesses with imperfect credit. You may need a personal guarantee or higher rate, but options may be available. Fundably may use a soft credit check for matching, which does not affect your credit score. A hard check may happen if you choose to proceed with a lender.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get finance for brewing equipment as a new microbrewery?

Some asset finance lenders will consider start-ups, particularly where you have pre-orders, a signed lease on licensed premises, or existing hospitality experience. Most, however, prefer at least some trading history before funding specialist kit such as fermentation tanks or canning lines. A strong business plan and evidence of demand, such as a taproom waiting list or wholesale interest, will strengthen a start-up application.

How does invoice finance work for a brewery selling to pubs and wholesalers?

Invoice finance releases a percentage of the value of unpaid invoices, often within 24 hours of the invoice being raised, rather than waiting the usual 30 to 60 days for payment. The balance, less fees, is paid once your customer settles. This suits breweries whose main customers are pubs, wholesalers or supermarkets that pay on standard trade terms, freeing up cash to buy the next batch of ingredients or pay duty.

Does excise duty affect how much I can borrow?

Lenders assessing a brewery will typically look at cash flow after duty is accounted for, since duty is a real and unavoidable cost of trading rather than something that can be deferred indefinitely. Being able to show duty payments are up to date and factored into your cash flow forecasting will support a stronger application, particularly for larger asset finance or secured lending.

What can I use a secured loan for as a brewery?

Secured lending is typically used for larger capital projects such as expanding production capacity, moving to a bigger site, or building out a taproom or visitor centre. Because the loan is secured against property, rates are usually lower than unsecured borrowing and terms can run considerably longer, which suits the scale of investment involved in expanding a brewery's physical footprint.

Equipment finance for brewery businesses

Buying a specific machine or vehicle is usually cheaper than a general business loan, because the asset itself is the security. These are the items brewery businesses most often fund, with the price range we see quoted in the UK.

Equipment	Typical price range	Finance page
Bottling Machine	£8k to £250k	Bottling Machine finance
Brewhouse	£15k to £600k	Brewhouse finance
Bright Beer Tank	£5k to £90k	Bright Beer Tank finance
Canning Machine	£10k to £300k	Canning Machine finance
Carbonation Stone	£500 to £20k	Carbonation Stone finance
Cask Storage	£5k to £200k	Cask Storage finance
Cask Washer	£4k to £70k	Cask Washer finance
Column Still	£15k to £500k	Column Still finance
Conditioning Tank	£6k to £100k	Conditioning Tank finance
Copper Kettle	£8k to £130k	Copper Kettle finance
Fermentation Tank	£8k to £150k	Fermentation Tank finance
Gin Still	£8k to £150k	Gin Still finance

Browse all equipment finance pages

Guides and resources

How to Get a Business Loan Business Loan Eligibility Secured vs Unsecured Best Business Loans UK iwoca Review Funding Circle Review

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For UK limited companies with at least 3 months’ trading and monthly revenue.