The Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS) is live - contact us today 01473 553 430

What is Merchant Finance?

There are many reasons why your business may need a sudden injection of funding, from expanding your inventory to renovating your space. Business loans are not a decision to be taken lightly, and deciding which funding option is right for you can be overwhelming.

Whether you own a local high-street boutique or operate solely through e-commerce, merchant financing offers flexible terms and repayment options to suit your unique needs.

In this blog, our experts explore the benefits of merchant finance and how it differs from traditional funding options.

What is merchant card finance? 

Merchant card finance is a type of business loan tailored for companies that operate physically or online. 

What sets merchant card finance apart from traditional funding options is how repayments are collected. 

While conventional loans typically have fixed monthly payments, merchant financing often involves taking a percentage of customer card sales. 

This flexibility means that during slower periods, payments decrease to relieve cash flow. 

Another unique aspect of merchant card finance is that it doesn’t require collateral like assets and property. Instead, lenders look at a business’s transaction history and projected sales to determine the loan amount and terms.  

Compared to traditional options, merchant financing providers can offer approval with lengthy and time-consuming application and approval processes. This quick turnaround can be critical for retailers who need funds to take advantage of opportunities or address urgent needs.

solicitor pointing at a contract - business finance specialist Jones & Co

How to apply for merchant card finance  

Uncertainty about the application process is another aspect that can make securing funding overwhelming. 

At Jones & Co, we believe in a traditional approach, sitting down with you to discuss you, your business and your needs. Here is our process for finding the right merchant financing solution for you:

First, our specialists sit down with you to discuss your options. We will ask you to provide us with information about you and your business to help us provide tailored recommendations based on your specific needs. 

Using this information, we will create a bespoke solution for you, connecting you with the right lender to meet your financing needs.

To book your no-obligation quote today, don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team. 

Once your application has been approved, there are various ways merchant card finance can be utilised to support your growth and operational needs, including: 

  • • Inventory expansion 
  • • Equipment or technology upgrades 
  • • Marketing or promotion
  • • Renovating storefronts or upgrading online platforms 
  • • Operating expenses 
  • • Diversifying product offerings 
  • • Urgent circumstances such as equipment breakdowns or cash flow challenges

 

Merchant card finance offers businesses the flexibility to allocate funds where they are needed most, enabling you to invest in your growth or ensure resilience and stability during uncertain economic times.

What are the benefits of merchant card finance? 

Merchant card finance offers a range of benefits that can help your business to thrive and grow, including: 

Adaptable repayments 

Enjoy more flexible repayment terms based on your business’s sales cycles. Payments are tied to customer transactions, allowing you to manage cash flow more efficiently, especially during slower seasons.

Transparent terms and pricing 

Understand exactly what you’re getting into with clear terms and transparent pricing structures. This allows you to make informed financial decisions for your business in the future. 

Opportunities for businesses from all sectors

Merchant card finance offers funding solutions tailored to the size and goals of your business, no matter what your industry. Whether you are an independent florist or an online clothing retailer, merchant financing can help you accelerate your growth. 

 

What type of business is suitable for merchant card finance

When exploring potential avenues for business funding, it is important to know which options are appropriate for your business.   

If your business receives a substantial number of card transactions, either online or in-person, a merchant cash advance may be the best funding option for you. 

However, if your business operates on a cash-only basis or has prolonged off-season periods, then you may need to consider other funding solutions.

If you’re unsure whether merchant financing is the right option for your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today. 

 

Merchant Financing Solutions from Jones & Co

At Jones & Co, we understand the unique needs and challenges that SMEs face. With our traditional approach centred on you, we take the time to understand your goals and connect you with tailored funding solutions. 

Contact our team today, and let’s work together to find the perfect finance solution to meet your growth goals.

Insights

Finance in the news

View all news
Alternative Lending: Why Banks Are Bottlenecking Growth (And What To Do Instead)

Banks have become gatekeepers instead of growth partners.

For thousands of UK businesses, this simply isn’t sustainable. Banks have become painfully slow, inflexible, and increasingly out of touch with how modern businesses actually operate. 

As funding pipelines dry up, alternative lending is stepping in to do what traditional finance won’t: actually support ambitious SMEs. It’s not just a trend, it’s a shift. A massive, long-overdue rebalancing of power in the business finance world; a lifeline for UK businesses who need access to capital NOW, not three months after the opportunity’s disappeared. 

Read more
How Asset Finance is Powering Manchester’s Industrial Growth

Manchester is booming.

From Trafford Park to Ancoats, and from Wythenshawe to Salford Quays, this city’s business scene is alive with ambition 

And it’s not just talk.

Industrial take-up is up, equipment investments are rising, and manufacturers are expanding. But here’s the catch: growth costs money.That’s why more Manchester businesses are ditching the wait-and-save approach and turning to asset finance to move faster, smarter, and without risking their working capital.

Read more
Merchant Finance: The Smarter Way to Fund Your Business

Let’s face it – traditional finance is broken. Or at the very least, it’s too slow, too rigid, and too obsessed with credit scores to be useful to the average business owner who just needs cash, quickly, without the faff.

That’s why merchant finance has been gaining traction across the UK.  It’s flexible, fast, and surprisingly fair. This form of funding is quietly becoming a go-to lifeline for UK businesses, particularly those that take the bulk of their payments by card.

But what exactly is merchant finance, and why are so many switched-on businesses turning to it? Let’s break it down.

Read more
Why Asset Finance in Birmingham Is Gaining Momentum in the Construction Sector, and How Jones & Co Are Supporting the Surge

Birmingham is entering a new era of regeneration, with the construction sector standing at the forefront. Fuelled by major developments such as the £3 billion Sports Quarter, the demand for flexible and accessible funding is growing rapidly and asset finance is emerging as a critical solution. At Jones & Co, we are supporting this surge by offering tailored alternative finance options that empower businesses to grow.

Read more
Jones & Co Partners with Bizcap to Launch the UK’s First Ever Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility

Say goodbye to cash flow worries and hello to a world of opportunity. Jones & Co has become the first broker in the UK to partner with Bizcap and bring their Business Line of Credit to British SMEs, a revolutionary product offering funds at your fingertips whenever you need them.

Read more
Interest Rates Drop: What It Means for Borrowers and Finance Providers in the UK

Big news this week: the Bank of England is expected to nudge the base interest rate down from 4.5% to 4.25%. It’s the latest in a series of cuts designed to give the UK economy a much-needed boost.

But what does this actually mean for everyday borrowers, businesses, and the finance providers behind the scenes? Let’s take a closer look.

Read more
How UK Businesses Can Survive Global Tariffs in the Trump Trade Era

In the last week or so, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a series of tariffs impacting global trade, including a 10% tariff on all British exports to the United States.

Read more
What Rising Public Borrowing Could Mean for Your Business Finance Strategy in 2025

The latest Spring Statement from the Labour government has left many business owners feeling uncertain about the future.

Read more
How Tax Funding Can Help You Stay Ahead of HMRC Deadlines

In this blog, we explore how this funding solution can help you meet your deadlines and keep your business moving forward.

Read more