Finance Assets arranges asset finance for event management companies, helping UK event, production and hire businesses fund staging, lighting, sound, LED screens, marquees and vehicles.
Asset finance for event companies spreads the cost of equipment over 2 to 5 years, so cash stays free for crew, venue deposits and the months between busy seasons. It suits production companies building their own kit stock, marquee and furniture hire firms, festival operators and agencies that want to stop paying for third-party hire on every job.
Written by Marcus Wright, founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, in financial services since 2008 and a commercial finance broker since 2019. Last reviewed October 2026.
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The short version
- Asset finance lets event companies spread the cost of production equipment, structures and vehicles.
- Owning kit instead of hiring it in can pay for itself when it is used on enough jobs.
- Used equipment and kit you hire out to others can both be funded.
- Seasonal payments and refinancing of equipment you own are available with some lenders.
- Finance Assets arranges asset finance for event businesses trading as limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Equipment covered | Staging, rigging, lighting, sound, LED screens, marquees, furniture, power, vehicles and site equipment |
| Terms | Usually 2 to 5 years |
| Paid upfront | Hire purchase: often a 10% to 20% deposit plus VAT. Leases: usually 1 to 3 rentals in advance |
| New or used | Both, with serial numbers and an invoice for used kit |
| Payment profile | Monthly, or seasonal with some lenders |
| Who we help | Limited companies and LLPs, plus sole traders and partnerships on business agreements over £25,000 |
Event equipment we finance
Lenders will fund the equipment that builds, lights, powers and moves an event, whether you run the show yourself or hire the kit out.
| Equipment group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Staging and rigging | Stage decks, truss, chain hoists, ground support systems and barriers |
| Lighting | Moving heads, LED fixtures, follow spots, consoles and dimming |
| Sound | Line arrays, PA systems, monitors, mixing desks and radio microphones |
| Video | LED video walls, projectors, cameras and vision mixing. See audio visual equipment finance |
| Structures | Clearspan and framed marquees, flooring, dance floors and event furniture |
| Power and welfare | Generators, power distribution, lighting towers and site cabins and welfare units |
| Vehicles and handling | Vans, rigid trucks, trailers, forklifts and telehandlers for site builds |
How event companies use asset finance
Event income is seasonal and project-based, so spreading the cost of equipment keeps cash available for the costs that arrive before each job is paid for.
- Bringing hire in-house. Buying the lighting, sound or video kit you hire in most often, so the margin stays in the business.
- Building a hire fleet. Adding stock that can be dry hired to other production companies and venues.
- Upgrading to LED and video. Replacing older fixtures and adding screens that clients now expect.
- Expanding into structures. Adding marquees, flooring and furniture to take on weddings, festivals and corporate events.
- Preparing for the season. Refinancing equipment you own to fund stock, vehicles or crew before the busy months.
Finance options for event companies
Most event companies buy on hire purchase, because good production equipment stays in use for years. Our types of asset finance guide covers each option in more depth.
| Type | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | A deposit, then fixed payments. You own the equipment after the last one | Lighting, sound, staging and structures you will keep |
| Finance lease | Rentals with VAT added to each one. The lender owns the equipment | Larger packages where you want to avoid paying VAT upfront |
| Operating lease | Lower rentals priced around the expected resale value. You hand it back at the end | Video and control equipment that dates quickly |
| Sale and hire purchase back | A lender buys equipment you own and sells it back over a fixed term | Releasing cash before the season |
Hire purchase for event equipment
Hire purchase is the usual way to fund production kit and structures. You pay a deposit and the VAT upfront, then fixed payments, and the equipment is yours after the last one. You are treated as the owner for tax from the start, so you may be able to claim capital allowances.
Leasing LED screens and video equipment
Video, control and camera equipment moves on quickly. An operating lease prices the rentals around what the kit should be worth at the end, which keeps the monthly cost down and makes it easier to upgrade.
Marquee and temporary structure finance
Marquees, clearspan structures, flooring and furniture can be funded together as one package. Lenders are most comfortable with structures from known manufacturers, because they hold a resale value.
Releasing cash from equipment you own
A sale and hire purchase back lets a lender buy equipment you own outright and sell it back to you over a fixed term. The kit keeps working while the cash goes towards new stock or the costs of the season ahead.
VAT and tax for event companies
Event equipment carries VAT at the standard rate, which a VAT-registered business can normally reclaim. On hire purchase the VAT is paid upfront, while on a lease it is added to each rental. With hire purchase you may be able to claim capital allowances, and lease rentals are usually an allowable business expense. Check how the rules apply to your business with your accountant.
Event equipment finance costs: a worked example
An LED video wall at £70,000 and a lighting package at £50,000, £120,000 in total, cost about £2,242 a month on a 5-year hire purchase, or about £3,434 a month over 3 years.
| Item | 3-year term | 5-year term |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment price (excluding VAT) | £120,000 | £120,000 |
| Deposit (10%) | £12,000 | £12,000 |
| VAT paid upfront (reclaimable) | £24,000 | £24,000 |
| Amount financed | £108,000 | £108,000 |
| Monthly payment | £3,434.37 | £2,241.90 |
| Total interest | £15,637 | £26,514 |
The longer term lowers the monthly payment by about £1,192, at a cost of around £10,877 more interest. If the package replaces around £2,500 a month of kit you would otherwise hire in, the 5-year agreement largely pays for itself, and the equipment becomes stock you can hire out once the agreement ends.
Illustration calculated in November 2026, assuming an interest rate of 9% a year, payments monthly in arrears and no balloon. It is not a quote. Your rate depends on your trading history, credit profile and the equipment.
What lenders look for in event companies
Lenders look at the usual financial documents, plus the things that show the equipment will be used and the income will keep coming.
- Your last 2 years of accounts, or management accounts and a forecast for newer businesses
- Your last 3 to 6 months of business bank statements
- Your forward bookings, repeat clients and any framework or venue contracts
- Hire records and utilisation for equipment you rent out
- Supplier quotes or invoices with serial numbers, especially for used kit
- Photo ID and address history for each director, member or partner
Related guides
Who we can help
We arrange asset finance for event management, production and hire companies that trade as UK limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000 that are for business purposes. We are not authorised by the FCA, so we cannot arrange agreements of £25,000 or less for sole traders or partnerships of two or three partners, or finance for personal use.
Asset finance for event management companies FAQs
Can event companies finance used lighting, sound and staging?
Yes. Many lenders will fund used production equipment from a dealer, an auction or another hire company, especially kit from established manufacturers that holds its value. They will want an invoice with serial numbers and may ask for a valuation on larger used packages.
Can payments be matched to the events season?
With some lenders, yes. Seasonal profiles can put more of the cost into the summer and festive peaks and less into the quieter months. Tell us how your bookings fall across the year when you apply, ideally with last year’s monthly turnover.
Can I raise cash against equipment my event business already owns?
Often, yes. A sale and hire purchase back lets a lender buy production equipment, marquees or vehicles you own outright and sell them back to you over a fixed term. It is commonly used to fund new stock before the season starts or to free up cash after a heavy year of buying.
Do lenders fund equipment that is hired out to other companies?
Yes. Kit bought to dry hire or rent to other production companies, venues and agencies can be funded in the same way as equipment you operate yourself. Lenders like to see a record of hire income and good utilisation, and some will want to know how the equipment is tracked and insured while it is out.
Can a new event company get asset finance?
It is harder but possible. Lenders look for directors with a track record in the events industry, confirmed bookings or contracts, and usually a larger deposit. Starting with a smaller package or used equipment, then adding to it once the business has accounts, is a common route.
Can marquees and temporary structures be financed?
Yes. Clearspan structures, framed marquees, flooring, staging and the furniture that goes with them can all be funded on hire purchase or leasing. Larger structures from known manufacturers are easier, because they keep a resale value lenders can rely on.
Get an asset finance quote for your event business
Tell us what you want to finance
Send us the equipment, the prices and a few details about your bookings and busy seasons. We will come back with the options that are realistic and what they are likely to cost.
About the author
Marcus Wright is the owner and founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, which trades as Finance Assets. He has worked in financial services since 2008, beginning his career at Santander, and has been a commercial finance broker since March 2019.
He founded Bolton Business Finance in 2020 to give businesses access to the whole lending market rather than one bank’s own product range. The firm is a member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers and works with a panel of 135+ lenders. Call 0161 546 9128.
Finance Assets is a trading name of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, an independent commercial finance brokerage, not a lender. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and can only complete non-regulated introductions. All lending is for business purposes only. Registered address: Westgate House, 1 Westgate Avenue, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 4RF. Company number 12495909.