Capitalise vs Funding Circle: UK Business Finance Comparison 2026
See how Capitalise compares to Funding Circle side by side, then get three tailored quotes to weigh alongside them. Free, no obligation, and nothing to pay if you decide not to proceed.
Start here: what fits your business?
These are different products rather than like-for-like invoice finance rivals (Capitalise: funding platform via accountants (broker); Funding Circle: business term loans and flexipay (not invoice finance)). UK businesses still weigh them side by side, so the real question is which job you need doing, not which is the better invoice finance line. Capitalise matches you to a panel funder, typically within 24 to 48 hours from approval (selective); Funding Circle typically takes 48 hours (funds, after acceptance) to set up. Capitalise has no single minimum; each panel funder sets its own, Funding Circle has no fixed minimum turnover. Read the side-by-side below, then jump to the "when X wins" sections.
Side-by-side
Full reviews: Capitalise · Funding Circle
| Compared on | Capitalise | Funding Circle |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Funding platform via accountants (broker) | Business term loans and FlexiPay (not invoice finance) |
| Min turnover | No single minimum; each panel funder sets its own | No fixed minimum |
| Advance rate | Up to 90% (funder dependent) | N/A (term loan, not advance against ledger) |
| Typical fee | Funder rates via platform matching | Rates starting at 6.9% per year (business loans) |
| Confidential available? | Yes, via panel funders | N/A |
| Factoring available? | Yes, via panel funders | N/A |
| Setup speed | 24 to 48 hours from approval (selective) | 48 hours (funds, after acceptance) |
Sources for these figures: Capitalise: invoice finance via its lender panel · Capitalise: invoice discounting (confidential) · Capitalise: invoice factoring, advance up to 90% · Funding Circle: founding date · Funding Circle: loans from 6.9% per year, funds typically within 48 hours · Funding Circle: business loan £10,000 to £750,000, up to 6 years, one-off completion fee (checked 24 Sep 2026) · Funding Circle: £18 billion lent to over 135,000 UK businesses
When Capitalise wins
- Accountant-led funding platform with a large lender panel.
- Adds debtor monitoring and company credit tools.
- Routes invoice finance alongside loans and asset finance.
- Strong fit when your accountant manages the process.
Best for
Businesses whose accountant arranges funding, Owners wanting credit monitoring too, Comparison-led buyers.
Watch outs
- A platform and broker, not a direct lender.
- Best accessed via a partner accountant.
- Terms and underwriting set by the matched funder.
When Funding Circle wins
- Established large-scale UK SME lending platform.
- Fixed repayments make budgeting predictable.
- No debtor notification and no ledger management.
- Fast online application and decisioning.
Best for
One-off growth or capital projects, Predictable fixed-repayment borrowers, Businesses without a strong sales ledger.
Watch outs
- Not invoice finance: a term loan, not a ledger advance.
- Funding does not scale automatically with sales.
- May require a personal guarantee.
FAQ
Capitalise or Funding Circle: which fits your business in 2026?
They do different jobs (see the product types above), so pick by the job you need doing. Capitalise is the stronger fit for businesses whose accountant arranges funding; Funding Circle fits one-off growth or capital projects better. The "when X wins" sections above break this down by profile, and the commercials are covered in the next question.
How do Capitalise and Funding Circle price their facilities?
Pricing: Capitalise, funder rates via platform matching; Funding Circle, rates starting at 6.9% per year (business loans). The table above sets advance rate, setup speed and minimum turnover side by side.
Can I get a confidential facility with either Capitalise or Funding Circle?
Capitalise is not a lender itself, but confidential invoice discounting is available through the funders on its panel, who set the terms. Funding Circle is not an invoice finance facility, so confidential invoice discounting does not apply.
Where does each one struggle?
Capitalise is the wrong fit for direct-to-lender applicants. Funding Circle is the wrong fit for funding that flexes with turnover. If either describes your business, browse the side-by-side or get 3 free quotes through our quote form.
Can Market Invoice help me choose between Capitalise and Funding Circle?
Yes. marketinvoice.co.uk is an independent comparison and introducer service operated by Best Business Loans Ltd (company 16833937), and is not tied to either provider. Share your turnover, sector and debtor profile and eCapital, our introduction partner, handles your enquiry and comes back to you with quotes, with no obligation to proceed.
Related
Sources
- Rates, advance percentages and product details checked against Capitalise's own site.
- Rates, advance percentages and product details checked against Funding Circle's own site.
- Capitalise: invoice finance via its lender panel
- Capitalise: invoice discounting (confidential)
- Capitalise: invoice factoring, advance up to 90%
- Funding Circle: founding date
- Funding Circle: loans from 6.9% per year, funds typically within 48 hours
- Funding Circle: business loan £10,000 to £750,000, up to 6 years, one-off completion fee (checked 24 Sep 2026)
- Funding Circle: £18 billion lent to over 135,000 UK businesses
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Tell us monthly turnover, sector, debtor profile and whether the facility needs to be confidential. eCapital, our introduction partner, handles your enquiry and comes back to you with quotes. Free, and no obligation to proceed.
Get my 3 quotes →Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937), directed by Oliver Mackman, owns and operates Market Invoice. Last updated: .
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How we make money: Market Invoice is an independent comparison service, not a lender. Our introduction partner pays us a fixed fee for each business we introduce, whether or not you go ahead; you never pay us and it is never added to your costs. How we are funded.
Disclosure: marketinvoice.co.uk is an independent invoice finance comparison and introducer service operated by Best Business Loans Ltd (company number 16833937). It is a separate business and is not connected to Kriya, Allica Bank or to any provider named on this page. Our introduction partner pays us a fixed fee for each business we introduce, whether or not a facility follows; this is never added to your costs. Invoice finance for limited companies is not a regulated activity, so this comparison is general information rather than regulated financial advice. Figures are indicative; larger facilities are commonly priced bespoke, so confirm terms directly with the provider before you sign.