Best UK business loans for e-commerce

E-commerce lending depends on where the revenue lives. Marketplace sellers (Amazon, eBay, Shopify) have access to embedded RBF; off-marketplace DTC brands rely on mainstream term lenders or stock finance specialists.

AP

Adam Parker

Founder & Managing Director, Muswell Rose, FundBiz

Adam is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and a founder of Best Business Loans Ltd, the company behind FundBiz. His background runs through commercial finance, mortgages and fintech, including as managing director of an invoice finance business. He oversees FundBiz's specialty finance comparison and the logic behind how businesses are matched to lenders.

Last reviewed: 12 June 2026

  1. 1. YouLend Strong

    Embedded MCA / revenue-based finance · £1k to £1m · Same day

    Pre-approved RBF via Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Just Eat, Deliveroo. Same-day funding.

    Read full YouLend review →
  2. 2. Liberis Strong

    Merchant cash advance and BNPL for SMBs · £1k to £1m · Same day to 48 hours

    Embedded MCA via Worldpay / Sage / Klarna; strong on hybrid e-commerce.

    Read full Liberis review →
  3. 3. iwoca Top tier

    Flexi-loan / line of credit · £1k to £500k · Same day to 24 hours

    Best off-marketplace working capital for DTC brands.

    Read full iwoca review →
  4. 4. Fleximize Strong

    Term loan with flex features · £5k to £500k · 24 to 48 hours

    Flex-loan features useful for stock-cycle e-commerce where revenue lumps.

    Read full Fleximize review →
  5. 5. Funding Circle Top tier

    Term loan · £10k to £500k · 1 to 3 business days

    Mainstream term loans for £100k+ growth investment; clean-credit applicants only.

    Read full Funding Circle review →

Side-by-side comparison

Lender Typical rate Ticket Decision Best for
YouLend Factor rate 1.06 to 1.45 £1k to £1m Same day Pre-approved RBF via Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Just Eat, Deliveroo. Same-day fundin...
Liberis Factor rate 1.10 to 1.40 £1k to £1m Same day to 48 hours Embedded MCA via Worldpay / Sage / Klarna; strong on hybrid e-commerce.
iwoca From 2% per month £1k to £500k Same day to 24 hours Best off-marketplace working capital for DTC brands.
Fleximize From 0.9% per month £5k to £500k 24 to 48 hours Flex-loan features useful for stock-cycle e-commerce where revenue lumps.
Funding Circle 6.9% to 26.9% APR £10k to £500k 1 to 3 business days Mainstream term loans for £100k+ growth investment; clean-credit applicants only...

What is the best business loan for a UK e-commerce or DTC brand?

For marketplace sellers (Amazon, eBay, Shopify), embedded RBF from YouLend or Liberis is the fastest path. For off-marketplace DTC, an iwoca flexi-loan or Funding Circle term loan covers stock and growth. For marketing spend, see specialist providers like Wayflyer.

How does revenue-based financing work for UK marketplace sellers?

You receive a lump sum, repaid as a fixed percentage of marketplace sales until a pre-agreed total is met. Underwriting is automated against your marketplace data. Same-day funding, factor rate typically 1.10 to 1.25.

Can a UK Amazon FBA seller get pre-approved finance?

Yes. Amazon Lending offers pre-approved finance for eligible sellers based on sales history. YouLend and Liberis are the partner-channel alternatives, often quicker to access than Amazon Lendings own pre-approval cycle.

What turnover does a UK DTC brand need to qualify for finance?

For mainstream term lenders, typically £100k+ annualised. For RBF on marketplaces, £5k+ monthly platform sales. For stock finance specialists, £250k+ annualised. Sub-£100k brands usually rely on personal funding or marketplace RBF only.

Is stock finance available for UK e-commerce?

Yes, from specialist stock-finance lenders against confirmed purchase orders or held inventory. Pricing is typically 1% to 2% per month on funded balance. Sub-£250k operations more often blend an iwoca flexi-loan with supplier credit terms instead.

How we ranked these

We weight marketplace and gateway integration (30%), stock and inventory finance fit (20%), decision speed (20%), eligibility breadth (15%), post-decline acceptance (15%). Rankings reflect our published editorial methodology, not any commercial arrangement. See our /methodology/ for the full basis.

Methodology weights

Weights specific to "Best UK business loans for e-commerce":

  • Marketplace and gateway integration30%
  • Stock and inventory finance fit20%
  • Decision speed20%
  • Eligibility breadth15%
  • Post-decline acceptance15%

Read the full methodology for how we score and rank every lender on the FundBiz panel.

Also considered

  • Capify (gateway-flow MCA)
  • Wayflyer / Outfund (marketing-spend and RBF specialists, separate review)

Not for

Pre-revenue brands; pure marketing-spend financing without revenue history.

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Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director, Best Business Loans Ltd. Last reviewed: 2026-06-12. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).

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