What should a lender see about a moving company’s seasonal cash flow?

A lender knows that a mover’s income does not arrive evenly. What worries them is not the seasonality itself, but whether the business can get through the quiet months without strain. Prepare a month-by-month cash flow for several years, so they can see that the pattern repeats and how deep the low points go. Label what drives each swing: bookings, payroll for temporary crews, fuel and truck maintenance.

Then show how you bridge the slow months. Do you hold a cash reserve, use a revolving credit line, adjust crew hours or take on storage and commercial work to smooth things out? Be honest about the lowest point in the year and what happens there. Lenders respect an owner who has already faced that problem and built a response.

Look also at how cash flow differs from profit. Deposits, unpaid invoices and timing of expenses can make a good year feel tight. Your accountant can help present cash and accrual figures side by side. Finish with a forward projection that explains your assumptions, including what happens if the peak runs shorter than expected. Show the lender a plan, not simply a hope. Offer to update the lender during the slow months, because regular reporting builds confidence when the numbers look thin.

Key takeaways

• Present monthly cash flow across several full cycles.
• Explain how slow months are covered and by what.
• Include a forecast with a weaker-than-expected peak.