Short-term business finance
Three to twelve months for a defined need with a defined end: a tax bill, a large order, a deposit on a unit. Quick to arrange, clear to repay, nothing left running afterwards.
When short-term finance is the right tool
Short-term finance is for a need you can draw a line around: you know what the money is for, roughly when the business will be back to normal, and that it won't need to roll over. Because the commitment is short, it's priced for speed and arranged in hours rather than weeks; because it ends, it doesn't become a permanent cost line. The maximum facility is usually capped at around four months' turnover so that repayment sits comfortably inside normal trading.
Depending on how you take money, it can be structured as a short loan with weekly repayments or as a short advance against card takings. We'll tell you which fits before you decide.
How it works
Four steps, with the timings we actually work to.
Apply online
Business name, what you do, roughly what goes through the till, the amount and what it's for. No credit search at this stage.
A specialist calls you back
Confirms it's a fit, tells you which product suits the numbers and what it would typically cost. If it isn't a fit, you hear that now.
Decision in writing
Send six months of bank statements (open banking takes under a minute), card statements if you take cards, and photo ID. The offer shows the amount, the total to repay and how it's collected.
Funds in your account
E-sign, and the money goes to the business account. Repayments start as agreed.
| Amount | £20,000 |
| Term | 6 months |
| Cost of funding | 1.5% per month, flat |
| Weekly repayment | £846 |
| Total repayable | £21,800 |
| Cost of funding | £1,800 |
| Settle at month 3 | £900 of cost not charged |
Illustrative figures using typical market terms; not a real customer. Your offer depends on your trading and our assessment.
Eligibility
- UK limited company or LLP
- Trading six months or more
- £10,000 or more a month in turnover
- Six months of business bank statements
- A specific purpose with a clear end
- Refinancing another short-term facility: stacking is how businesses get into trouble
- Covering ongoing losses
- Sole traders and partnerships below £25,000
Short-term finance vs the alternatives
| Short-term finance | Overdraft | Merchant cash advance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | 3 to 12 months, fixed | Open-ended, repayable on demand | No fixed term, typically 4 to 12 months |
| Arranged in | Hours | Weeks, if the bank agrees at all | Hours |
| Repayment | Fixed weekly or monthly | Whenever cash allows; fees accrue | Percentage of card takings |
| Cost | Fixed total, known up front | Interest plus arrangement fees; can be withdrawn | Factor rate, fixed total |
| Best for | One-off bills and orders | Small, frequent fluctuations | Card-heavy, seasonal trade |
What owners use it for
Honest limits
Short-term finance is deliberately small and deliberately short. We cap it at around four months' turnover and 12 months' duration because beyond that it stops being a bridge and starts being a crutch. If you already have a short-term facility running elsewhere, we won't stack another on top; we'll look at consolidating instead. A director's personal guarantee is standard; there is no charge over property; applying runs no credit search.
A direct lender, in plain terms
Our own underwriters. Your file isn't sold on to a panel or passed around a market; the people who assess it are the people who fund it.
The total on your offer, nothing before funds are released. No application fee, no broker commission built into your price.
Finance to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes is not regulated consumer credit. The legal name of the funding entity is on every offer document.
Questions about short-term business finance
How fast is short-term business finance?
Decision in as little as 3 hours with statements and ID in; funds in as little as 24 hours after signing.
What's the shortest term?
Three months. Below that, the arrangement cost outweighs the benefit.
Can I repay early?
Yes. The cost for the remaining weeks isn't charged; the calculator shows the saving.
Is it cheaper than a merchant cash advance?
Often similar in total cost. The difference is structure: fixed weekly repayments versus a percentage of card takings. Choose on how your cash arrives, not on the headline.
Can I use it to pay HMRC?
Yes; tax bills are the most common use.
Is a personal guarantee required?
Yes, from a director. No charge over property.
What if I need longer than 12 months?
Then it's a business loan, not short-term finance. We'll say so and quote that instead.
Will applying affect my credit score?
No. The enquiry runs no search.
Other ways we fund UK businesses
See what your business could be offered
Two minutes to tell us about the business. A funding specialist calls you back, usually the same working day, with a straight answer.