For an established UK business that wants a person, not just a scorecard, to look at its case, Elara Advisory is a sensible first call: it lends £25k to £500k over 12 to 60 months, decides on trading performance and cash flow rather than credit score alone, and starts with a soft search only. Bizcap, Liberis and Bibby Financial Services offer different routes, from fast short-term loans to card-takings advances and invoice finance.
Plenty of profitable small businesses hear "no" from a high street bank. Sometimes the company is too young, sometimes the accounts show one weak year, and sometimes the bank simply cannot move fast enough for a contract that has to be paid for this month. That is the gap non-bank lenders and finance providers have grown to fill.
The choice is wider than most owners expect, and the products work very differently. We start with alternative business finance in the UK from Elara Advisory, a private credit firm working with UK and UAE businesses, then compare three other well-known non-bank providers. Each one suits a different kind of business, so read the "Suits" line at the end of each section first.
Four non-bank options side by side
| Provider | Type of finance | Amounts stated | How you repay | Who it is aimed at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Elara Advisory | SME term finance; property-backed bridging | £25k to £500k (SME); £75k to £5M (bridging) | Flexible structures over 12 to 60 months (SME) | Established UK and UAE businesses trading 12+ months |
| 2. Bizcap | Short-term loans, secured loans, line of credit, bridging | £5k to £1m across products | Daily or weekly repayments | UK companies trading 4+ months with £12,000+ monthly revenue (for its unsecured loans) |
| 3. Liberis | Business cash advance through partner platforms | Not stated per business | From your card or platform takings, with a monthly minimum | Businesses using its partners, such as card payment providers |
| 4. Bibby Financial Services | Invoice finance | Not stated on its homepage | Repaid as your customers pay their invoices | Businesses that invoice other businesses |
Figures come from each provider's own website in October 2026. We have left out interest rates and fees, because they depend on the business and the deal. Ask every provider for the total cost in pounds.
How we compared them
We read each provider's own website and noted the things an SME owner needs before spending time on an application: the type of finance, the amounts stated, how repayment works, who it is aimed at and what the provider says about regulation and credit checks. We chose four providers that each represent a different kind of non-bank finance, rather than four versions of the same loan.
1. Elara Advisory: underwriter-led finance for established SMEs
Elara Advisory is the trading name of Elara Advisory LLC, a private credit firm registered in the United Arab Emirates (registration number 2646405). It provides finance to businesses in the UK and the UAE and states that it does not lend to consumers.
Its SME business finance runs from £25k to £500k over 12 to 60 months, for working capital, growth funding and refinancing. It says decisions are based on trading performance and cash flow rather than only credit scores, and that an underwriter reviews every case personally. It aims to give an indicative offer within 24 hours, and says SME loans often fund within five to ten business days of a complete application. Each client has a dedicated contact.
The early steps are low-risk for your credit file. Elara says an enquiry uses only a soft search, with a hard search only if you go ahead to a full application after the indicative offer. Its FAQ is also upfront about personal guarantees: it describes them as standard for unsecured SME lending and says the terms are explained before you commit.
For property-backed needs, its bridging finance covers £75k to £5M over 1 to 24 months, with up to 75% loan to value considered. As with any lender registered outside the UK, ask which legal framework will govern your agreement.
Suits: established businesses trading for 12 months or more that want to talk a case through with an underwriter, especially where the credit score does not tell the whole story.
2. Bizcap: speed and smaller amounts
Bizcap offers several products: fast business loans from £5k to £150k, small business loans from £5k to £500k, secured loans from £30k to £1m, a line of credit up to £500k and short-term bridging from £150k to £1m. It says decisions can come in as little as three hours, and that a conditional offer does not need an upfront credit check.
For its fast and small business loans, it asks for an active UK company registration number, at least four months of trading and monthly revenue of at least £12,000. Repayments are daily or weekly. Bizcap states that it is registered with the FCA for anti-money laundering purposes only.
Suits: younger limited companies with steady card or bank takings that need a smaller sum quickly.
3. Liberis: an advance against future takings
Liberis works through partner platforms, including card payment and business software providers such as Worldpay, Dojo, Clover and Teya. Its business cash advance is, in its own words, a form of receivables finance rather than a loan. Repayment comes from the business's takings, and Liberis says merchants must operate so it receives a minimum monthly amount of up to 3% of the total owed.
Liberis states that it is not authorised or regulated by the FCA and that the Financial Ombudsman Service cannot consider complaints about it. It means fewer formal routes if something goes wrong, so read the agreement closely before you sign.
Suits: card-taking businesses such as shops, salons and restaurants whose payment provider already partners with Liberis.
4. Bibby Financial Services: turning invoices into cash
Bibby Financial Services says it has supported businesses for over 40 years and works with over 8,500 businesses in 300 industries. It is family-owned, and its main product is invoice finance, which releases money tied up in unpaid invoices so you do not wait 30 or 60 days for customers to pay.
Suits: businesses that invoice other businesses, such as construction, recruitment and manufacturing firms, and want funding that grows with their sales.
Which kind of finance fits which problem?
- A one-off investment, such as equipment, a fit-out or an acquisition: a term loan, where you know the repayment from day one.
- Slow-paying customers: invoice finance, which moves with your sales ledger.
- Uneven card takings: a cash advance, where repayments rise and fall with sales, usually at a higher cost.
- A property purchase or a short gap before a sale or refinance: bridging finance secured on the property.
The GOV.UK finance and support finder is a useful place to check for grants or government-backed schemes before you borrow commercially.
Checks before you apply anywhere
- Look the provider up on the FCA Financial Services Register, and read what it says about its own regulatory status.
- Ask whether the first check is a soft or hard credit search.
- Get the total cost in pounds, not just a rate or a factor.
- Ask whether a personal guarantee is needed, and for how much.
- Check what happens if you want to repay early.
On guarantees, the British Business Bank notes that "Some lenders may request the full loan amount as a personal guarantee, while others will ask for as little as 20%." Ask for the figure in writing.
Frequently asked questions
What is alternative business finance?
It is funding from providers other than the traditional high street banks: specialist lenders, private credit firms, invoice finance companies and cash advance providers. Products, costs and protections vary widely.
Is alternative finance more expensive than a bank loan?
Often, but not always. It depends on the product, your business and the security offered. Compare the total cost in pounds over the full term.
Will enquiring affect my credit score?
A soft search does not affect your credit file. Elara Advisory says enquiries use a soft search only, and Bizcap says its conditional offer has no upfront credit check. Ask any provider before you apply.
Can a business in both the UK and the UAE borrow from one provider?
Of the four providers here, Elara Advisory is the one that states it lends to established businesses in both the UK and the UAE. Ask any other provider directly.
Sources
- British Business Bank: A guide to personal guarantees for business borrowing
- GOV.UK: Find finance and support for your business
- FCA: Financial Services Register
General information only, not financial advice. Business finance is credit and must be repaid; secured finance may put property at risk. Provider details were taken from their own websites in October 2026. Check current terms and take independent advice before you borrow.