Hypothetical example: warehouse project cost schedule, $154,000
| Cost line | Amount | Timing | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit (2 months at $6,500) | $13,000 | At lease signing | $13,000 |
| First month rent | $6,500 | At lease signing | $19,500 |
| Lighting and electrical | $18,500 | Weeks 1 to 3 | $38,000 |
| Floor sealing, paint and dock repairs | $9,000 | Weeks 3 to 5 | $47,000 |
| Permits and inspection | $2,500 | Weeks 1 to 5 | $49,500 |
| Racking | $24,000 | Week 5 | $73,500 |
| Used forklift | $19,500 | Week 5 | $93,000 |
| Stock to fill the space | $55,000 | Weeks 5 to 7 | $148,000 |
| Moving and set-up labor | $6,000 | Week 7 | $154,000 |
| Total project | $154,000 |
All figures are hypothetical. Swap in your own lease and quotes, and add the funding cost from your written offer as one more dollar line.
What should you know about deposit terms?
Read the lease for how much is due at signing, what the deposit covers and when it is returned, because the deposit is often the first large payment and the one with the least flexibility.
In the example, the deposit is two months at $6,500, or $13,000, plus $6,500 for the first month, so $19,500 leaves your account on the signing day. Ask the landlord whether the deposit can be a letter of credit, split in two payments or reduced after a clean first year. Those are negotiations, not promises.
Also check the free-rent period, who handles utilities and whether the landlord contributes to improvements. A tenant allowance can shrink the amount you need to fund, so find out before you set the request.
How do fit-out quotes shape the request?
Get at least two written quotes for each fit-out item, because funders want to see real numbers and because contractors' prices and schedules can differ widely.
The example fit-out is $30,000: $18,500 for lighting and electrical, $9,000 for floor sealing, paint and dock repairs, and $2,500 for permits and inspection. Check that the quote states what is included, when the work ends and what happens if inspection fails.
Fit-out is often the hardest line to predict. Keep a contingency in the request, and ask your contractor which items must be done before racking can go in. For a longer repayment period that suits improvements, review term loans for expansion, and compare against shorter products.
How do equipment and stock fit into the plan?
Treat racking, a forklift and opening stock as separate purchases with different lifespans, since equipment stays useful for years and stock turns into sales within weeks or months.
In the schedule, racking is $24,000 and a used forklift is $19,500, together $43,500. Stock to fill the space is $55,000. Running totals show the cash need peaking at $154,000 by week 7.
Wholesale operations in particular should size stock to confirmed customer orders, not to the square footage. See how this works for wholesale distributors. If the equipment is a large share of the project, our guide on separating racking, forklift and inventory funding goes deeper.
What does the move-in and customer revenue timeline look like?
Revenue from the new space starts after fit-out, racking and stock are in place, so you will usually pay rent for several weeks before the warehouse earns anything.
- Week 0: lease signed, $19,500 due.
- Weeks 1 to 5: fit-out and inspection.
- Week 5: racking and forklift installed.
- Weeks 5 to 7: stock arrives and is put away.
- Week 7: first orders ship from the new space.
Rent starts at week 0 but customer revenue starts around week 7, so build the rent for those weeks into your plan. If you can keep shipping from the old space during the move, say so in your application, since it shows revenue does not stop.
Prime typically gives a decision within 24 hours of a complete application, and funding time varies by product. Attach the lease, quotes and statements to your online application. You can also read the new location purchase funding page.
When should you wait or shrink the project?
Wait if the new space is larger than your confirmed demand needs, or if the landlord's timeline and your funding timeline cannot line up.
A smaller first phase, with part of the warehouse left empty, lowers the amount you need and still gives you room to grow. Ask your attorney to review the lease and your accountant to review the cash plan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get funding for a lease deposit?
A deposit can be part of a request for an operating business, alongside the fit-out and equipment. Funders review the lease, your bank statements and the plan case by case. Prime does not publish fixed minimums, and you are not obligated to accept any offer.
Is this available to a startup with no revenue?
This guide is for businesses that already operate and have sales. A company with no revenue yet has little for a funder to review, so talk with your accountant about other options first.
What documents should I gather?
Recent business bank statements, government-issued ID, a voided business check, the lease offer, and written fit-out and equipment quotes. Larger or longer requests may also add tax returns or financial statements.
Should I fund fit-out and stock in one request?
You can, but many owners separate them, because fit-out and equipment are long-lived while stock turns quickly. Show the dollar amount of each so a funder can see what the money does and when.
How big should the contingency be?
There is no set number. Many owners add a percentage on the fit-out only, since that is the least predictable line. Base it on your contractor's quotes and ask them what usually changes once walls are opened.
Have a lease deadline?
Describe your purchase and deadline, and attach the lease and fit-out quotes.
Updated October 17, 2026 · Prime Funding Now Funding Team