Quick answer
A pre-season hiring loan covers the wages, super, training and kit for seasonal staff in the weeks before busy-season takings arrive. It suits tourism, hospitality, retail and outdoor businesses that must recruit and train early. Cost the full gap, including super that's now paid each pay run under Payday Super, then match it with a short facility, such as a line of credit, that's repaid from the peak.
Key points
- Seasonal staff usually cost money for weeks before they bring any in.
- Since 1 July 2026, super must be paid with wages and reach the fund within 7 business days.
- Casual employment has a specific legal definition; check it before hiring a seasonal team.
- A line of credit drawn before the season and cleared during it often fits best.
- Apply before recruiting starts, so offers aren't held up waiting on cash.
A pre-season hiring loan pays for your seasonal team in the weeks before the busy season pays you back. Recruiting, training, uniforms and the first few pay runs all land before the rush does. Cost that whole gap, including super that’s now paid every pay run, and match it with a short, flexible facility that’s cleared from peak-season takings.
It’s a problem every seasonal owner knows. The ski lodge hires in May for a June opening. The beachside café brings on extra hands in November for a summer that starts properly at Christmas. The garden centre staffs up in August for spring. And in every case, the money goes out first.
Why does hiring cost money before the season starts?
Because a good seasonal team needs time. New staff need inductions, food safety or responsible service training, rosters that pair them with experienced people, and a few quieter shifts to learn the ropes. During those weeks they’re on the payroll, but the extra trade they’re there for hasn’t arrived.
On top of wages, there’s a list of smaller costs that add up:
- recruitment advertising and the time spent interviewing
- uniforms, name badges and protective gear
- training courses and certificates
- extra workers compensation premiums as headcount rises
- system logins, licences and devices
- accommodation for staff in remote or resort areas
For many businesses, the pre-season gap runs from two to six weeks of extra costs before revenue catches up.
How has Payday Super changed the numbers?
Significantly, for anyone who used to rely on quarterly super timing. Under Payday Super, from 1 July 2026 employers must pay super contributions at the same time as wages. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that contributions must reach the employee’s fund within 7 business days, with a longer window of 20 business days for a new employee’s first contribution.
Under the old quarterly rhythm, the super for a pre-season hire might not have been paid until the season was well underway and cash was flowing. Now it leaves your account with every pay run, from the first one.
That doesn’t make seasonal hiring unaffordable. It does mean last year’s spreadsheet probably understates how much cash you need before the season starts.
What should you know before hiring a seasonal team?
How you employ seasonal staff affects your costs. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s page on casual employees explains that someone is a casual if, when they start, there’s no “firm advance commitment to ongoing work” and they’re entitled to a casual loading or casual rate. It also notes that minimum casual rates are set by the relevant award, agreement or national minimum wage order.
Seasonal roles aren’t always casual. Some businesses use fixed-term or part-time arrangements for the season. Each has different costs for leave, loading and notice, so check the definitions and your award before you build the budget. Award rates are generally reviewed each year, so make sure you’re using current rates rather than last season’s.
How do you cost the pre-season gap?
Build it week by week, from the first hire to the point where takings comfortably cover the extra staff.
| Week | Extra staff costs (wages, super, on-costs) | Other hiring costs | Extra takings | Cash gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Small: first hires, training shifts | Recruitment, uniforms, courses | Little or none | Biggest as a share |
| Weeks 2–3 | Rising as more staff start | Remaining kit and training | Starting to build | Still negative |
| Weeks 4–5 | Full seasonal roster | Minimal | Approaching peak | Narrowing |
| Week 6 onwards | Full seasonal roster | None | At or near peak | Positive, start repaying |
Add up the negative weeks. That’s the amount to fund, plus a sensible buffer in case the season starts late. Use real numbers from last season, adjusted for any change in award rates and the new super timing.
Can you make the gap smaller?
Usually, yes, and every dollar you don’t need to borrow is a dollar you don’t pay for. Owners who run tight pre-seasons tend to:
- Bring back last year’s team first. Returning staff need less training, so they’re productive from their first shift.
- Stagger start dates. Hire the people who need the most training first and the rest closer to opening.
- Train in small groups. Two intakes of six are easier to supervise, and cheaper to roster, than one intake of twelve.
- Take deposits on bookings. Tour operators, accommodation and function venues can bring some peak-season cash forward.
- Talk to suppliers early. Longer terms on pre-season stock free up cash for wages.
- Order uniforms and kit in advance. Ordering in a rush often costs more and adds express freight.
None of these remove the gap entirely, but together they can shave weeks off it.
If you’d like help sanity-checking the figures, a real person can look at your seasonal pattern with you after a quick enquiry.
What type of finance fits?
The pre-season gap is short and repeats every year, so it suits flexible, short-term facilities.
- A business line of credit is often the best fit. Draw it down as you hire, repay it as peak takings arrive, and keep it open for next season.
- A short working capital loan works if you’d rather have a fixed amount and a clear end date.
- Seasonal business loans cover structures built around uneven years, including timing repayments to your busy months.
- Revenue-based finance can work for card-heavy businesses, because collections rise when the season does, but it’s only useful once the takings are flowing.
On the unsecured side, facilities generally fall somewhere between $5k and $500k, with the limit set by your turnover and what your bank statements show. If you own property and want to fund a bigger pre-season project at the same time, property-secured loans run from $20k to $5m.
business.gov.au’s guide to applying for a business loan suggests knowing “the maximum repayment you can afford” before you apply. For a seasonal business, think about that in two parts: what you can afford during the build-up, and how quickly the peak will clear it.
An illustrative example
Illustrative only. A busy waterfront restaurant on the south coast doubles its floor and kitchen team every summer. Recruitment starts in late October, training runs through November and the season really kicks off in mid-December.
The owner costs the gap:
- Six weeks of extra wages, super and on-costs for twelve seasonal staff during the build-up: about $55k
- Uniforms, training, recruitment and extra workers compensation: about $8k
- Extra takings during those six weeks, as early bookings pick up: about $25k
The gap comes to about $38k. With a buffer for a late start, the owner arranges a $50k line of credit in early October, before any offers go out. They draw about $40k by mid-December and clear it by the end of January from the peak trade. The line stays open for next year. For more on how lenders look at venues like this, see our page on restaurant business loans.
Hiring for the season ahead? Fund it before you make the offers
The best seasonal teams are hired early. Having the money lined up before recruiting starts means you can make offers on the spot and train people properly, instead of hiring late and hoping for the best.
Our enquiry takes about 60 seconds, and there’s no credit check when you first enquire. Your details aren’t sprayed across a pile of lenders, so there’s no barrage of calls. A real person looks at your full year, including the peak that will repay the funding, and calls you to talk it through. Please fill the form in accurately, especially your seasonal timing and headcount, so we can match the right option first time. Tourism businesses may also find our page on tourism operator loans useful.
Frequently asked questions
Can I borrow to pay wages before the busy season?
Yes. Paying staff ahead of seasonal income is one of the most common reasons businesses use working capital finance. Lenders will want to see your full-year statements so they can see the peak that will repay it.
How far ahead should I arrange the funding?
Ideally before you start recruiting. That way you can make offers with confidence and lock in the best people, instead of waiting for the money to arrive.
Does Payday Super change how much I need to borrow?
It changes the timing. From 1 July 2026, super is paid alongside wages rather than quarterly, so the cash leaves your account every pay run. Your pre-season gap now includes super from the first shift.
Should seasonal staff be casual or fixed-term?
It depends on the arrangement. The Fair Work Ombudsman sets out what makes someone a casual employee, and the rules have specific requirements. Check the definitions and your award before you hire, or ask an employment adviser.
What if the season is a dud?
That's the risk with any pre-season spend. A line of credit gives you flexibility to repay more slowly, and keeping the facility modest, matched to a realistic season, reduces the pressure if trade disappoints.