Got Capital vs Starling Bank: Which UK Business Finance Provider in 2026?
Starling Bank is the stronger all-round pick on the FundBiz specialty panel, but Got Capital wins on specific files. Starling Bank runs business term loan + overdraft at £25k to £250k on from 7% apr; Got Capital runs revenue-based business funding advance at £2k to £300k on factor fee, quoted at offer. The right answer depends on ticket size, trading history and sector. Got Capital beats Starling Bank for sole traders and partnerships needing fast cash. Read the side-by-side, then jump to the "when X wins" sections for the buyer-fit logic.
Side-by-side
Full profiles: Got Capital · Starling Bank
| Got Capital | Starling Bank | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Revenue-based business funding advance | Business term loan + overdraft |
| Ticket range | £2k to £300k | £25k to £250k |
| Typical rate | Factor fee, quoted at offer | From 7% APR |
| Decision time | Same day to 48 hours | 2 to 5 business days |
| Soft search at quote | Yes | No (hard search) |
| Ltd-only? | No | Yes |
| FCA regulated | No | Yes |
| Best for | Sole traders and partnerships needing fast cash; £5k+ monthly revenue businesses; Recently-trading SMEs (3 months+) | Existing Starling business customers; Ltd companies wanting bank pricing; Borrowers wanting bank + loan in one app |
| FundBiz panel view | Wins on specific files | Stronger all-round |
| Last reviewed | 2026-05-08 | 2026-05-08 |
When Got Capital wins
- Accepts every UK business structure including sole traders.
- No personal guarantee in the standard advance structure.
- Three-month minimum trading bar, useful for newer businesses.
- Strong Trustpilot record vs category peers.
Best for
Sole traders and partnerships needing fast cash, £5k+ monthly revenue businesses, Recently-trading SMEs (3 months+).
Watch outs
- Factor-fee quoting hides effective APR.
- Decisions tied to revenue history, not balance-sheet strength.
- £100k+ advances require 12 months trading.
When Starling Bank wins
- Real bank pricing rather than fintech mark-up; rates from 7% APR for strong applicants.
- Application lives inside the existing Starling business app.
- PRA and FCA authorised; FSCS-protected deposits alongside.
- Loan + overdraft + account in one place reduces admin.
Best for
Existing Starling business customers, Ltd companies wanting bank pricing, Borrowers wanting bank + loan in one app.
Watch outs
- Only available to existing Starling business banking customers.
- Hard credit search at full application.
- Slower than fintech lenders; 2 to 5 days versus same-day.
FAQ
Got Capital or Starling Bank: which is the better UK business finance provider in 2026?
Starling Bank is our stronger all-round pick on the FundBiz specialty panel, but the right answer depends on what your file looks like. Got Capital is the stronger pick for sole traders and partnerships needing fast cash, while Starling Bank is the stronger pick for existing starling business customers. If your file sits in one of those buckets, pick the right fit rather than the headline. See our /methodology/ for how we assess each lender.
What does each product look like, Got Capital vs Starling Bank?
Got Capital offers revenue-based business funding advance between £2k to £300k at factor fee, quoted at offer, with a same day to 48 hours decision window. Starling Bank offers business term loan + overdraft between £25k to £250k at from 7% apr, with a 2 to 5 business days decision window. Got Capital uses a soft search at quote. Starling Bank runs a hard credit search at full application. Verify live commercials before signing because lender pricing moves and bespoke rates are common above £100k tickets.
Which is weakest for what?
Got Capital is the wrong answer for borrowers wanting fixed-term predictable apr. Starling Bank is the wrong answer for borrowers banking elsewhere. If either of those describes your file, look at the side-by-side table for the alternative route, or run the eligibility checker and the matcher will surface the right shortlist from the FundBiz specialty panel.
Can FundBiz help me choose between Got Capital and Starling Bank?
Yes. We are independent of either lender. The FundBiz specialty panel covers MCA, asset finance, commercial mortgage, bridging, VAT loan, R&D advance and post-decline routes. Tell us ticket size, trading history, sector and any prior declines. We match you against the panel lenders most likely to approve, and if your file needs a post-decline route we surface that explicitly rather than burning credit-file footprint with repeated mainstream applications.
Am I eligible to apply via FundBiz?
FundBiz works with limited companies, LLPs and partnerships of 4 or more partners. Sole traders and partnerships under 4 partners are out of scope and routed elsewhere. Both Got Capital and Starling Bank sit on our panel for the entity types we serve. Trading history requirements vary by lender, so the matcher pre-screens before sending the file across.
Related comparisons
Other UK specialty finance head-to-heads involving Got Capital or Starling Bank:
Check eligibility in two minutes
Tell us ticket size, trading history and sector. We match you against the FundBiz specialty panel: MCA, asset finance, commercial mortgage, bridging, VAT loan, R&D advance and post-decline routes. Limited companies, LLPs and partnerships of 4+.
Check eligibility →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director, Best Business Loans Ltd. Last reviewed: 2026-05-08. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).