Key Takeaways
- Seasonal working capital bridges the off-season without depleting savings
- Prepare for peak season without running out of cash during ramp-up
- Landscaping, restaurants, retail, and construction all have seasonal patterns
- No green card or SBA eligibility required
- 48-hour decisions — plan your seasonal capital well in advance
Many TPS-owned businesses have intensely seasonal revenue patterns. A landscaping company generates 70% of its revenue in April-October and must survive the winter. A restaurant at a vacation destination peaks in summer and struggles in February. A holiday retail store generates half its annual revenue in November-December. Seasonal capital allows TPS entrepreneurs to bridge the lean months without draining their savings, and to invest in peak season preparation without running short on working capital.
How Seasonal Capital Works
Bankable evaluates your full 12-month revenue history and designs a seasonal capital structure that fits your cycle. A landscaping company might draw on a line of credit in January-March (off-season bridge), repay heavily in June-September (peak revenue), and repeat the cycle. The key insight: Bankable evaluates your annual revenue, not just your slowest month. A landscaping company that shows $50K in January and $180K in June is evaluated on its full-year performance.
Seasonal Capital by Industry
- Landscaping: Winter bridge and spring ramp-up capital for crew hiring and equipment
- Construction: Winter bridge and spring project startup capital
- Restaurant (vacation/resort area): Off-season operating capital
- Retail (holiday): October-November inventory financing before the Q4 rush
- Agriculture/farming: Pre-planting capital for seed, fertilizer, and labor
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bankable evaluates seasonal businesses on their full 12-month revenue history. Seasonal patterns are expected and accounted for in our underwriting.
We look at your peak revenue, your annual total, and your off-season fixed costs. A business with strong peak revenue and modest fixed costs has a favorable seasonal profile even if winter months look slow.
A line of credit or term loan that is drawn on during the off-season and repaid during peak revenue months. Terms of 6-12 months are most common for seasonal businesses.
Typically 3-6 months of your average fixed costs. A landscaping company with $12,000/month in fixed costs might borrow $36,000-$72,000 for the winter season.
Apply before the off-season begins, not during it. Applying in September for a landscaping company's winter bridge capital is ideal — don't wait until January when your bank account is already low.
Yes. Off-season revenue does not need to match peak-season revenue. We evaluate the full annual picture.
Both structures are available. A line of credit allows you to draw what you need when you need it. A lump sum term loan provides predictable monthly payments.
12 months of bank statements clearly show your seasonal pattern. This is actually helpful, not harmful — it demonstrates that you understand your business cycle.