Capify is an alternative lender offering unsecured business loans from £5,000 to £3,000,000 and merchant cash advances up to £750,000. With fast funding (often within 24 hours) and willingness to consider all credit profiles, Capify positions itself as an option for businesses that banks have declined. However, the cost is significantly higher than traditional lenders — representative APR examples range from 47.9% to 67.89%. Here is our independent review.
- Loans from £5,000 to £3,000,000 available - wide funding range plus merchant cash advances up to £750,000
- Best for businesses needing £50,000+ quickly - fast approval process suits larger funding requirements with urgency
- Rates can exceed 40% APR - significantly higher costs than traditional bank lending for alternative finance
- Beats traditional banks with 48-hour funding - much faster than 4–8 week high-street application processes
- Arrangement fees up to 5% - upfront costs add £2,500 on a £50,000 business loan
What Is Capify?
Capify is a UK alternative lender (not a bank) offering unsecured business loans up to £3,000,000 and merchant cash advances up to £750,000, with daily or weekly repayments and funding in as little as 24 hours.
Capify has been lending in the UK since 2008 and is part of a global operation that started in 2002 as AmeriMerchant in the United States. The company rebranded to Capify in 2015, unifying its US, UK (previously United Kapital/Capiota), and Australian operations under a single brand.
Since launch, Capify has provided over £1.2 billion in funding to 20,000+ businesses. It secured a £100 million credit facility from Pollen Street Capital in 2024, following a previous £75 million facility from Goldman Sachs in 2019 — indicating serious institutional backing.
Capify is based in Altrincham, England, and holds a 4.7/5 rating on Trustpilot from 703 reviews. It is not a bank and is not FCA regulated as a consumer credit lender, as business lending in the UK is largely outside FCA consumer credit regulation.
Capify Pros and Cons
Capify is best for businesses that need fast funding and cannot qualify for bank loans — but you pay a premium for that speed and accessibility, with APRs that can exceed 60%.
Capify Products and Rates
Capify offers three products: unsecured loans (£5K–£3M), secured loans (£75K–£3M), and merchant cash advances (£5K–£750K). Unsecured loans start at 10.99% p.a. but representative APR is 67.89%.
| Product | Amount | Term | Repayment | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unsecured Business Loan | £5,000 – £3,000,000 | 3 months – 5 years | Daily or weekly | £10K/month turnover, 1+ year trading |
| Secured Business Loan | £75,000 – £3,000,000 | Bespoke | Agreed at application | Residential property as security, LTD/LLP only |
| Merchant Cash Advance | £5,000 – £750,000 | No fixed term | % of daily card sales | £20K/month card payments |
Capify advertises interest rates from 10.99% per annum, but the actual cost is substantially higher once fees are included. Two representative APR examples from Capify’s own disclosures illustrate this:
The merchant cash advance works differently. Like Liberis, you receive a lump sum and repay it as a percentage of your daily card sales. There is no APR because there is no fixed term — repayment depends on how much your business takes in card payments each day.
Capify Fees Breakdown
Capify charges three fees on top of interest: a processing fee (£249–£649), a 4% origination fee, and a £24.90 monthly service fee. There are no early repayment penalties.
One area where Capify’s competitors consistently flag concerns is the fee structure. Beyond the interest rate, you should budget for:
| Fee | Amount | When Charged |
|---|---|---|
| Processing fee | £249 – £649 | On drawdown (tiered by loan amount) |
| Origination fee | 4% of loan amount | On drawdown |
| Monthly service fee | £24.90 | Monthly throughout the loan term |
| Early repayment | £0 | No penalty |
Worked example: On a £50,000 loan over 12 months, the upfront fees alone would be approximately £2,649 (4% origination = £2,000 + £649 processing fee), plus £298.80 in monthly service fees over the year. These fees sit on top of the interest charges.
Eligibility Requirements
You need at least 12 months’ trading history, £10,000+ monthly turnover, and must provide a personal guarantee. All credit profiles are considered, including bad credit.
- Minimum 12 months’ trading history
- £10,000+ monthly turnover
- UK-registered limited company, sole trader, or partnership
- Personal guarantee required from the majority shareholder or owner
- All credit profiles considered — Capify will review applications from businesses with poor or limited credit history
For the merchant cash advance, you also need to process at least £20,000 per month in card payments through your payment terminal.
Sole traders and partnerships can access unsecured loans from £25,001 upward. For loans below that threshold, you need to be a limited company.
Customer Reviews and Trustpilot Rating
Capify holds a 4.7/5 Trustpilot rating from 703 reviews, with 87% giving five stars. Complaints (8%) focus on lengthy application admin and post-application spam.
Positive review themes:
- Staff professionalism and personal service throughout the process
- Fast processing — 24 to 48 hours from application to funding
- Clear communication about what to expect
- Willingness to fund businesses declined elsewhere
Negative review themes (8% of reviews):
- Application process can become lengthy once documentation is requested
- Missed payment administration issues reported by some borrowers
- Post-application marketing emails that some customers found excessive
NerdWallet UK rates Capify 3.7 out of 5, citing the high APR and fee structure as the main drawbacks despite the speed and accessibility.
Capify vs Alternatives
Capify is faster and more accessible than banks but charges 5–10x more in APR. Choose Capify for speed when banks say no; choose a bank or Funding Circle for lowest cost.
| Feature | Capify | Funding Circle | HSBC Small Business Loan | Liberis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Alternative lender | Peer-to-peer lender | High street bank | Revenue-based finance |
| Amount | £5K – £3M | £10K – £250K | £1K – £25K | £1K – £1M |
| Cost | 47.9–67.89% APR | 6.9–10% APR | 7.1% representative APR | Fixed fee (15–30%) |
| Speed | 24 hours | 1–5 days | 1–2 weeks | 48 hours |
| Min trading | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months (startups accepted) | 4 months |
| Bad credit | Accepted | Case by case | Unlikely | Case by case |
| Trustpilot | 4.7/5 (703) | 4.6/5 (14,000+) | N/A | 4.8/5 (1,478) |
The numbers tell a clear story. Capify’s APR is 5 to 10 times higher than what you would pay at a bank or through Funding Circle. That is the price of speed and accessibility.
If you can qualify for a bank loan or Funding Circle, you should explore those first. If you have been declined, need funds urgently, or have a credit history that traditional lenders will not consider, Capify fills that gap — but go in with your eyes open about the cost.
For businesses with consistent card revenue, Liberis is another option worth comparing. Its revenue-based finance model has no APR and no fixed term, though the total cost (15–30% fixed fee) is also significant.
Our Verdict
Capify scores 6.5/10 — a genuine lifeline for businesses shut out by banks, but the very high APR and layered fee structure mean it should be a last resort, not a first choice.
Capify fills a genuine gap for businesses shut out by traditional lenders. Fast funding and willingness to consider all credit profiles are real strengths. But the very high APR (47.9–67.89%) and layered fee structure mean it should be a last resort. Exhaust cheaper options first — HSBC, Barclays, and Funding Circle all offer sub-10% APR.
Capify solves a real problem. When banks say no, when you need money tomorrow, when your credit history is not strong enough for traditional lending — Capify will often say yes. The £1.2 billion funded across 20,000+ businesses and the 4.7 Trustpilot rating show this is not a fringe operator.
But the cost is substantial. At 47.9% to 67.89% APR with additional processing, origination, and monthly service fees, you are paying a significant premium for that speed and accessibility. For a £50,000 loan, you could pay £15,000+ in total interest and fees over 12 months.
Our recommendation: exhaust cheaper options first. Try HSBC or Barclays for bank loans (7–10% APR), Funding Circle for peer-to-peer lending (6.9–10%), or a broker like Think Business Loans to access 200+ lenders. If those options are closed to you, Capify is a legitimate alternative — just make sure the total cost of borrowing is worth it for your business.
Related Guides
- Compare Business Loan Options
- Top 10 Business Loans UK 2026
- Business Loan Costs and Interest Rates
- Bad Credit Business Loans
- Liberis Review
- Funding Circle Review
