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Get my 3 quotes →If your business needs cash this week, the quickest routes are usually a short-term business loan, a merchant cash advance (only if you take card payments), or lending your own money to the company. Invoice finance takes longer to set up, so it rarely solves a problem that has to be fixed in the next few days. Once it is running, though, it pays you against each new invoice, which can stop the same cash gap coming back. Market Invoice compares UK invoice finance providers, and you can get 3 free quotes through our introduction partner, a UK invoice finance provider.
For cash within days, UK businesses usually look at a short-term business loan, a merchant cash advance (card takings only) or a director's loan. Invoice finance takes longer to set up but then pays against each new invoice. More detail + scope
This page covers
Emergency funding options for UK businesses: what each is, how fast it can be, what it costs where the lender publishes a figure, and the catch
Not covered here
Detailed invoice finance comparison (see /compare/), same-day invoice finance specifics (see /best/same-day-invoice-finance/), overdraft alternatives (see /questions/bank-cut-my-overdraft/)
Your options at a glance
| Option | How fast | Cost | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director's loan | As fast as you can move the money | No lender fees | Your own money is at risk; there are tax rules to follow |
| Short-term business loan | Days; see each lender below | From 1.5% per 30 days (iwoca) or 6.9% a year (Funding Circle) | Fixed repayments, however trade goes |
| Merchant cash advance | Usually quick; ask the provider | A fixed amount on top of what you borrow | Only if you take card payments |
| Invoice finance | Setup can take weeks; then within about 24 hours of each invoice | Service charge plus a discount charge; see below | Only if you invoice other businesses on credit terms |
| Overdraft increase | Depends on your bank | Set by your bank | The bank may say no if cash is already tight |
Lender figures below come from each lender's own website, with a link beside them. Where we found no published figure, the table gives none.
Director's loan
This is not a lender product. If you have personal savings, you can lend them to your own company. There is no application and no fee. But your own money is at risk if the business fails, and director's loans have tax rules, so keep a written record and speak to your accountant. GOV.UK explains the rules on director's loans.
Short-term business loan
Online lenders decide quickly and pay out within days. You repay a fixed amount each month, whether trade is good or bad. Two lenders publish starting rates:
- iwoca says its rates start at 1.5% per 30 days and that it can approve within 24 hours.
- Funding Circle says its rates start at 6.9% a year and that funds typically arrive within 48 hours of accepting an offer.
These are starting rates. The rate you are offered depends on your business.
Merchant cash advance
A provider pays you cash now against your future card takings. You pay it back as a share of each day's card sales, so you pay less on a quiet day and more on a busy one. You agree a fixed total to repay up front. Ask for that total in pounds and compare it with a loan before you sign. It only works if customers pay you by card.
Invoice finance
A lender pays you most of an unpaid invoice now, and you get the rest, less fees, when your customer pays. It only works if you invoice other businesses on credit terms. It is not a loan against the business, it is money against work you have already done.
- Setup: UK broker ABC Finance says the whole process might take two to four weeks. Ultimate Finance says it sets up a facility within one week (both read 14 Oct 2026).
- Once it is running: Ultimate Finance says it pays within 24 hours of receiving an invoice, and ABC Finance says funds usually arrive within 24 hours.
- Cost: ABC Finance puts service charges at 0.5% to 3% of invoice value, plus a discount charge of 1.5% to 3.5% above base rate for established businesses. Most lenders don't publish their own fees, so you need a quote.
Ask your bank for a bigger overdraft
Worth asking, but it is not always quick. If your cash is already tight, the bank may see more risk and say no.
What to do if you need cash this week
If the money has to arrive in the next few days, a short-term loan, a merchant cash advance or your own money may be the only things fast enough. Compare the total you will repay in pounds, not just the rate. If you invoice other businesses, start an invoice finance application at the same time, so the next gap is covered.
Founder & Managing Director, Muswell Rose, founder and PSC of Best Business Loans Ltd
Adam is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and a founder of Best Business Loans Ltd, the company behind Market Invoice. He spent over three years as managing director of Penny, a UK invoice finance business, and his career runs through insurance, mortgages, commercial finance and fintech lending. He writes the Market Invoice library.
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