About Us | Business Finance That Backs You | Funding Circle
Business finance that backs you
As a specialist small business lender, we give you the funding you need to grow with a range of refreshingly simple finance options.
100% dedicated to small businesses
Business owners are forward thinkers. You're determined, always aim to make a difference and work hard to make it happen.
That's why we've made it our mission to back you. We're proudly raising the bar in the world of SME finance with innovative products and services made to power your goals
- Fast, simple business loans
- Flexipay, a flexible, on-demand credit line
- Cashback business credit card
- Asset finance through our expert partners
- Decisions in as little as 1 hour
- Apply in 7 minutes
We’ve helped over 135,000 UK businesses borrow £18 billion to take their business further.
£18 billion
Lent to UK businesses
The UK’s number 1 business lending platform
Founded in 2010, Funding Circle's one of the largest online platforms for business loans in the world. We're listed on the London Stock Exchange too.
1
2010
Funding Circle's born and we lend £2 million to SMEs in our first year.
2
2015
Lending reaches £600 million through our hassle-free term loans.
3
2020
Accredited to offer Government loan schemes, so we can support SMEs through the Covid-19 pandemic.
4
2021
Over £7 billion contributed to GDP and 100,000 jobs supported by our finance options.
5
2022
Over 130,000 businesses supported with over £14 billion in funding. FlexiPay also launched.
6
2023
£234 million worth of transactions made by FlexiPay customers
7
2024
Our brand new Cashback card's released.
8
2026
Company cards and digital wallets released and we were named in the top Times Top 100 Places to Work
Proud sponsors of Premiership Rugby
Like rugby, running a business takes grit, hard work and a good team of people behind you. That’s why we’re sponsoring Premiership Rugby – so we can support all small businesses, from rugby clubs to restaurants, and back your team from behind the scenes. You can find out more about our partnership by visiting our Rugby Hub.
Frequently asked questions
How did Funding Circle start?
Funding Circle was founded in 2010 to give small businesses the funding they need to thrive. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, small businesses were poorly served by the finance industry and were not getting the access to finance they needed.
We set out to change that with an innovative new platform model, and have continued to grow ever since. We’ve since transitioned from just business loans to multiple products for different needs – to give businesses the flexibility to decide which finance suits them.
Who regulates Funding Circle?
Funding Circle Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm registration number 722513. Funding Circle is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
How is Funding Circle different from a bank?
Funding Circle is not a bank, but an online lender. The way we provide finance is more efficient and transparent than traditional lending, which we believe makes it a better system for everyone.
Small businesses apply using our online form, which takes just 7 minutes to fill in. We then assess their application and, if approved, the loan is funded and paid into their bank account. Decisions come in as little as 1 hour, and funds are typically paid within 48 hours once approved, making it a much faster and simpler process for business owners. We continue to service the loan throughout.