Business funding in London
Can London businesses get funding quickly?
London businesses can access £5,000 to £1,000,000 through merchant cash advances, revenue-based finance and short-term loans. Decisions usually come back within 24 hours and funds often land within 72. We introduce these applications to YouLend, 365 Finance, iwoca, Funding Circle, Capify and Fleximize.
What we see from London businesses
London enquiries split roughly between hospitality and retail on one side and ecommerce on the other. Restaurants and bars around Soho and Shoreditch take nearly everything by card, which is exactly the profile YouLend and 365 Finance price best. A venue putting £40k+ a month through the terminal will usually pull in more than one competitive offer, and repayments that flex with takings suit the way footfall swings between a wet Tuesday and a Saturday night.
The London-specific problem is margin. Rent in Zone 1 eats a share of revenue that a lender in Leeds never has to think about, so we stress test the repayment against your actual margin before we submit anything. In our experience a deal that looks fine on revenue alone can be uncomfortable once a Soho landlord has taken their cut, and it's better to size down than refinance in month four.
Retail is a steady second. Picture the typical shape of it: a fashion boutique needing stock money for the new season's collection when a traditional bank loan would take six to eight weeks, too late for the seasonal buying window, so the funding has to complete before the season starts. That pattern, stock money on a deadline, is probably the most common London retail enquiry we get, from Camden market traders up to multi-site shops.
If you invoice clients rather than take cards, which covers a lot of London's agencies and professional services firms, skip the MCA conversation. iwoca or Funding Circle term loans fit that shape and we'll route you there on day one rather than waste a week.
Which funding type fits which London business?
| Funding type | Best for | Typical range | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant cash advance | Bars, restaurants, salons, retail with strong card takings | £5k to £500k | 24 to 72 hours |
| Revenue-based finance | Ecommerce and online sellers without card terminals | £10k to £1m | 2 to 5 days |
| Short-term business loan | B2B, trades and firms that invoice rather than take cards | £10k to £500k | 2 to 7 days |
Ranges and speeds reflect what we typically see across our lender panel. Every offer depends on the lender's assessment of your business.
Where we work in Greater London
Everything happens by phone and email, so there's no difference between a Shoreditch bar and a suburban trade counter as far as the process goes. We work with businesses across Westminster, Camden, Islington, Hackney and the rest of the London boroughs, inside and outside the North Circular.
We currently work with UK limited companies and LLPs only.
London funding questions
Can I get business funding in London with bad credit?
Often, yes. Merchant cash advance lenders weigh your card sales more heavily than your credit file. Weaker credit usually means a higher factor rate rather than an outright decline, provided the card takings are consistent.
How fast can a London business get funded?
Decisions typically come back in 24 hours and funds often land within 72 hours of applying. Clean cases with tidy bank statements and consistent card takings move fastest.
Does London rent affect how much I can borrow?
Not directly. Lenders look at revenue, not your outgoings, so a Soho restaurant taking £60k a month by card is assessed on that £60k. High rent does squeeze affordability though, so we sanity check repayments against your real margins before submitting.
Which lenders fund London hospitality businesses?
YouLend and 365 Finance both like strong card volume, which suits bars, restaurants and cafes. Capify will look at seasonal trade. For hospitality with thin card takings, iwoca or Funding Circle term loans can fit better.
Is this service free?
Yes. We are paid a commission by the lender when a deal completes, at no extra cost to you. You are never obliged to accept an offer.
Do you work with sole traders in London?
Not currently. We work with UK limited companies and LLPs only. If you are a sole trader, your accountant can advise on whether incorporating makes sense for your situation.
See what your business could access
Two minutes, soft check only. We'll tell you which lenders are realistic for your numbers, usually within 24 hours.
Start the formCapExpand Ltd (Company No. 14433858) is a commercial finance introducer, not a lender. We are not currently authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and do not provide financial advice. All information on this page is for educational purposes only. Funding is subject to status and lender criteria. CapExpand will receive a commission from providers at no extra cost to you.