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Finance

Business funding for UK businesses - matched to how you trade.

Whether you need working capital fast, a flexible card for everyday spend, or a better business bank account, there's a funding route that fits how your business actually earns. We help UK businesses compare the options and get matched to lenders likely to approve them - without scattering hard credit searches.

UK business owner reviewing funding options at a laptop
What we cover

Three routes to funding your business

Most UK businesses we help fall into one of three routes - or a combination. Start with the one that matches how your business actually earns and what you need the money for.

A UK business owner reviewing merchant cash advance options

Merchant Cash Advance

An advance repaid as a share of your daily card takings - assessed on trading performance, not just your credit score.

  • Repayments flex with revenue - lighter in quiet weeks, faster when busy.
  • Approval leans on card takings and turnover, so it suits weaker credit.
  • Funds often available within days once your statements are in.
Explore merchant cash advances
A hand holding a black business credit card with contactless and Visa symbols

Business Credit Cards

Flexible short-term spending power for everyday costs, with options for newer or weaker credit profiles.

  • Smooth cash flow and keep business spend separate from personal.
  • Cards suited to startups and thinner credit files.
  • Compare limits, fees, and rewards without the sales pitch.
Explore business credit cards
UK high-street bank branch at night

Business Banking

UK business accounts with smarter terms - from app-based challengers to established high-street names.

  • App-based and high-street accounts compared side by side.
  • Options that open quickly, even with a thin or poor credit file.
  • Switching support so you do not lose payments mid-move.
Explore business banking
Guides & resources

Get up to speed before you apply

Plain-English guidance on the questions business owners ask us most - so you walk into a funding conversation knowing what to expect.

The words 'BAD CREDIT' spelled out in blue letter tiles with yellow letters on a bright orange backgroundGuide

Business Funding for Bad Credit: Your Options With No Credit Check

What 'no credit check' really means, the realistic routes for a poor or thin credit file - including merchant cash advances and business credit cards - what they cost, and how to improve your approval odds.

Read guide
An illuminated Lloyds Bank branch sign with its black horse logo lit up at night on a UK high streetGuide

How to Open a Business Bank Account in the UK

The documents you need, sole trader versus limited company requirements, the step-by-step process, digital versus high-street routes, and what to do with bad credit.

Read guide

How business funding cost actually works

The headline rate rarely tells the whole story. What you pay depends on the product, your trading performance, and which funder you approach.

What shapes your real cost

  • Pricing model - a merchant cash advance uses a factor rate, a loan or card uses APR, and the two are not directly comparable.
  • Your credit profile and trading history - a weaker file usually means a higher rate or a smaller facility.
  • Term and structure - a longer term lowers the monthly cost but raises the total; a higher holdback clears an advance faster but tightens cash flow.
  • Security on offer - a personal guarantee or asset can lower the rate, but puts something on the line.
  • The funder you approach - the same business gets different offers from different lenders.

We compare the total cost and the likelihood of approval, then route you to the funder that fits - not the first one to say yes.

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.

Why Merchant Advice

Why use Merchant Advice instead of going straight to a lender?

Going direct means one lender, one set of criteria, and one hard search. We match your profile across the market first, so you apply where you are likely to be approved.

Independent comparison

We're not tied to one lender. We recommend the route and funder that fit your business - not the one that pays us best.

Matched to likely approval

We read your trading profile and point you at funders whose criteria you already meet, sparing your credit file from repeated hard searches.

Whole-of-market view

Merchant cash advance, business cards, or a better bank account - we put the routes side by side so you can judge fit and cost.

Tougher cases welcome

Bad credit, thin trading history, or a past default? We work with funders who underwrite on performance, not just a score.

A UK business owner reviewing funding options at a laptop
Next step

Get matched to the right funding

Tell us how your business trades and we'll line up the routes and funders most likely to approve you - with one soft search rather than many.

  • Guidance based on how you actually earn, not a credit score alone.
  • Support across cash advances, business cards, and banking.
  • A shortlist based on cost, fit, and approval likelihood.
Start My Funding Review

Frequently asked questions

What does Merchant Advice actually do for funding?
We're an independent funding broker for UK businesses. We compare routes - merchant cash advances, business credit cards, and business banking - and match you to lenders likely to approve you, then help you weigh the offers.
Is your service free?
Yes, it's free for the business. We're paid a commission by the funder you choose, which doesn't increase your cost. It's how lenders compensate us for introducing businesses we recommend them to.
Can I get funding with bad credit?
Often, yes. A merchant cash advance is assessed on your card takings rather than your credit score, which makes it one of the more accessible routes. See our guide to business funding for bad credit for the full picture.
Will comparing options affect my credit score?
No. We use soft-search matching to find the right funder first. Only a formal application later involves a hard search, and matching you up front keeps those to a minimum.
How quickly can I get funded?
Performance-based routes like a merchant cash advance can release funds within days once your bank and card statements are ready. Loans and secured facilities take longer.
Do you only work with certain lenders?
We work across a panel of funders and match your profile to the ones whose criteria you meet. We route you to the best fit - we do not push a single product.
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