Stef’s market update – August 2026 – summer holidays haven’t stopped the funding deals

August is meant to be one of the quiet months. Schools are out, half the country seems to have an out-of-office on and you might expect the commercial finance market to go a bit quiet too.  But that certainly hasn’t been our experience at Evolve this month.

We’ve had a good flow of new enquiries and deals throughout August – from firms looking for extra working capital through to property finance, asset purchases, trade finance and refinancing. Business owners are still making plans and, when there’s a good deal or a need for funding, they aren’t putting it off just because it’s summer.

I think there’s a useful point in that. August can give business owners a bit more time to look at where they are, what the rest of the year may bring and whether the funding they have in place is still right for them. We’ve had quite a few talks this month with firms doing just that.

There are, of course, a few more out-of-office replies flying around. Lenders have people away, as do accountants, lawyers and clients, so you need to allow for that when a deal involves several parties. But lenders are very much open for business and we’ve continued to get deals agreed and completed throughout the month.

The funding needs we’re seeing are quite broad. Some firms want more working capital as they head into a busy autumn. Others are buying kit, looking at property, refinancing debt or putting funds in place for growth. We’re also seeing firms plan ahead for tax bills and acquisitions.

What matters is finding a facility that fits what the business is trying to do. Rate is part of that, but so are the term, monthly cost, amount available, speed of access and the lender’s view of the sector. A low headline rate isn’t much use if the facility doesn’t give the business what it needs.

September is usually a busy month for us and I suspect this year will be no different. Lots of people come back from holiday with plans they want to get moving before the end of the year. That tends to mean a lot of funding requests land with lenders at much the same time.

So, if you already know there’s a funding need coming up, there’s little to gain from waiting for the schools to go back. We can start looking at the figures, work out which type of funding may suit and speak to the right lenders now. You don’t need to draw the funds straight away, but you can get a good head start.

August has been a useful reminder for us that businesses don’t simply switch off for summer. There are still deals to be done, plans to fund and firms getting ready for what comes after the holidays.

If you’re thinking about funding for the autumn or later in the year, give us a call. We’re here – even if quite a few people we’re emailing seem to be on a beach somewhere!