UK Merchant Cash Advance Providers Compared 2025
All 15 UK MCA providers ranked by rates, speed, and customer reviews. Find the best merchant cash advance for your business - save up to 40% by choosing right.
Best MCA Providers UK 2025
- 1. iwoca - Lowest rates (1.08-1.25x), best overall value
- 2. YouLend - Best for e-commerce (Shopify/Amazon integration)
- 3. 365 Finance - Best for hospitality (same-day approval)
- 4. Capify - Best for large amounts (£100k+)
- 5. Liberis - Good all-rounder (1.15-1.35x)
What is a Merchant Cash Advance (MCA)?
A Merchant Cash Advance provides a lump sum (£5k-£500k) to your business, and you repay it by giving the lender a percentage of your daily card sales (typically 10-20%) until a predetermined total is repaid.
Key difference from loans: Repayments flex with your sales. Busy day = higher repayment. Quiet day = lower repayment. No fixed monthly payment to stress about.
Complete UK MCA Provider List (All 15)
Factor Rate Comparison (Most Important)
Factor rate is the total you repay per £1 borrowed. A 1.25x factor rate means you repay £1.25 for every £1 advanced.
How to Choose the Right MCA Provider
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
- Under £3k/month revenue → No MCA options available
- £3k-£8k/month → iwoca only
- £8k-£10k/month → iwoca or YouLend
- £10k+/month → All providers available
Step 2: Identify Your Industry
- E-commerce/online → YouLend (best integration)
- Restaurant/pub/hotel → 365 Finance (industry specialists)
- Retail/other → iwoca (best rates)
Step 3: Compare Rates from Top 3
Get quotes from your top 3 matches and choose the best rate. Factor rate differences of just 0.10x = £5,000 savings on a £50k advance.
Real Cost Examples
Same £30,000 advance from different providers:
- iwoca (1.12x): £33,600 total = £3,600 cost
- YouLend (1.20x): £36,000 total = £6,000 cost
- 365 Finance (1.25x): £37,500 total = £7,500 cost
- Capify (1.35x): £40,500 total = £10,500 cost
Difference between best (iwoca) and worst (Capify): £6,900 - just for choosing the right provider!
Conclusion
The "best" MCA provider depends entirely on your business type, revenue, and needs. iwoca offers best rates for most SMEs, YouLend excels for e-commerce, and 365 Finance dominates hospitality.
Never accept the first offer. Comparing 3-4 providers takes 10 minutes and saves £3,000-£10,000 on average. Use a comparison service to get multiple offers simultaneously.