Compare business funding products for UK SMEs, including working capital finance, invoice finance, asset finance, merchant cash advance and other funding routes.
A lump sum in fixed monthly payments. No assets required — fast decision, clear schedule.
A lump sum of capital repaid over time in fixed monthly instalments, without pledging any assets as security.
An unsecured business loan gives you a defined lump sum, a fixed repayment schedule, and a clear end date. Because no asset is pledged, the lender relies on your trading performance. Decisions are often made within 24 hours, funds same or next day.
Use cases include hiring staff, a marketing campaign, covering a one-off cost, or buying stock. Fixed repayments mean no surprises — you know exactly what you owe and when it ends.
Backed by property or equipment. Larger amounts, longer terms, lower rates.
A loan backed by an asset — typically property or equipment — which the lender can claim if the loan is not repaid.
A secured loan works like an unsecured loan — lump sum, fixed term — but the lender takes a legal charge over an asset. This enables lower rates, longer terms, and larger amounts. Common security: commercial or residential property, plant, vehicles.
Suited to larger capital needs: property acquisition, significant expansion, business purchase, or debt consolidation at a lower rate.
Short-term funding for day-to-day cash flow when timing creates a gap.
Short-term funding to cover the day-to-day running of a business when cash flow is temporarily tight.
Working capital finance bridges the timing gap between money going out — wages, rent, suppliers — and money coming in. Even profitable businesses hit short-term cash walls when timing doesn't align.
Often structured as a revolving facility: draw, repay, draw again. Useful for seasonal businesses, new contract mobilisation, or any temporary timing gap.
For businesses that take card payments. Repayments tied to daily card sales.
Funding for businesses that take card payments, with repayments automatically deducted as a percentage of daily card sales.
An MCA is an advance against your future card takings. Repayments are collected as a small percentage of each card transaction — no fixed monthly payment, no fixed end date. Strong sales mean faster repayment; quieter days mean less repaid.
Suited to retail, hospitality, food and drink. Approval is based on card sales history, making it accessible to businesses that may not qualify for traditional loans.
Unlock cash from unpaid invoices immediately — stop waiting 30–90 days.
Advance cash against outstanding customer invoices so you receive payment early rather than waiting 30–90 days.
Invoice finance closes the gap between raising an invoice and being paid. The lender advances up to 90% of the invoice value as soon as it's raised — the remaining balance, less a small fee, arrives when your customer settles.
Two types: factoring (lender manages collections) and discounting (confidential — customers never know). Scales automatically with turnover.
Buy vehicles, machinery or equipment by spreading the cost over time.
Acquire equipment, machinery or vehicles by spreading the cost over time rather than paying upfront.
Asset finance lets you use the assets you need without committing the full purchase price upfront. Spread the cost over the productive life of the asset, preserving cash for operations.
Forms include hire purchase (you own at end of term), finance lease (lender owns, you rent), and refinancing existing assets to release equity. New and used assets both accepted.
A pre-approved limit you draw on when needed. Pay only for what you use.
A pre-approved credit limit you can draw on when needed and repay as cash comes in — you only pay for what you use.
A revolving credit line sits in the background and activates when you need it. Draw funds as required, repay when cash arrives, and the facility resets. Unlike a term loan, no lump sum and no fixed schedule until you draw.
You only pay interest on what you draw — ideal for unpredictable or seasonal cash flows.
Short-term capital to cover a gap until longer-term funding arrives.
Short-term funding that covers a gap until a longer-term or larger source of money arrives.
Bridging finance is for situations where you need capital now but a larger sum is on its way. Most common in property — buy before your existing property sells, or complete quickly before a mortgage finalises.
Business bridging also covers: gap between winning a contract and advance payment, funding an acquisition while permanent finance is arranged. The exit strategy is central to approval.
Repayments tied to monthly revenue — quieter months cost less automatically.
Funding repaid as a fixed percentage of monthly revenue — so payments automatically flex with how your business trades.
Revenue-based finance links repayments directly to income. A strong month means faster repayment; a quiet month means a lower payment — automatically. No fixed term: ends when the agreed total has been collected.
Particularly suited to variable or seasonal income — ecommerce, hospitality, subscription businesses. Based on total bank turnover, wider availability than an MCA.
No credit check. No commitment. A clear picture of your options, explained honestly.