Independent advisers for business owners

Pay less for the things every business needs.

We help businesses choose the right payment provider, raise finance, and cut utility costs - with honest advice from people who've done the negotiating before.

1,000+
Businesses advised
30+
Providers in our network
15+
Industries supported
4.5★
Trustpilot rating
What we help with

Cut costs across what your business pays for every month

Whether you're starting out or scaling up, we help you find better providers, lower your monthly costs, and stop overpaying for the basics.

Card terminal taking a contactless payment

Taking Payments

Whether you take card payments online, in-store, or over the phone, we match you with a provider that fits your sector - including high-risk approvals.

Discover our payment solutions
Business owner reviewing funding options

Raising Finance

From cash flow loans to merchant cash advances and asset finance, we help you raise funding from lenders on terms that suit how your business actually trades.

Discover our finance solutions
Busy restaurant lit up in the evening

Powering Your Business

Electricity, gas, and broadband quietly become your biggest fixed costs. We negotiate with suppliers on your behalf and lock in better rates - without the admin.

Review your utility bills
Declined or frozen account?

Been declined? Account frozen?
Our team can help.

A decline or frozen account usually reflects one provider's risk appetite, not the whole market. We work with a wide panel of UK and EU providers, each assessing risk differently, so we can match you with a stable provider that fits how you trade now and supports you as your business scales.

Discuss your approval options
Why Merchant Advice

What you get when you work with us

Independent advice, a wider panel of providers, and support that doesn't end at sign-up.

Reach across the market

One conversation gives you access to our network of UK and EU providers, instead of applying one by one.

High-risk expertise

We work with sectors mainstream providers turn away every day. We know which underwriters say yes - and what they need to see.

Tailored to how you trade

Recommendations are based on your volumes, business model, and risk profile - not a generic shortlist.

From application to live

We prepare your documents, handle underwriter questions, and reduce the avoidable delays that hold approvals up.

How it works

From enquiry to live in four steps

We handle the search, the matching, and the back-and-forth - so you don't have to.

1

Tell us about your business

Share what you're looking for via our short online form. One of our team will follow up to gather any extra detail we need to match you properly.

2

We find the right provider

We approach the providers in our UK and EU panel best matched to your sector, volumes, and risk profile. Your details stay secure.

3

Choose, switch, go live

We present your matched quotes clearly and answer any questions. When you're happy, we handle the switching or onboarding.

4

Stay supported as you grow

Our job doesn't stop at sign-up. We review your setup as your business grows, renegotiate terms when they come up, and stay on hand for renewals.

Our network

A growing UK and EU provider database

Payment providers, business finance lenders, and utility suppliers, all in one place.

Worldpay
Adyen
Fiserv
SumUp
Dojo
Cashflows
Trust Payments
CardStream
Axcess
Capital
YouLend
Zempler Bank
Reviews

Reviews from merchants we've placed

Real reviews from businesses we've helped - across payments, finance, and utilities.

★★★★★

"Steven was incredibly helpful from start to finish - took the time to understand my needs and came through with a competitive offer that we ended up going ahead with. Support has continued throughout onboarding and I'd definitely recommend Steven to anyone looking to change their payment services provider."

Ecommerce merchant · Verified Trustpilot review
★★★★★

"Steve has been absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Even now if I have a question he's straight on it. I cannot recommend this guy enough for what he's done for us so far at bigtimewinners. We massively appreciate it."

BigTimeWinners · Verified Trustpilot review
★★★★★

"Communication was fast, Steve was professional and super helpful. Process was smooth and simple. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for these services, especially if you need a payment gateway for a supplement company sorted."

Supplement brand · Verified Trustpilot review
4.4 on Trustpilot · Read all reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is Merchant Advice free to use?
Yes. We don't charge merchants. Providers pay us a referral fee when a setup goes ahead, which keeps our advice independent and free at the point of use.
I've been declined before - can you still help?
In most cases, yes. A previous decline usually means one provider wasn't comfortable with your profile, not that no provider will accept you. We'll review what happened and approach providers with the right risk appetite.
My account was closed by my last provider. Does that rule me out?
No, but it raises scrutiny. Providers will want context - why it closed, what's changed, and how you handle risk now. We help you present that history clearly so it doesn't derail a new application.
Are your fees competitive?
We compare offers on structure, not just headline rates. For higher-risk merchants in particular, the cheapest quoted percentage isn't always available - but we work to find terms that balance cost, approval likelihood, and stability.
Why do some providers ask for a rolling reserve?
A rolling reserve holds back a portion of takings for a set period to cover refund and chargeback risk. It's common in higher-risk sectors. We explain the impact on cash flow upfront so there are no surprises.
How long does the process take?
Standard merchant accounts can go live in a few working days. High-risk and specialist setups typically take 1-3 weeks depending on documentation, sector, and underwriting checks. We tell you what's realistic at the start.
Do you only work with high-risk businesses?
No. We work across mainstream ecommerce, retail, hospitality, professional services, and B2B as well as specialist sectors. Our edge is having both ends covered.
What information do I need to get started?
Usually just a brief description of your business, your monthly card volumes (or projections), your website if you have one, and any history with previous providers. We'll guide you through the rest.