Hotel Finance For Businesses In The Hospitality Industry

Everything You Need To Know:

Hospitality Business Loans

How To Finance A Hotel

Hotel Finance FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

As an entrepreneur looking to get into the industry, you probably already know that the hospitality industry is one of the most valuable to Britain. According to the Office of National Statistics and a feature article released by the Business Leader, the tourism and hospitality sector in the UK is growing steadily – and the profits certainly seem worth it. The stats reveal that in 2017, the turnover reached a whopping £98 billion, which was a massive jump from the £86 billion turnover in 2015. In 2018, the hotel industry experienced a turnover of £102 billion.

A quick search on the Office of National Statistics regarding the impact of Brexit on the current hospitality sector is also very telling. It appears that Brexit or not, tourism and hospitality in the UK is solid –improving and growing in the face of challenges and uncertainties.

It’s understandable why so many entrepreneurs want to get involved in an industry that that contributes 5% of UK GDP and a huge 6% of all businesses operating in the United Kingdom! One of the biggest challenges that entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry face is funding. Without enough financing, it can feel impossible to get a hotel, B&B, resort, or hostel up and running and ready to compete in an already saturated industry.

 

Running a Hospitality Business

If you are wondering how big the UK hospitality industry is, consider that it contributes to 10% of the country’s employment. While there are hundreds of hotels, B&Bs, hostels, and resorts found across the United Kingdom, new ones are popping up every year. Yours could be the next one to bring a valuable tourism experience to your area…

You’ll probably be aware that competition is rife in the tourism sector. Travelers, both business and leisure, are becoming more demanding and want the very best that their money can afford. That means that hospitality establishments are always improving their premises and adding to their plethora of amenities and facilities. Entering such a constantly-advancing industry can seem daunting. And of course, it’s going to be expensive.

 

How To Run A Successful Hotel

Running a successful hotel requires the owner/manager to be meticulous about the initial setup of the property, advertising & marketing, décor, staff training (for excellent customer service), and maintenance & cleaning. All of these processes require financing, which can be the challenging part for a hotel owner.

To run a successful hotel you will need to put some thought into the following before applying for finance:

Choose suitable location/premises

• Decide whether it is best to invest in an existing structure or build a brand new hotel/B&B/hostel
• Conduct thorough market research – know your competition
• Draw up a suitable business to present to possible lenders and investors
• Write up an extensive list of costs and projections as part of your planning

The good news is that hospitality businesses, especially freehold properties, are seen as secure to lenders. Of course, there are always hurdles to be jumped over when applying for finance. Entrepreneurs often find that a loan is difficult to acquire if they have a less than perfect credit score.

 

What Costs do Hotel Business Owners Face?

Hotel owners (and hospitality entrepreneurs) are faced with a variety of expenses when starting up a new business or expanding an existing one. Some costs to expect include:

• Building and construction
• Renovation or revamp
• Registration and licensing
• Staffing and training
• Purchasing stock
• Maintenance and cleaning
• Advertising and marketing
• Furnishing

 

Advantages of Running a Business in the Hospitality Sector

At The Building for the Future and Supporting Further Growth event which was held on 26th March 2019, Anthony Pickles, Head of Tourism Affairs at Visit Britain and a variety of other key speakers discussed the many advantages of running a business in the UK hospitality sector.

During the event, research and statistics discussed uncovered the undeniable fact that since 2010 the tourism industry has grown faster than any other industry in the UK. Forecasts show that by 2025, the UK tourism industry will be worth more than £257 billion. These figures alone show just how lucrative the industry is, and will continue to be. If you are an entrepreneur with a passion for tourism and hospitality, you can’t really afford to miss out on this vibrant, growing industry, can you?

Hospitality Business Loans

Hospitality business loans are not always easy to come by. Most entrepreneurs in the industry turn to their local High Street bank only to be disappointed with the outcome of their application.

The following challenges are faced when applying for hospitality business loans:

• In most instances a hefty deposit of at least 30% is required when applying for hotel finance with a High Street bank.
• In some instances, additional security may be required
• The business plan needs to be meticulous and thorough
• Lenders feel more comfortable financing individuals with industry experience
• An excellent credit score is required

If you are unable to meet with these requirements, you can expect the High Street bank to turn you away. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have alternative financing options available to you. At SME Loans we provide a variety of financing options that are ideal for the hotel sector

 

Apply For Hotel Financing

Whether you are starting up a home-based Airbnb business or hoping to acquire additional finance to assist with the construction of a major hotel in a prime location, funding is available to you. At SME Loans, we provide hotel financing up to £500,000 with flexible repayment options. We can pair you with lenders most likely to approve your loan application.

 

Is My Business Eligible for Hotel Finance?

To apply for hotel finance at SME Loans, you simply need to meet the following qualifying criteria:

• Your business is registered in the UK and has been operating for more than 6 months
• You (the business owner) are 18 years of age or older
• You currently have a monthly turnover of £5,000 or more

 

Can I Apply for Hotel Finance with Bad Credit?

Even if you have a less than perfect credit score, you are still eligible for hotel financing. At SME Loans, we provide bad credit business loans to individuals with a good business plan and who currently have a good relationship with their credit.

We work with a network of lenders who look beyond your credit score and take an overview of your business into account before approving or denying hospitality business loans. This means that decisions on hotel loans are based on your business’ performance.

Hotel Business Loans Up To £ 500,000

Non-bank funded hotel loans are the ideal funding solution for hospitality entrepreneurs, especially as no collateral is required. At SME Loans, we work in collaboration with a network of lenders offering unsecured hotel loans of up to £ 500,000. One of the biggest advantages of this alternative loan type is that it is paid out within 24 hours. The repayment terms are typically fixed payments, paid back over 1 to 5 years. While there is no security required; applicants of our unsecured hotel loans are required to provide a personal guarantee.

 

Merchant Cash Advance For The Hospitality Sector

If you have an existing B&B, hotel, guest house or similar and want to boost its growth with a cash injection, a merchant cash advance is the ideal product for you.

These cash advances are aimed at hotels that provide facilities for credit and debit card transactions. The amount that you can receive is between £5,000 and £500,000. The amount is not paid back in fixed monthly installments, but by taking a percentage of your future credit card and debit card sales (your cash sales are not affected at all). Merchant cash advances for the hospitality sector are quick and easy to apply for and are usually paid out within 24 hours.

 

How to apply for hotel finance

To apply for an SME Loan for your hotel or hospitality business, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: The application process can be done online by clicking on “apply”. You will need to provide us with the following details:

• The registered name of your hospitality business
• A tally of the years your business has been operating
• Your business’ current monthly turnover
• An indication of how much you wish to loan

Step 2: The next step will be disclosing your personal details, including:

• Full name
• Your designated position within the business
• Contact details

Step 3: To proceed with the application, you need to agree to the terms and conditions. Read through them and then click on “get my quote”.

Step 4: We will liaise with our lenders and then get back to you with the outcome of your application. If it is approved, our professional account managers will ensure that you understand the terms and conditions before the process can go ahead.

Step 5: You will need to sign the agreement between you and the lender before the cash can be paid out. The pay-out usually happens within 24 hours.

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