What is the difference between an expansion loan and asset finance?

Asset finance is tied directly to a physical item (like a still) which the lender owns until it is paid off. An expansion loan provides cash directly into your bank account to use for intangible costs like marketing, wages, or groundworks.

Do I need to provide a personal guarantee?

For unsecured business loans, a Personal Guarantee (PG) from the directors is almost always required by the lender. Secured loans are tied to business assets or property, but may still require a PG depending on the lender.

How much can our distillery borrow?

Loan amounts depend on turnover, profitability, existing commitments, the expansion plan, and demonstrated repayment capacity. We compare lenders whose assessment fits the circumstances of the distillery.

Can a loan be used to pay HMRC duty?

Yes. Working capital loans are often used by distilleries to manage cashflow around large duty payments, ensuring they can release stock from bond without stalling their broader operations.

Business Loans

Working capital loans for distillery expansion

Building a spirits brand requires deep working capital, especially when balancing fast-turnaround white spirits with long-maturation brown spirits. We arrange flexible unsecured and secured loans to fuel your growth strategy.

Speak to an Adviser Distilleries Hub

Speak with Arran or Graham

£10k - £2m+

Loan amounts

1-5 years

Typical terms

150+

Lender panel

From 48hrs

Funding speed

How distillery expansion loans help

Independent broker with an extensive panel of 150+ UK lenders. No upfront fees.

Unsecured Working Capital

Fast, flexible funding without tying up physical assets. Use it to fund brand redesigns, launch marketing campaigns, hire national account managers, or support cashflow during the crucial final months before a major product release.

Export & Distribution Growth

Entering new international markets involves significant upfront costs: compliance, trade shows, logistics, and extended payment terms from overseas distributors. An expansion loan bridges this gap.

Secured Business Loans

For major expansion projects—such as building a new production hall—securing a loan against property or other significant business assets can provide access to higher borrowing limits and longer repayment terms.

Site Relocation & Fit-out

Moving to a larger facility involves heavy intangible costs: deposits, legal fees, specialist drainage, and ATEX compliance works. A business loan covers these crucial infrastructure costs that asset finance cannot.

What you can fund

Specialist finance options to match your requirements.

Marketing & brand redesigns

Export market entry costs

Hiring sales & production staff

Bulk raw material purchases

Site relocation expenses

Specialist drainage & groundworks

Trade show & event activations

Working capital buffer

E-commerce & website development

Bridging late wholesale invoices

ATEX compliance upgrades

Duty & excise duty bridges

Who you could speak to

Arran Turner

Managing Director

General commercial finance and how Sorbus works

Profile

Graham Nash

Commercial Finance Director

Business loans, cash flow and wider commercial funding

Profile

STEP 1
A conversation with a broker
You talk to a real Sorbus broker about the business, the purpose and what is affordable. No application at this stage.
STEP 2
Credit placement
If you choose to go further, we prepare the case and decide which lenders on our panel of 150+ are worth approaching.
STEP 3
Lender assessment
The lender, not Sorbus, underwrites and makes the credit decision. Approval is never guaranteed.
STEP 4
Documentation
If a lender offers terms and you accept, we help coordinate agreements and payout paperwork with you.

Every step after the first is optional. You can stop after the conversation. Sorbus is a broker, not a lender.

Client journey

Explore real client journeys

Read how real businesses approached a funding goal, what Sorbus arranged and what happened next.

Browse anonymised case studies

Enquire about Distillery Expansion Loans

Start with a conversation

Tell us a little about what you need and who you would like to speak to. No obligation, no credit check at this stage. We aim to respond within one business day, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm.

Your name *

Phone number *

Company name (optional)

New start-up (no company name yet)

Email address *

Who would you like to speak to? (optional)

Best time to talk (optional)

A preference, not an appointment. We pass it on where we can. We aim to respond within one business day, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm. This is an aim, not a guaranteed callback time.

Your requirements

I'd like to receive news, guides, and exclusive finance offers from Sorbus Finance by email. You can unsubscribe at any time.

We will use your details to respond to your enquiry. We may share information with our principal, lenders and service providers where necessary, or where required by law, as explained in our Privacy Policy. Marketing emails are optional and depend on your separate choice.

Prefer to call?

Speak directly to an adviser Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm.

01246 383500

Free call. No obligation.

Unique to Sorbus Finance

Optional: Business Finance Health Check

Before you approach lenders, understand your borrowing readiness with our free Business Finance Health Check, tailored for UK businesses.

Take the short Health Check

Free · No credit check · Not required before you talk

Want the full picture? The full fact-find is longer and also optional.

Email us anytime

hello@sorbusfinance.co.uk

Free tool

Know your lending position before you apply

The Business Finance Health Check scores your readiness to borrow, business resilience, and growth potential. Free, under 5 minutes, no obligation.

Run your free Health Check

Questions answered

Common queries about business loans.

Ready to scale your spirits brand?

Speak to our finance specialists to find the right working capital solution for your distillery's expansion plans.

01246 383500 Distilleries Hub