When each option usually fits
When YouLend usually fits
- Signal
- — You already trade on a platform that surfaces YouLend offers in-app.
- Signal
- — You want a single-multiple advance against recent platform or processor revenue.
- Signal
- — Trading data lives in the platform rather than filed accounts.
- Signal
- — You prefer an embedded application without leaving your existing tools.
When Liberis usually fits
- Signal
- — You take card payments in person or online and want a sales-linked advance.
- Signal
- — You prefer dealing with a long-established UK provider on the advance itself.
- Signal
- — Renewal patterns matter — Liberis is well known for incremental top-ups.
- Signal
- — You want a direct application route as well as partner-led offers.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | YouLend | Liberis |
|---|---|---|
| Core product | Sales-based funding through partner platforms | Business cash advance — direct and through partners |
| Distribution | Predominantly embedded in partner apps | Direct application and embedded partner offers |
| Typical amount | Up to about two times monthly revenue | £500 to £1m direct; partner-dependent at the top end |
| Trading history | Active platform or processor account; data-led | Card processing or platform revenue history; data-led |
| Repayment | Percentage of daily sales until the advance is settled | Percentage of daily card or platform sales |
| Speed | Offer often within twenty-four hours; funds around forty-eight hours | Often within a few working days after data sharing |
| Renewal | Top-ups common once a portion of the advance is repaid | Renewals common once a percentage is repaid |
| Pricing model | Factor or fee priced into total repayable | Factor rate priced into total repayable |
| Typical fit | Platform sellers, marketplaces, embedded ecosystems | Card-heavy in-person and online merchants |
Shared considerations
- Both prefer at least a few months of consistent platform or card revenue.
- Personal guarantees are common on either route.
- Both are unregulated business-purpose facilities; FCA status varies by activity.
- Compare total amount repayable, not just the multiple or factor.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, YouLend or Liberis?
- Neither publishes a single headline price; both quote a factor or blended fee per advance. Pricing depends on trading data, ticket size and partner channel. Compare total amount repayable on the same advance size and expected duration.
- Can I have advances from both at the same time?
- Usually not — both will reassess revenue with any other sales-linked facility in place and most will decline a stacked advance. Disclose existing facilities up front to avoid offers being withdrawn at underwriting.
- Are either FCA regulated?
- Both hold FCA authorisations for certain activities, but their core SME advances are unregulated business-purpose finance. Verify each provider's current status on the FCA register before signing an agreement.
- What happens if revenue drops mid-advance?
- Repayments flex down with the lower sales, lengthening the term. A sustained drop or a sharp change in processing setup can trigger a review under the agreement, so read the default and routing-of-receipts clauses carefully.