Business Funding Explained: Which Type Suits You?

Alex BeardsleyFounder & Director

|Updated July 2026

When you need funding for your business, the number of options available can feel overwhelming. Term loans, cash advances, invoice finance, grants. What's the difference, and which one actually fits your situation?

This guide walks through the main types of business funding available to UK SMEs, explaining how each works, who it's best suited for, and the trade-offs involved.

Merchant Cash Advance (MCA)

You receive a lump sum upfront and repay it through a fixed percentage of your daily card sales. Repayments flex with your revenue: busy days mean higher repayments, quiet days mean lower ones.

• Best for: hospitality, retail, and seasonal businesses with regular card sales
• Pros: fast approval, no fixed monthly payments, high acceptance rates
• Cons: can cost more than traditional loans; only for card-taking businesses

Term Loans

A fixed amount borrowed and repaid over a set period (typically 1-5 years) in regular monthly instalments. Interest can be fixed or variable. This is the most traditional form of business finance.

• Best for: planned investments, large purchases, or expansion projects with predictable costs
• Pros: predictable monthly payments, potentially lower total cost for strong applicants
• Cons: stricter eligibility criteria, slower approval process, may require security

Revolving Credit Facility

Similar to a business overdraft, you're given access to a credit limit and can draw down funds as needed. You only pay interest on the amount you use, and as you repay, the credit becomes available again.

• Best for: managing cash flow gaps, covering short-term costs, or bridging payment delays
• Pros: flexible access to funds, only pay for what you use
• Cons: interest rates can be higher than term loans, may have annual renewal fees

Invoice Finance

If your business invoices other companies, invoice finance lets you access the cash tied up in unpaid invoices. The funder advances a percentage of the invoice value (usually 70-90%) upfront, then collects payment from your customer.

• Best for: B2B businesses with long payment terms (30-90 days)
• Pros: improves cash flow by releasing money tied up in unpaid invoices, grows with your sales
• Cons: only works for B2B invoicing, fees can add up over time

Asset Finance

Asset finance helps you acquire equipment, vehicles, or machinery by spreading the cost over time. This can take the form of hire purchase (you own the asset at the end) or leasing (you return or upgrade the asset).

• Best for: businesses needing equipment, vehicles, or specialist machinery
• Pros: preserves working capital, potential tax benefits, keeps equipment current
• Cons: tied to specific assets, early termination penalties may apply

Revenue-Based Financing

Similar to an MCA but based on total business revenue rather than just card sales. You repay a percentage of your overall monthly revenue until the agreed total is settled. Common among e-commerce and subscription businesses.

• Best for: online businesses, SaaS companies, and businesses with mixed payment types
• Pros: flexible repayments, doesn't require card-only sales
• Cons: relatively new in the UK, less widely available than MCAs or term loans

Start Up Loans

The UK Government's Start Up Loans scheme provides personal loans to individuals looking to start or grow a business. These are unsecured, fixed-rate personal loans with free mentoring included.

• Best for: new businesses under 3 years old needing smaller amounts of capital
• Pros: government-backed, competitive fixed rate, includes mentoring
• Cons: personal liability (it's a personal loan), limited funding amounts, detailed business plan required

Business Grants

Grants are funding you don't have to repay. They're offered by government bodies, local authorities, and some private organisations for specific purposes such as innovation, environmental projects, or regional development.

• Best for: businesses with a specific project that aligns with grant criteria
• Pros: free money, no repayment, no equity given away
• Cons: highly competitive, strict criteria, time-consuming application process

How many lenders write each of these

The categories are nowhere near equally deep. On our panel, 55 lenders write unsecured business loans, 38 write asset finance, 20 write invoice finance, 45 write commercial mortgages, 53 write bridging, 28 write buy-to-let, 51 write development finance and 19 write secured business loans. That is 200+ lender brands and 1,800+ live products, checked September 2026.

Product limits differ as much as the counts do. Unsecured runs £1,000 to £20 million, asset finance £1,000 to £50 million, invoice finance £500 to £25 million and bridging £5,000 to £300 million. Those are the highest and lowest product ceilings in each category, not what a particular business would be offered, and the gap between the two is usually wide.

Eligibility is where the real filtering happens. 21 unsecured lenders will read a business trading under a year, 14 invoice finance providers will take a start-up, and 39 unsecured lenders do not need the director to be a homeowner. Criteria checked September 2026, and they move often enough that a list six months old is worth very little.

How to Choose the Right Option

The right funding type depends on your specific situation. Consider:

• How quickly you need the funds: MCAs and revolving credit are typically faster than term loans or grants
• What the funding is for: equipment suits asset finance, working capital suits MCAs or revolving credit
• Your trading history and credit profile: newer businesses may find alternative lenders more accessible
• How your business earns revenue: card-heavy businesses suit MCAs, B2B businesses suit invoice finance

Working with a credit broker can help you see which options you're eligible for across multiple lenders, saving you the time of applying individually.

CapExpand Ltd (FRN 1060885) is an Appointed Representative of White Rose Finance Group Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 630772). We are a credit broker, not a lender. We do not provide financial advice.