Merchant Fund Express
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Funding for your situation

Remodel or relocate your bar: fund the project and the dip together.

What a remodel or move takes in cash, how Merchant Fund Express reads a project file, and a worked example with illustrative numbers.

✓ Checking what you qualify for does not affect your credit score.

Why the timing matters

Some bar owners outgrow the space; others outgrow the look of it. The patio season is short, and a heater and canopy buy extra weeks of full revenue. Either way the money goes out before the new space produces anything.

Merchant Fund Express is a funding marketplace: you apply once, and the file is matched to the structure that fits it. The sections below show what this situation usually costs, how a funder reads it, and what to prepare.

Typical useConstruction plus the revenue dip during it
TimelineSame-day decision on a complete file; funding typically the next business day after signing
CreditMinimum FICO is 500; better credit means better offers
DocumentsAbout three months of business bank statements and a short application

What it looks like on the ground: a neighboring space came up for lease and would double the capacity on game nights.

Compliance touchpoints for a bar often include liquor license and occupancy permit, which can come up when the request involves a new site, a purchase or a significant change.

A bar file is read through weekly deposit rhythm and weekend dependence, licensing status and whether it transfers with a purchase and cost of goods paid ahead of sales.

Card sales with high tip volume; deposits cluster on Thursday to Sunday. A reviewer sees that pattern in the statements before reading a word of the application.

What the project usually includes

Construction and finishes ($57,000)

A real cost of the move that is easy to leave out of the first estimate.

Fixtures, furniture and equipment updates ($12,000)

A fixed purchase with a quote you can put in front of a funder.

Permits and professional fees ($5,500)

Often front-loaded and easy to leave out of the first estimate.

Reduced-revenue weeks during the work ($9,000)

A real cost of the move that is easy to leave out of the first estimate.

Reopening marketing ($3,500)

The spend that fills the new capacity, which is why it belongs in the plan.

A worked example: a bar remodel or move

Cost itemIllustrative amount
Construction and finishes$57,000
Fixtures, furniture and equipment updates$12,000
Permits and professional fees$5,500
Reduced-revenue weeks during the work$9,000
Reopening marketing$3,500
Cushion for overruns and slow early weeks (about 10%)$8,500
Remodel or move total$95,500

Sizing check. If the full repayment shown in an offer were $125,000 over about 26 weeks, the weekly debit would be about $4,808. Against illustrative monthly deposits of $95,000 (about $21,923 a week), that is roughly 22% of weekly deposits. Your own offer states the real repayment amount in dollars; run your numbers on the factor rate calculator before you accept anything.

Source: worksheet by Merchant Fund Express. Illustrative only: these figures are not an offer, and real amounts depend on your file and the funder.

What the review looks at

A contractor bid or scope in writing
Whether the project is expected to raise capacity, ticket or hours, and by how much
How the business will operate during the work
Weekly deposit rhythm and weekend dependence
Licensing status and whether it transfers with a purchase

These are the same factors described on revenue and deposit requirements and time in business. Merchant Fund Express walks you through how your own file reads before you apply.

What to have ready

Three months of business bank statements
A completed application
A government-issued ID for the owner
Lease or letter of intent
License documentation if purchasing a bar
A contractor bid or scope of work

A complete file is what makes a same-day decision possible. If something is missing, tell us and we will work around it.

What to watch out for

Budgeting the construction but not the revenue dip during it
Starting before permits are final
Over-improving a leased space without checking the remaining term

Other ways to fund it, and where to go next

Business term loans: A fixed schedule for a larger, longer project, if the file supports it.
Working capital loans: Lump-sum capital sized on your deposits, for a defined need with a clear payback.
Business line of credit: A reusable pool you draw on and repay, useful when costs arrive in pieces.
Equipment financing: Built around the equipment itself, which often keeps the payment tied to what it earns.
How funders read a bar: Industry-specific notes on what the file needs.
Factor rate calculator: Run your own numbers before accepting an offer.
More funding situations: Other growth, operating and recovery moments.

Common questions

Can I fund a bar remodel without a new lease?

Yes, if the owner or landlord has authorized the work and the remaining term supports it. Bring the lease and the bid.

Is a remodel better funded with equipment financing or working capital?

If the spend is mostly equipment, equipment financing fits. For construction and mixed costs, working capital or a term loan may fit better.

How does Merchant Fund Express treat a temporary revenue dip?

We read deposits as they are today and note the project. A clear plan and timeline help the file.

What credit score do I need?

The minimum FICO is 500, and better credit means better products and terms. See credit score requirements for how the tiers work.

See what you qualify for

Merchant Fund Express gives a same-day decision on a complete file. Applying takes a few minutes and will not affect your credit score.

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