From stills to adding stills, building rickhouses or expanding distribution, Rainstar Capital Group connects distillery owners with commercial financing built around aging cycles and distributor payment terms.
Distilleries face long production cycles, especially for aged spirits like whiskey and bourbon. Barrels can age for years, and distributors pay on terms. Between aging cycles and distributor payment terms and the cost of distilling equipment, distillery owners need capital that fits the way their business actually works, not a one-size-fits-all loan.
The right financing turns those pressures into opportunities. It lets distillery owners invest in stills, fermenters, barrels, bottling lines and warehouses, keep grain, barrels and aging spirits on hand and pursue growth such as adding stills, building rickhouses or expanding distribution, without draining the cash that keeps daily operations running.
We work with craft distilleries, tasting rooms and spirits brands, and we structure every request around the realities of your cash cycle, from aging cycles and distributor payment terms to the equipment and space you need to grow.
We love financing craft distillers because their product literally gets better with time. The challenge is that barrels in the rickhouse don't pay the bills, and our barrel and inventory financing turns aging spirits into working capital today.
Every distillery business hits cash-flow pressure points. Here is how lines of credit and the right loan structures turn each one into an opportunity.
Much of your revenue arrives as invoices from distributors, while payroll, rent and suppliers are due now.
How financing solves itInvoice factoring or a receivables-based line of credit advances cash against what you've already earned, so operations never wait on customers.
Stills, fermenters, barrels, bottling lines and warehouses are expensive to buy and maintain, and when they fail, revenue stops.
How financing solves itEquipment financing spreads the cost of distilling equipment over its useful life, uses the equipment as collateral and preserves your cash.
Keeping grain, barrels and aging spirits on hand requires significant capital, especially ahead of busy periods or when suppliers offer volume pricing.
How financing solves itInventory financing and short-term working capital let you stock up strategically without starving the rest of the business.
Opportunities like adding stills, building rickhouses or expanding distribution require capital up front and take time to pay back.
How financing solves itTerm loans and SBA 7(a) loans provide longer repayment schedules that match the payback of growth investments.
Rising rent on your distillery and rickhouse can erode margins at every renewal, and landlords may not renew on your terms.
How financing solves itCommercial real estate loans and SBA 504 financing help you buy your property, lock in occupancy costs and build equity.
Barrel-aged spirits tie up cash for years before sale. For distillery owners, that pressure can slow growth or force hard trade-offs.
How financing solves itInventory and barrel financing unlock working capital from aging stock. Payments are structured around your cash cycle, so you can keep operating with confidence.
From commercial real estate and equipment to inventory, factoring and business lines of credit, we match distillery owners with the product that fits the need.
Flexible, revolving capital for payroll, supplies and seasonal gaps. Draw what you need and pay interest only on what you use.
Turn invoices from distributors into immediate cash.
Fund grain, barrels and aging spirits so you never miss a sale or a supplier deal.
Borrow against the value of aging barrel inventory.
Finance stills, fermenters, barrels, bottling lines and warehouses, new or used, often with little money down.
Purchase, refinance or expand your distillery and rickhouse with long-term fixed or variable options.
Government-backed loans with longer terms for acquisitions, real estate, equipment and refinancing.
A lump sum for adding stills, building rickhouses or expanding distribution, repaid on a predictable schedule.
A short application and a few recent bank statements are usually enough to start.
We shop your request across our lender network and walk you through the terms side by side.
Choose the offer that fits and put the capital to work in your distillery business.
Distillery owners commonly use business line of credit, invoice factoring, inventory financing, barrel financing, equipment financing and commercial real estate. The right mix depends on what you're funding, how quickly you need it and how long you've been in business.
Yes. Equipment financing covers stills, fermenters, barrels, bottling lines and warehouses, both new and used. The equipment typically serves as collateral, which can make approval easier and keeps your cash free for operations.
Barrel-aged spirits tie up cash for years before sale. For distillery owners, that pressure can slow growth or force hard trade-offs. Inventory and barrel financing unlock working capital from aging stock. Payments are structured around your cash cycle, so you can keep operating with confidence.
Working capital and lines of credit can fund in days. Equipment financing often takes about a week. SBA and commercial real estate loans take longer because of underwriting and appraisals.
Not necessarily. Lenders look at cash flow, time in business, collateral and credit together. We start with a soft review where possible so you can see your options before anything affects your score.
Practical articles for distillery owners on cash flow, equipment, real estate and growth capital.
Tell us what you're working toward. We'll compare lenders and products and show you options that fit.
Checking your options won't affect your credit score. All financing is subject to lender approval.
