Cashflow facility

Working capital: cashflow support beyond the overdraft

Working capital lending has diversified dramatically — beyond bank overdrafts to invoice finance, revolving credit, merchant cash advance, trade finance. The right structure depends on how your cash actually cycles.

Audience: Established SMEs

Situation: The bank overdraft isn't big enough, isn't flexible enough, or has been withdrawn — but the business needs headroom to trade through seasonal or growth cycles.

Primary: Business Loans

The situation

Overdrafts get pulled or repriced. Term loans lock cash in monthly repayments. Neither fits a business with genuine seasonal or lumpy cashflow — and that's most SMEs.

How we approach it

We map how your cash actually moves — sales cycle, payment terms, supplier terms, stock levels — and match funding structures to the profile. Usually it's a mix, not a single product.

What that looks like in practice

Revolving credit facilities as overdraft alternative
Invoice finance where you invoice B2B on terms
Trade finance for import/export cycles
Merchant cash advance where card takings are consistent
Blend of two or three where cashflow is complex

Typical timeline

Week 1
Cashflow patterns mapped, structure options costed.
Week 2-4
Applications, credit review.
Week 4-6
Facilities live.

Common questions

How is this cheaper than an overdraft?

Sometimes not on headline rate — but committed facilities beat uncommitted overdrafts every time when it matters. And blended structures often are cheaper.

Can I have multiple facilities running?

Yes — most SMEs of any scale run 2-3 facility types. Coordination matters (avoiding cross-defaults, matching seniority) — we structure around it.

What if I've had a bad year?

Recent trading matters more than a bad year 18 months back. Specialist lenders exist for turnaround cases.