Head to head
Sonovate vs Starling Bank: Which UK Business Finance Provider in 2026?
Side by side: what each lender offers UK limited companies and LLPs, and what each one publishes.
Free · 2 mins
Start here · What do you need?
What Sonovate offers: embedded finance and contractor pay funding for recruitment and consultancy agencies. What Starling Bank offers: business banking; loans shown in the Starling app are provided by iwoca. Sonovate suits UK recruitment agencies. Starling Bank suits existing Starling business customers who want to see an iwoca offer inside their banking app. Neither publishes enough to compare like for like; the table shows what each one does publish, so ask both directly.
Source: FundBiz methodology.
Sonovate, at a glance
- Product
- Embedded finance and contractor pay funding for recruitment and consultancy agencies
- FundBiz editorial view
- Best for UK recruitment agencies
Starling Bank, at a glance
- Product
- Business banking; loans shown in the Starling app are provided by iwoca
- FundBiz editorial view
- Best for existing Starling business customers who want to see an iwoca offer inside their banking app
Side-by-side
Full profiles: Sonovate · Starling Bank
| Compared on | Sonovate | Starling Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Embedded finance and contractor pay funding for recruitment and consultancy agencies | Business banking; loans shown in the Starling app are provided by iwoca |
| Decision time | Not published | Decision typically within 24 hours, instant possible up to £100k (iwoca's figure, shown by Starling) |
| Lender's own soft search at quote | Not published | Yes, by iwoca |
| Lender lends to limited companies only | Yes | Not stated |
Sources: Sonovate's own site · Starling Bank's own site. Figures change; confirm with the lender before you rely on one.
FundBiz enquiries are for limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners. Some lenders on this page also accept other business types; we do not arrange those and do not recommend a lender on that basis.
When Sonovate may fit
- Built for recruitment and consultancy economics; better fit than generic IF.
- Pays contractors weekly while extending agency credit terms to clients.
- Software automates timesheets, invoicing and credit control.
- Direct lender plus platform; no separate factoring relationship.
Best for
UK recruitment agencies, Management consultancies billing on time-and-materials, Contingent-labour businesses with weekly contractor pay.
Watch outs
- Sector-locked; useless to businesses outside recruitment, consultancy or contingent labour.
- Pricing is not published, so ask for the full cost in writing.
- Hard credit search at full application.
Lender figures and criteria: Sonovate's own site; full notes in our Sonovate review.
When Starling Bank may fit
- Loan offers can appear inside the existing Starling business app for eligible customers.
- PRA and FCA authorised; FSCS-protected deposits.
- iwoca, the lender behind the in-app loans, says it only runs soft credit checks when you apply.
Best for
Existing Starling business customers who want to see an iwoca offer inside their banking app.
Watch outs
- Starling doesn't lend its own business loans, so there's no Starling rate or criteria to compare.
- The in-app route is for Starling business customers only; others can apply to iwoca directly.
Lender figures and criteria: Starling Bank's own site; full notes in our Starling Bank review.
FAQ
Sonovate or Starling Bank: which is the better UK business finance provider in 2026?
Neither is better for every business. The 'When Sonovate may fit' and 'When Starling Bank may fit' sections above say who each one suits, and the side-by-side table shows what each lender publishes. Check each lender's own criteria before you apply.
Which is weakest for what?
Sonovate is a poor fit for product or e-commerce businesses. Starling Bank is a poor fit for borrowers banking elsewhere. If either of those describes your business, look at the side-by-side table for the alternative, or read our other lender reviews.
Can FundBiz help with Sonovate or Starling Bank?
FundBiz is not a lender and is independent of both. This comparison and our lender reviews are editorial research to help you decide which to approach. If you send an enquiry and ask for funding options, we may pass your details to one of the finance partners we work with, and that can include a lender reviewed on this site.
Who can send an enquiry through FundBiz?
The FundBiz enquiry form is for limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners. Eligibility for Sonovate and Starling Bank is set by each lender, and trading history requirements vary, so check each lender's own criteria.
How we ranked these lenders
Every lender is scored on the same four FundBiz criteria: pricing transparency, eligibility clarity, decision speed and treatment of declined applicants. Scores are our own desk-research assessment built from the FCA Register, Companies House filings and each lender's published product sheets, not customer reviews and not hands-on product testing. Each comparison shows the date it was last updated. Inclusion is never paid for. We may be paid by the finance partners we introduce you to. This could be a fixed fee or commission, depending on the partner and the finance arranged. It does not change what you pay. See our full methodology.
Send an enquiry
Tell us what you need in 2 minutes. FundBiz is not a lender and does not run a credit check. It's free and there's no obligation. For limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners.
Send an enquiry →FundBiz is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman.
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 guides and lender reviews.
Last updated: