Compare
Liquor store financing options
Every financing option liquor store owners use, compared by amount, term, and best use.
There's no single “liquor store loan.” The right financing depends on what you're paying for, how fast you need it, and how long it takes that money to come back to you. Here's every option liquor store owners commonly use.
| Financing | Typical amounts | Typical term | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working capital loans | $5K–$1.5M | Up to 36 mo | Payroll, taxes, slow months |
| Inventory financing | $5K–$1.5M | Up to 36 mo | Holiday builds, deal buys |
| Line of credit | Varies | Revolving | Seasonal inventory |
| Equipment financing | $5K–$500K+ | 2–7 yrs | Coolers, POS, security |
| Expansion & remodel | $25K–$1.5M+ | Up to 10 yrs | Beer caves, second store |
| Refinancing | $50K+ | Varies | Replacing daily debits |
| SBA 7(a) & 504 loans | Up to $5M+ | 10–25 yrs | Buying, building, refinancing |
| Acquisition loans | $100K–$5M+ | 10–25 yrs | Buying an existing store |
| Startup loans | $100K–$5M | Up to 10 yrs | Opening a new store |
| Commercial real estate | $250K+ | Up to 25 yrs | Buying your building |
| Liquor license financing | Varies | Part of project | Quota licenses, transfers |
| Bad credit options | Varies | Short–medium | Challenged credit |
| Merchant cash advance | $10K–$250K | 3–12 mo | Emergencies only |
Choose by what you need
| If you want to… | Start here |
|---|---|
| Stock up before the holidays | Inventory financing or a line of credit |
| Replace a walk-in or add cooler doors | Equipment financing |
| Cover payroll, taxes, or a slow month | Working capital |
| Get out from under daily debits | Refinancing |
| Buy an existing liquor store | Acquisition loans (usually SBA 7(a)) |
| Open a new store | Startup loans |
| Own your building | Real estate loans |
The golden rule
Match the term to the need. Short-term money for short-term needs like holiday inventory, longer-term money for long-life assets like a store, a building, or a walk-in cooler. Most cash-flow problems we see in liquor stores come from breaking this rule.
Not sure which fits? Get your numbers and talk it through with a specialist.
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