Cash advances for UK soft play centres.
For soft play operators, children's activity centres, and birthday-party venues. Funded against your card takings, entry, parties, cafe, retail. Built for operators running one of the most card-heavy sectors in UK leisure.
What MCA means for a soft play centre.
Soft play is among the cleanest MCA fits in leisure. Card penetration is typically 90%+, entry tickets, cafe food and drink, birthday parties (often card deposits + card balance), retail (party bags, gifts), merchandise. High transaction count, consistent daily volume, strong school holiday peaks. Uses: equipment refresh (soft play frame replacement or expansion), cafe refit, party room build-out, EPOS with booking integration, marketing for birthday parties, sensory or dedicated session programmes.
Sound familiar?
Soft play frame needs replacement or expansion.
Commercial frame refresh or expansion £30k to £100k. Frames have a around 7-10 year lifespan; H&S compliance requires replacement cycle.
Asset finance usually wins for the frame itself. MCA for working capital around installation (downtime cover, staff, marketing relaunch). Hybrid common.
Party room build-out or expansion.
Dedicated party rooms with decoration, catering capacity, sound system, £15k to £40k. Parties are the highest-margin revenue category in soft play.
MCA funds the build. Party bookings are nearly 100% card-paid; repayment flows directly from the revenue the room creates.
Cafe refit or menu expansion.
Kitchen kit, counter area, menu photography, supplier setup, £15k to £40k.
MCA for the cafe build. Cafe takings directly feed MCA repayment and broaden revenue beyond entry tickets.
Here's what it actually costs.
A mid-size soft play centre borrows £25,000 for party room build and cafe refresh. Monthly card takings: £45,000. £25,000. Average monthly card takings £45,000. Fixed cost 1.23. 11% daily repayment % on card sales, total cost £5,750.
These figures are illustrative. If a term loan or asset finance fits your situation better, we'll tell you.
Open the fixed cost calculator →Work out the real cost.
New businesses typically start at a higher daily % and a shorter term.
Illustrative only, not a quote.
- Advance£25,000
- vs card takings56%
- Fixed cost1.23
- Daily repayment£163
- Avg monthly£4,950
- Est. term6.2 months
Illustrative. The fixed cost is set on day one; daily repayment varies with takings. Term capped at 18 months.
Illustrative only, not a quote. Every figure here is subject to the funder. Funders advance anywhere from 100% up to 150% of monthly card takings, so 150% is not guaranteed, and the fixed cost is not guaranteed either. Your actual advance, fixed cost and terms depend on the funder and your business profile.
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£22,000 funded party room build and seasonal marketing, repaid in 5 months.
Illustrative composite. Two-level soft play, £42k/mo card takings. MCA at 1.22 factor, 11% daily repayment. Party room live within four weeks, marketing ran through October half-term and Christmas. Party bookings doubled; monthly card takings reached £58k in December. Advance repaid through seasonal peaks.
Illustrative composite scenarioSoft play centres, quick answers.
Yes, one of the cleanest fits in UK leisure. Very high card penetration, consistent transaction flow, strong seasonal peaks at school holidays. Fixed costs typically 1.20 to 1.28.
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