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Tourism businesses & visitor attractions · Ireland
Tourism & visitor
attraction finance.
Getting ready for the season can mean paying for staff, maintenance and improvements before visitors arrive. We help Irish visitor attractions, heritage centres, activity providers and tour businesses compare equipment finance and business loans through specialist and non-bank lenders.
Seasonal working capital & term loans
For established businesses preparing for a busy season or investing in growth.
- Pre-season wages, maintenance, marketing and visitor-centre improvements
- At least 12 months trading and one full year's completed accounts for term loans
- Latest accounts showing €100,000 or more turnover and a net profit
- No recent missed payments on business bank statements
- Flexible repayment options from 9 months trading with steady cash flow and around eight or more deposits a month
- Repayments must remain affordable through quieter months, not just peak season
Card-sales funding
For eligible attractions and tourism businesses with regular card takings.
- Merchant cash advance may be considered from 90 days trading
- At least €5,000 in monthly card takings
- Collections are an agreed share of eligible card sales
- Lower card sales mean smaller collections, but borrowing costs still need checking
- Explain seasonal closures, refund exposure and how ticket payments reach your account
- Do not assume bookings paid through tour agents or ticket platforms qualify as your card takings
Equipment & visitor facilities
For suitable equipment your business uses to serve visitors.
- Eligible café equipment, point-of-sale systems, IT and multimedia equipment
- Leasing or hire purchase for suitable new or used equipment
- Some smaller eligible equipment has no-deposit leasing options
- Other equipment deals from €10,000, typically with a 10% dealer deposit
- Specialist activity equipment, installations and vehicles need individual lender checks
- Building works and general fit-out costs are not automatically equipment-finance eligible
Invoice finance for commercial customers
For qualifying unpaid invoices issued to business customers.
- May suit eligible invoices to tour operators or corporate clients after services are delivered
- Release cash while approved commercial customers pay on agreed terms
- One-off or ad hoc invoice finance starts at €100,000 per invoice
- The lender checks customers, contracts, payment terms and any existing finance
- Future bookings, visitor ticket sales and expected grant payments are not ordinary trade invoices
- Disputed invoices and services not yet delivered should not be assumed eligible
Business finance only. Unsecured term loans are not registered against property or business assets, but some lenders ask directors for a personal guarantee. All options depend on lender assessment and affordability. Finance does not replace required planning permissions, operating approvals, insurance or safety obligations.
Plan for the whole season, not just opening day
Start with the dates bills fall due, when visitors pay and what the business needs during quieter months. Allow for cancellations, refunds and delayed settlements from booking platforms. Compare business term loans for wider costs, asset finance for suitable equipment and invoice finance for eligible commercial invoices.
For related businesses, see our hotel finance, hospitality finance and bus and coach finance pages. If you have not started trading, our start-up guide explains the earlier-stage support options, including the National Enterprise Hub.
Taking card payments? Compare eligibility, repayments and costs on our merchant cash advance page.
Guides for your industry
20 October 2026
Business Loan With Seasonal Cash Flow: A Practical Guide
How seasonal Irish businesses can borrow well: loan types that suit uneven income, building a cash flow forecast lenders trust, and repayments that match your trading year.
Read guide →
3 November 2026
Is a Merchant Cash Advance Right for Your Irish Business?
How merchant cash advances work in Ireland: card-sales repayments, costs, eligibility from 90 days trading and the alternatives to compare before applying.
Read guide →
16 October 2026
How to Secure Equipment Finance in Ireland: A Guide
Table of Contents How to Secure Equipment Finance in Ireland: Step-by-Step What You'll Need Before You Apply Types of Equipment Finance Available Equipment Finance Application Requirements Documents Lenders Typically Ask
Read guide →
27 October 2026
How to Prepare a Cash Flow Forecast for Your Small Business
A step-by-step guide to building a 12-month cash flow forecast for your small business in Ireland, with a worked example, a simple template layout and tips for keeping a rolling forecast up to date.
Read guide →
Common questions
Can I borrow before the tourist season starts?
An eligible established business may use a loan for pre-season staffing, maintenance, marketing or improvements. Lenders review your trading record and how repayments will be covered throughout the year. Show monthly cash flow, quiet periods and existing commitments rather than relying only on expected summer sales.
Can seasonal attractions get a merchant cash advance?
Potentially, from 90 days trading with at least €5,000 in monthly card takings. Collections are linked to eligible card sales, but a seasonal closure or heavily concentrated summer income needs lender review. A smaller collection in a quiet week does not mean the borrowing is cheaper.
Do online ticket sales count as card takings?
They may, depending on the payment processor and how funds reach the business. Share processing statements, settlement details, refund terms and any ticket-platform or agent arrangements. The lender must confirm which sales it can use; gross bookings are not automatically qualifying card takings.
Can I finance exhibition or activity equipment?
Suitable equipment may qualify for leasing or hire purchase. Café equipment, IT, point-of-sale systems and multimedia are relevant examples. Bespoke exhibitions, specialist outdoor activity equipment, permanent installations and vehicles need individual checks. Send supplier quotes and a clear description; do not assume every fit-out cost is an equipment asset.
What do lenders need for a term loan?
At least 12 months trading and one full year's completed accounts, turnover of €100,000 or more, a net profit and no recent missed payments on business bank statements. The lender also reviews affordability, existing borrowing and how the business manages seasonal income.
Can invoice finance help with tour operator payments?
It may help with qualifying unpaid business-to-business invoices for services already delivered. The customer and invoice must meet lender criteria. One-off or ad hoc invoice finance starts at €100,000 per invoice; an ongoing ledger facility is a different arrangement. Future bookings and expected grants should not be assumed eligible.
What if the attraction has not opened yet?
For a pre-trading or very early-stage business, try a bank or Microfinance Ireland and check the National Enterprise Hub for support. Our earliest cash-loan options can start from 90 days trading where lender criteria are met. That is different from term loans, which need one full year's completed accounts and the established-business criteria above.
What should I send to get started?
Send recent business bank statements, your latest completed accounts, the amount needed and its purpose. Include monthly sales and a cash-flow forecast showing the busy and quiet seasons. Add supplier quotes for equipment, card-processing statements for card-sales funding, or an aged debtor ledger and sample invoices for invoice finance.
Do you charge a broker fee?
No. We do not charge clients a fee; lenders pay us a commission when funding completes. Lender interest and charges are separate and should be checked before accepting an offer.
Free to you. Lenders pay us a commission when your loan completes. How we get paid