Finance question
Can I get finance to buy a function centre?
Often yes, but lenders treat event venues as specialised and seasonal, so expect to put in a larger deposit than for a standard commercial property. A freehold venue is easier to fund than a leasehold one because the land is real security, subject to lender assessment.
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The short answer
The land is what a lender can lend against
A function centre sells on three very different terms. A licensed room in a suburban strip can ask $189,000, while a freehold wedding venue in Portarlington asks $6,495,000 (function centre guide). The difference is almost entirely land. At Granya in Victoria the $2,500,000 ask splits into $2.2m to $2.4m of property and only $50,000 to $100,000 of business. If you are buying a venue like that, you are mostly buying real estate, and a lender will treat it that way.
Lenders are cautious about the business side. Income is concentrated on a few dozen peak Saturdays: the ABS counted 118,804 marriages registered in 2025 and more than 52,000 fell on a Saturday. Forward bookings are deposits, not contracted profit, and fit-out resells poorly. One published hospitality page lists up to 80 per cent of property value for a freehold restaurant and up to 50 per cent of business value for a leasehold, and a general commercial property page guides to a 30 to 40 per cent deposit, with a lower ratio possible on specialised property. Expect an event venue near the cautious end.
Ventas is a broker across 40+ lenders, not a single bank, and we do not charge you an upfront fee; the lender pays us at settlement. The common structure is a commercial property loan over the land and buildings, with the equity gap funded by a property-backed loan against other property you own. For a leasehold venue the lender has little to hold, so the equity usually comes from you. Bring two to three years of accounts, a dated booking ledger and the liquor licence and planning consent.
Do you qualify?
What a lender looks at on an event venue purchase.
Accounts and BAS
Two to three years of accounts that reconcile to lodged BAS and bank statements.
A booking ledger
Each event, date, package price and deposit, spread across the seasons.
Licence and planning consent
A liquor licence and permit that cover the events actually being run.
Tenure and security
Clear freehold title, or a lease at least as long as the loan, plus property you can add.
Why a property-backed structure suits venues
Land is the security
The lender relies on the title, not on next year's weddings.
Equity can be the deposit
Other property can fund the gap a lender will not.
Equipment is separate
Kitchen and sound gear can be financed on its own, if it is worth reselling.
A worked example
A buyer is looking at a freehold wedding venue asking $2,500,000. At a 40 per cent deposit, the top of the 30 to 40 per cent range, the deposit is $1,000,000 and the lender advances $1,500,000. The buyer puts in $300,000 of savings and funds the other $700,000 with a loan secured on their home, before stamp duty and costs. Illustrative only.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a freehold function centre easier to finance than a leasehold?
Usually yes. The land and buildings give the lender security, while goodwill on a lease may be heavily discounted. A leasehold buyer should expect to fund a large share themselves.
How much deposit do I need for a function centre?
A general commercial property page guides to a 30 to 40 per cent deposit, and specialised property can attract a lower loan-to-value ratio. Event venues sit near the cautious end. Add stamp duty and costs on top.
Does the liquor licence affect finance?
Yes. The licence does not pass on settlement day, and lenders want to see that the venue can trade after the transfer. Make settlement conditional on the licence.
Can I use my home to help buy a venue?
Often. A property-backed loan on your home or another property can fund the equity gap, because the lender relies on the property instead of the venue. The cost is that your property is at risk if bookings fall.