What you can use a loan for

In construction and the trades, money you have genuinely earned can sit with HMRC for weeks. A contractor deducts tax under the Construction Industry Scheme before paying your company, or you file a VAT return that puts you in a repayment position — and then the offset or refund lands later than the bills it was meant to cover. A Credicorp facility lets a UK limited company or LLP bridge that interval, keep crews and suppliers paid, and repay once HMRC settles up.

Why CIS and VAT create a refund-timing gap

The two squeezes are distinct, but they hit the same trade businesses. Under CIS, a contractor withholds a percentage of your labour element and pays it to HMRC on your behalf. If your company is a subcontractor, those deductions are credits you have already funded — but you only recover them through your payroll (RTI) offset across the tax year, or as a refund after the year end, not on the day the cash is withheld. Meanwhile VAT can swing you into a repayment position when a quarter is heavy on materials, plant hire, or zero-rated new-build work, so HMRC owes you. Either way the benefit is real and quantified, yet wages, plant, fuel and merchant accounts all fall due now.

What "bridging a refund" actually means

Bridging a CIS or VAT refund does not mean borrowing against a hopeful number. It means using a short-term business facility to cover a defined gap where the incoming amount is already worked out — a CIS deduction total your bookkeeper can evidence, or a VAT return you have filed showing a repayment due — and then clearing the facility when HMRC pays. The lending is to your company on its own merits: we underwrite your trading and affordability, not the refund itself. The HMRC payment is your repayment plan, not our security, and there is no director personal guarantee.

How the facility works

1. Apply as a UK limited company or LLP, stating the business purpose of bridging an expected CIS or VAT refund.
2. We assess your company's trading and affordability. If we can help, the term and rate are set out in your offer document — we never quote a price before underwriting.
3. You draw the funds and keep the job moving, paying the subcontractors, merchants and plant hire the work depends on.
4. When the CIS offset or VAT repayment comes through, you repay over the agreed term.

Bridge with headroom, not on hope

Only bridge against a refund you are genuinely confident of receiving, and leave room in case HMRC pays later than expected or opens a check on the figures. Treat your accountant's view of the amount and timing as the anchor, reconcile your CIS deductions properly, and make sure your forecast can carry the repayments even if the money slips a month. If late customer payments — not HMRC — are the real cause, that is a different problem to solve, so be honest about which gap you are funding.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to individuals or sole traders, and we take no personal guarantee from directors. As an exempt business lender we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply. Choose between Credicorp Flex and Credicorp Slice based on which repayment shape suits your cash cycle, and review the figures in your offer against your forecast before you draw.

Related reading

• Using a Credicorp facility to fund a VAT bill — the other side of the VAT cycle, when you owe rather than reclaim.
• Bridging an R&D tax credit claim — the same wait-on-HMRC pattern for innovation relief.
• Financing tools and kit for a trades business — equipping the company to take on more work.
• Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap? — the general timing-gap picture.

See also: Bridging the gap between one contract ending and the next starting, Bridging the gap between one contract ending and the next, Bridging while you wait for a grant or R&D tax credit.

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If your company has filed a Research & Development tax credit claim, the benefit is often already baked into your plans — but HMRC does not pay it the day you submit. The claim sits in a processing queue, and the cash you have earmarked for the next phase of work can be weeks or months away. A Credicorp facility lets a UK limited company or LLP bridge that interval, keep the project moving, and repay once the credit is paid out.

Why R&D claims create a timing gap

An R&D tax credit is claimed after the relevant accounting period, through your Company Tax Return. Even a clean claim takes time to work through HMRC, and the department can open an enquiry or ask for more detail before it releases anything. So you have a known benefit on paper, but no money in the bank yet — while staff, prototypes, software and lab or workshop costs keep falling due now. That mismatch between an approved-but-unpaid claim and live spending is exactly what bridging finance is for.

What "advance funding against an R&D claim" really means

Bridging an R&D claim does not mean borrowing against a guess. It means using a short-term business facility to cover a defined gap where you are genuinely confident of the incoming benefit, then clearing it when HMRC pays. The lending is to the company on its own merits — we underwrite your trading and affordability, not the claim itself — so the credit landing is your repayment plan, not our security. There is no director personal guarantee.

How the facility works

1. Apply as a UK limited company or LLP, stating the business purpose of bridging an expected R&D tax credit.
2. We assess your company's trading and affordability and, if we can help, set out the term and rate in an offer document. We never quote a price before underwriting.
3. You draw the funds and keep the project on track — paying the people and suppliers the work depends on.
4. When HMRC settles the claim, you repay over the agreed term, with the credit doing the heavy lifting.

Borrow against the claim with caution

Only bridge against a benefit you are genuinely confident of receiving, and leave headroom in case HMRC pays later than hoped or queries part of the claim. Treat your tax adviser's view of the likely figure and timing as the anchor, and make sure your forecast can carry the repayments even if the credit slips. Choose between Credicorp Flex and Credicorp Slice based on which repayment shape suits your cash cycle.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to individuals or sole traders, and we take no personal guarantee from directors. As an exempt business lender we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

Related reading

• Bridging while you wait for a grant or R&D tax credit — the broader version covering grant funding too.
• Can I use Credicorp to pay a Corporation Tax bill? — the other side of the same return.
• Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap? — the general timing-gap picture.
• Funding working capital — keeping day-to-day operations funded while you wait.

See also: Bridging a late CIS or VAT refund, Bridging the gap between one contract ending and the next starting, Bridging the gap between one contract ending and the next.

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Project-based and contract-driven businesses often face a predictable but awkward gap: one contract winds down before the next ramps up, yet the overheads — staff, premises, vehicles — carry on regardless. A Credicorp facility can bridge that interval so a UK limited company or LLP keeps its team and capacity intact ready for the new work.

When bridging makes sense

• You have a confirmed or strongly pipelined next contract.
• Letting go of staff or capacity now would cost more than the bridge.
• The gap is measured in weeks, not a permanent decline in work.

How it works

You apply as a company for the business purpose of bridging. If approved, you draw the funds to cover overheads through the gap and repay over the term and at the rate shown in your offer document once the new contract is paying.

Be realistic about the next contract

Bridging finance assumes the next phase of work genuinely arrives — be honest about how firm that pipeline is. The loan is to the company, with no director personal guarantee. As an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, Credicorp facilities are not covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or FSCS.

See also: Bridging the gap between one contract ending and the next starting, Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap? and Using finance to cover payroll during a cashflow gap.

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Grant funding and R&D tax credits can take time to land even after they are approved. The money is coming, but the work, the spend or the project deadline can't wait for it. A Credicorp facility can bridge that interval so a UK limited company or LLP keeps the project moving and repays once the expected funds arrive.

Common bridging situations

• An R&D tax credit claim submitted but not yet settled by HMRC.
• A grant awarded in arrears or paid against milestones.
• Match-funding you need to commit before a grant releases.

How it works

You apply as a company for the business purpose of bridging. If we make an offer, you draw the funds to keep the project on track and repay over the term and at the rate in your offer document when the grant or credit pays out.

Treat the incoming funds with caution

Only bridge against money you are genuinely confident of receiving, and leave headroom in case it lands later than expected. The loan is to the company, with no director personal guarantee. Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Bridging an R&D tax credit claim, Marketplace payout delays and how funding bridges them and Funding a new hire before they become profitable.

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Business overdrafts have long been the default tool for covering short-term cashflow gaps, but they have a weakness: they are usually repayable on demand. A bank can reduce or remove an overdraft with limited notice, often at the very moment your business is leaning on it. That uncertainty makes planning hard.

The problem with relying on an overdraft

An overdraft that can be pulled at short notice is not a foundation you can build on. Many companies discover the limit is smaller, more expensive or more conditional than they assumed, precisely when a gap appears. A facility with clear, agreed terms removes that ambiguity.

How a structured facility compares

• Defined terms set out in your offer, rather than discretion that can change.
• A clear repayment path you can plan your trading around.
• Funding sized to a specific cashflow need rather than a fluctuating limit.

Use the right tool for the job

For genuinely day-to-day, unpredictable swings, an overdraft still has its place. But for a defined cashflow gap, a facility with an agreed rate and term can be steadier. You repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer, with no surprises about whether the funding will still be there next week.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to individuals or sole traders and take no personal guarantees from directors. As an exempt lender we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, How do I manage a seasonal dip in trading? and Using finance to cover payroll during a cashflow gap.

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Almost every trading business hits points where money leaves the account before it comes back in. You pay suppliers, wages and rent on fixed dates, but customer payments arrive on their own schedule. That timing mismatch is a cashflow gap, and it is one of the most common reasons UK limited companies look at short-term finance.

What a facility actually does here

A Credicorp facility gives your company funds to cover the gap, then you repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer. It does not change whether the underlying work is profitable. It buys you time so a profitable business is not held back by a timing problem.

When it makes sense

• You have confirmed orders or invoices coming in, but not yet in the bank.
• The gap is temporary and you can see the money that will repay it.
• Missing a payment now would cost you more than the finance does.

When to pause

If the gap is structural rather than temporary, meaning your costs simply exceed your income each month, borrowing can deepen the problem. In that case it is worth reviewing pricing, costs and terms first.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to individuals or sole traders, and we do not take personal guarantees from directors. As an exempt lender we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Using finance to cover payroll during a cashflow gap, Bridging the gap between one contract ending and the next and Can I pause payments if my company hits a cash-flow gap?.

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Winning a large contract or a single big order is a milestone, but it often comes with an awkward reality: you have to buy materials, pay staff and deliver the work long before the customer pays you. The very order that should grow your business can stretch your cash to breaking point.

The growth paradox

Bigger orders need more upfront cash than your normal trading. If most of your working capital is already committed, fulfilling a major order can leave nothing for day-to-day costs. Many otherwise successful businesses stall here, turning down work they could profitably deliver.

How a facility helps

• Funds the materials, labour and setup needed to deliver the order.
• Keeps the rest of the business running while resources are committed.
• Lets you say yes to opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.

Check the numbers first

Make sure the order is genuinely profitable after the cost of finance, and that the customer is reliable. You repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer, ideally once the order is invoiced and paid. A large order from a slow or risky payer needs extra caution.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, never to individuals or sole traders, and we take no personal guarantees. As an exempt lender we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Funding raw materials to fulfil a large order, How do we fund a large new contract? and Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?.

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Yes. Buying stock ahead of a predictable demand peak is one of the most common reasons UK companies borrow. If your business sells more in the run-up to Christmas, summer, or another seasonal window, the cash to fill your warehouse usually has to leave before the sales come in. A Credicorp loan can bridge that timing gap so you can commit to the order with confidence.

Who can borrow

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs, and only for genuine business purposes. The loan is to your company, not to you personally, and we do not take personal guarantees from directors.

What to weigh before you order

• How quickly the stock is likely to sell through, and what happens to anything left unsold.
• The margin on the goods versus the cost of the funding shown in your offer.
• Whether your storage, insurance, and handling can cope with a larger volume.
• Your repayment timing against the season's expected cash inflows.

Choosing a product

Credicorp Flex and Credicorp Slice suit different patterns. If you want to draw funds as orders firm up, Flex may fit; if you want a single lump sum for one big buy, Slice may be cleaner. Compare both against your agreed term and the rate shown in your offer.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp sits outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Funding stock purchases ahead of a busy period, Funding for wholesale and distribution companies and How can a retailer fund seasonal stock?.

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Yes. Buying equipment that your company will use to trade is a clear business purpose, and one of the most straightforward reasons to borrow. Whether it is a piece of machinery, a commercial oven, a workshop tool, or specialist kit, a Credicorp loan lets you put the asset to work now and pay for it as it earns.

Will the equipment pay its way?

The strongest case for financing equipment is when the kit increases what you can produce, sell, or charge for. Before borrowing, estimate the extra revenue or cost saving the equipment brings, then compare that against the cost of the funding over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer.

Practical points

• Factor in installation, training, servicing, and any downtime during changeover.
• Consider the asset's useful life against the length of your repayment term.
• Check warranty and support so a breakdown does not leave you paying for idle kit.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, and we do not take personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Slice can fund a single equipment purchase as a lump sum, while Credicorp Flex suits ongoing or phased buying.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp sits outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply.

See also: Funding equipment and plant costs, Funding energy-efficiency upgrades to your premises and Funding expansion into a second site or location.

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Corporation Tax is due nine months and one day after your accounting period ends. A strong trading year can still leave a company short of liquid cash when that deadline arrives, especially if profits were reinvested into stock, equipment or hiring. A Credicorp facility lets a UK limited company or LLP meet the bill on time and repay over an agreed term.

When this makes sense

• You had a profitable period but cash was put back into the business.
• A large receipt is expected after the tax deadline, not before.
• You would rather protect supplier and payroll cash than dip into reserves.

How the facility works

Apply as a company for a business purpose. If approved, you draw the amount you need and pay HMRC. Repayment follows the schedule, rate and term set out in your offer document — we never quote a price in advance of underwriting. The loan is to the company; no director personal guarantee is taken.

Before you borrow

Make sure the tax figure is settled with your accountant and that your forecast supports the repayments. As an exempt business lender, Credicorp sits outside the FCA consumer-credit framework, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply. Choose between Credicorp Flex and Credicorp Slice based on which repayment shape suits your cash cycle.

See also: Funding a quarterly rent or business rates bill, Managing cashflow around a Corporation Tax or VAT bill and Can I change my monthly payment date?.

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Yes. Hardware and software are tools of the trade for almost every modern business, and upgrading them is a clear business purpose. Whether you are replacing ageing computers, moving to a new point-of-sale system, or investing in software that saves your team hours each week, a Credicorp loan can spread the cost of getting it done in one go.

Look for the return

The best technology spending pays back in time saved, errors avoided, or sales enabled. Before borrowing, try to estimate that benefit and compare it against the cost of the funding at the rate shown in your offer. A faster checkout, fewer outages, or automated admin can be worth real money.

Watch the hidden costs

• Setup, migration, and the disruption of changing systems.
• Training so the team actually uses what you have bought.
• Ongoing licences, support, and the lifespan of the hardware.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Slice suits a single upgrade project; Credicorp Flex suits rolling technology investment over time. Repay over your agreed term.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp is outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply.

See also: How can a retailer fund seasonal stock?, Flex or Slice for funding an asset purchase? and Funding a bulk fuel or energy purchase.

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Before you finance a cashflow gap, you need to be able to see it. A cashflow forecast is the tool that turns vague worry into a clear plan, and it is the single most useful habit a limited company can build for managing money in and out.

What a forecast actually is

It is simply a week-by-week or month-by-month view of the cash you expect to receive and the cash you expect to pay out, ending with your projected balance at each point. It is about timing of cash, not profit; a profitable business can still show a tight week, and the forecast is where you spot it.

How to build a basic one

• List expected money in: invoices due, deposits, recurring revenue, with realistic payment dates.
• List expected money out: wages, suppliers, rent, tax, loan repayments.
• Work through each period to see your running balance.
• Update it regularly as real figures replace estimates.

Using it for borrowing decisions

A forecast shows you exactly when a gap appears, how deep it is, and what will close it. That makes any borrowing deliberate: you can size a facility to the real need and check the repayment fits comfortably within future periods, at the rate shown in your offer over your agreed term.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, never to individuals or sole traders, and we take no personal guarantees. As an exempt lender we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, Planning your borrowing around seasonal trading, Credicorp Flex or Slice for a cashflow need?.

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Credicorp offers two products to UK limited companies and LLPs: Credicorp Flex and Credicorp Slice. Both can help with cashflow, but they are shaped for different patterns of need. Choosing the right one starts with understanding the shape of your gap, not just its size.

When a recurring or flexible pattern fits

If your cashflow needs come and go, for example you regularly bridge between paying suppliers and being paid, a more flexible facility can suit better because it bends to a fluctuating need rather than a single fixed event.

When a defined, one-off need fits

If you have a specific, identifiable cost, a seasonal stock buy, a tax bill, a large order, a structured arrangement that you draw and repay over a set path can give you clarity and predictability.

How to decide

• Is the need one-off and well-defined, or recurring and variable?
• How quickly do you expect the funds to be repaid?
• Which repayment shape is easiest to plan your trading around?

The terms, rate and structure you are offered will be set out clearly before you commit; always read your offer and repay at the rate and over the term shown. If you are unsure, our team can talk you through how each product would apply to your situation.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to individuals or sole traders and take no personal guarantees. As an exempt lender we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Flex or Slice for funding an asset purchase?, Can my company use Flex and Slice together? and How Flex and Slice decisions differ.

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A vehicle is often a working tool rather than a luxury. If your company needs a van to make deliveries, a truck to move goods, or a vehicle to reach customers, a Credicorp loan can fund the purchase so you can put it on the road and let it earn. The vehicle must be for genuine business use.

New, used, or upgrade?

A newer vehicle may cost more to buy but less to run and maintain; a used one frees up cash but can bring higher servicing bills. Estimate the total cost of ownership over the time you expect to keep it, then compare that against the cost of the funding at the rate shown in your offer.

Don't forget the running costs

• Insurance, road tax, and any operator licensing your trade requires.
• Fuel or charging, servicing, tyres, and MOT.
• Fit-out costs such as racking, signage, or refrigeration.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, and we do not take personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Slice suits a single vehicle bought outright; Credicorp Flex can help if you are building a fleet over time. Repay over your agreed term.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp is outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply.

See also: Can I use a Credicorp loan to buy stock ahead of a busy season?, Funding raw materials to fulfil a large order, Funding a new hire before they become profitable.

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In the trades, the kit you carry decides the work you can take on. Investing in better tools, specialist equipment, or a properly stocked van can let your company quote for bigger or more profitable jobs. A Credicorp loan can fund that step so you are not turning down work for the want of equipment.

Buy what unlocks revenue

The clearest case for funding is kit that lets you win or complete jobs you currently cannot. Estimate the extra work the equipment makes possible, then weigh it against the cost of the funding at the rate shown in your offer. Tools that sit unused rarely justify borrowing.

Practical considerations

• Durability and warranty — trade kit takes a beating.
• Certification or training needed to use specialist equipment.
• Security and insurance for tools kept in a van or on site.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to sole traders or individuals. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Slice suits a one-off equipment buy; Credicorp Flex suits building up your kit over time. Repay over your agreed term.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp is outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply.

See also: Funding for trades businesses run through a limited company, Can finance help my company take on a large new order? and Flex or Slice for funding an asset purchase?.

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Credicorp offers two products, Flex and Slice, and either can fund the kinds of purchases businesses make every day — stock, equipment, vehicles, premises work, or technology. The difference is less about what you are buying and more about how the spending and repayment fit your cash flow.

When Slice tends to fit

Slice suits a single, well-defined purchase: one machine, one vehicle, one refit, or one large stock order. You know the amount, you spend it in one go, and you repay over your agreed term. If your need is a clear lump sum, Slice keeps things simple.

When Flex tends to fit

• Spending that happens in stages, such as a phased refit or rolling stock buys.
• Needs that are hard to size precisely up front.
• Situations where you want to draw funds as the work or orders firm up.

Compare on your own figures

Whichever you lean towards, compare both against the rate shown in your offer and the repayment pattern that suits your incomings. The best product is the one whose structure matches how the purchase actually plays out.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. As an exempt business lender, we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply.

See also: Credicorp Flex or Slice for a cashflow need?, Funding a refit or refurbishment of your premises and Funding energy-efficiency upgrades to your premises.

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For a haulage operator, a coach firm, a plant-hire business, or a farm, fuel is often the single largest variable cost — and its price moves week to week. Buying in bulk lets you fill a yard tank, fix a forward price, or stock up before a busy run, but it ties up a large lump of cash in one go. A Credicorp loan can fund that forward purchase so a price opportunity or a contract commitment does not depend on the timing of your incoming receipts.

When a bulk purchase makes sense

Buying ahead is a working-capital decision, not just a procurement one. It tends to pay off when:

• You can agree a fixed or bulk-rate price that beats buying little and often at the pump.
• You have a confirmed contract or season of work that will consume the fuel within a known window.
• You have the storage — a bunded tank, agreed terms with a supplier, or a hedged delivery — to take the volume safely.
• The saving on the price, less the cost of borrowing, leaves you genuinely better off.

Work out the real saving

The case rests on numbers, so do the sum before you commit. Compare the bulk price against what you would otherwise pay across the same period, then subtract the cost of the funding over the term. If the contract that justifies the purchase is itself the thing being paid late, treat that gap as part of the picture — the loan is bridging your short-term cashflow gap as much as it is buying fuel. The same logic applies to a forward block of electricity or gas where a fixed-price window is on the table.

Match the loan to the burn

Fuel is consumed steadily, so size and structure the borrowing to how you will use it. A one-off tank fill or a single season's stock is a defined need that suits Credicorp Slice, repaid over a set term. A rolling pattern — drawing down as you top up across a longer run of contracts — suits Credicorp Flex, where you draw and repay against a limit. Either way, line your repayments up with the revenue the fuel helps you earn, rather than letting the cost sit on the books long after the diesel is gone.

Sensible safeguards

• Only buy volume you can store and use before it is a liability — do not over-order to chase a headline price.
• Get the supplier price and delivery terms confirmed in writing before drawing the funds.
• Keep a buffer for a customer who settles late, so a single slow payer does not strand the purchase.
• Remember fuel duty and reclaim rules differ by use; budget on the net cost that actually applies to your operation.

This is the same working-capital case behind funding import orders and shipping and keeping general working capital healthy — and it sits naturally alongside expanding a delivery fleet, where fuel is the running cost behind the vehicles. If a bulk buy would stretch you rather than steady you, read our note on the responsible use of cashflow finance first.

Borrowing terms

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to your company, with no personal guarantees from directors. Repay on the agreed term at the rate shown in your offer.

Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Bridging a late CIS or VAT refund, Bridging an R&D tax credit claim, Bridging the gap between one contract ending and the next starting.

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Buying another business, a book of customers, or a set of trading assets is one of the fastest ways to grow — and one of the most front-loaded. The consideration, the legal and due-diligence fees, and the working capital the combined business needs from day one all fall due around completion, well before the acquisition has earned anything back. For a UK limited company or LLP making the purchase, a Credicorp facility can fund part of that opening phase so a sound deal is not held up purely by the timing of the cash.

What this is — and what it isn't

This is bridging and working-capital support for an incorporated buyer, not full acquisition finance. Credicorp is an unsecured business lender: we do not take security over the target's shares or assets, we do not take a debenture, and we do not structure leveraged or deferred-consideration buy-outs. So a Credicorp facility is best suited to funding a slice of the price, the deal costs, or the post-completion working capital — not to financing the entire purchase of a sizeable company. If you need senior secured acquisition debt, that comes from a specialist lender; what we can do is sit alongside your own funds and ease the cash pressure around the transaction.

What the funding can cover

• Part of the consideration for a smaller business, a customer book, or a goodwill purchase.
• Buying the trading assets of a business — plant, equipment, vehicles, fittings, or stock — in an asset purchase rather than a share purchase.
• Legal, accountancy, and due-diligence fees incurred in getting the deal done.
• The extra working capital the enlarged business needs from completion — payroll, supplier deposits, and stock for the combined operation.

Why it suits a defined deal

An acquisition is a planned, known cost with a clear commercial purpose, which makes it a natural fit for a fixed-instalment product. Where the spend is a single defined sum — your share of the price, or a clean asset purchase — Credicorp Slice is built for exactly that. Where the costs land in stages either side of completion, a flexible facility you draw against as you go can fit better; our guide to choosing Flex or Slice for a defined purchase walks through the trade-offs. You can read how the flexible side works in how Credicorp Flex works.

Do the diligence first

The discipline that protects an acquisition is the same one that protects the borrowing behind it. Be realistic about how quickly the acquired trade, customers, or assets will generate the income you are counting on, and build in a ramp-up period before they reach full contribution. Match the repayment term to that expected payback, and keep working-capital headroom for the first few months while the two operations bed in — integration almost always costs more and takes longer than the model assumes. Costing the whole transaction in one go, rather than the consideration alone, usually avoids coming back for more midway through.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, never to sole traders or individuals. You apply as the acquiring company for the business purpose of the acquisition, and if we make an offer you repay over the term and at the rate shown in your offer document — set after underwriting rather than quoted in advance. The loan sits with the company and we take no personal guarantee from directors.

For related guidance, see funding a one-off stock clearance or supplier buy-out, funding a franchise fee or new territory, funding a deposit on larger premises, and funding day-to-day working capital.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp sits outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply. To talk a planned acquisition through, get in touch via contact us.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, Bridging a late CIS or VAT refund, Bridging an R&D tax credit claim.

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Outgrowing your current unit is a good problem to have, but moving up to larger premises front-loads a lot of cost. Before you trade a single day from the new space, a landlord will usually want a deposit — often several months' rent — plus the first month upfront, agent and legal fees, and the cost of the move itself. A Credicorp facility can fund that opening phase so the deposit on a bigger, better-located unit doesn't have to come straight out of your trading cash.

What this covers — and what it doesn't

This is about the working-capital side of a move: the leasehold deposit, first-month rent, business rates that fall due on day one, and the dilapidations or admin costs of taking on a new lease. It is not property finance. Credicorp does not provide a mortgage or any secured loan against property — we are an unsecured business lender, so if you are buying a building outright you will need a commercial mortgage from a property lender instead.

Costs a move-up deposit facility can cover

• Leasehold deposit and first-month rent on the new unit.
• Agent, legal and lease-completion fees.
• Removal costs and the gap where you may be paying two rents during a short overlap.
• The opening business-rates charge on the larger space.

How it works

You apply as a UK limited company or LLP for the business purpose of relocating. If we make an offer, you draw the funds to place the deposit and clear the upfront costs, then repay over the agreed term at the rate shown in your offer document — set after underwriting rather than quoted in advance. Credicorp Slice suits a single, defined upfront cost; Credicorp Flex helps where the spending lands in stages across the move.

Plan around the move

A deposit is recoverable in principle, but it is tied up for the length of the lease, so treat it as money out for cash-flow purposes. Match repayments to how quickly the larger premises is expected to pay for itself, and keep some working-capital headroom for the first few trading months in the new space. Costing the whole move in one go — rather than the deposit alone — usually avoids coming back for more midway through.

For related guidance, see funding expansion into a second site or location, funding the fit-out of a new business location, funding a deposit to secure a supplier order, and funding business rates and rent.

The loan sits with the company, and we take no personal guarantee from directors. As an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, Credicorp facilities are not covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or FSCS. To talk an upcoming move through, get in touch via contact us.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, Bridging a late CIS or VAT refund, Bridging an R&D tax credit claim.

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Some of the most important supplier relationships require money upfront — a deposit to reserve a manufacturing slot, secure raw materials at a fixed price, or hold capacity during a busy period. If your customers pay you in arrears, that deposit can fall awkwardly between obligations. A Credicorp facility can fund it so you don't lose the order.

Why a deposit can be hard to find

• It is due before any revenue from the order has arrived.
• Missing the deadline can mean losing the slot or the price.
• Larger orders often come with larger deposits and tighter windows.

How it works

You apply as a limited company or LLP for the business purpose of funding the order. If we make an offer, you draw the deposit amount and place it with your supplier, then repay over the term and rate in your offer document as the order completes and your customer pays.

Worth knowing

The loan sits with the company; we take no personal guarantee from directors. Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply. Make sure the order's expected margin supports both the deposit and the cost of funding.

See also: Can I use a Credicorp loan to buy stock ahead of a busy season?, Funding raw materials to fulfil a large order and Marketplace payout delays and how funding bridges them.

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Taking on a franchise usually means paying a single, sizeable fee before you earn a penny from it. The initial franchise fee, the cost of a new territory or licence, and the first fit-out all land up front, while the revenue that justifies them arrives over the months that follow. For a limited-company franchisee, a Credicorp facility lets you cover that one-off cost now and repay it over an agreed term, so the timing of the spend does not hold the opening back.

Why this is a strong case for borrowing

A franchise fee is a planned, defined cost with a clear purpose: it buys the brand, the operating system, the training, and the right to trade in a specific area. Because the amount is known in advance and the return is reasonably predictable, it sits naturally with a fixed-instalment product. The aim is simple — match the repayments to the income the unit is expected to generate once it is open and running.

What the funding can cover

• The initial franchise or licence fee paid to the franchisor.
• The cost of acquiring or expanding into a new territory.
• Opening costs such as fit-out, signage, stock, and launch marketing.

Which product fits

A franchise fee is typically a one-off, fixed cost, which is exactly what Credicorp Slice is built for — a single sum repaid in set instalments. If you are weighing Slice against a flexible facility for the wider opening budget, our guide to choosing Flex or Slice for a defined purchase walks through the trade-offs. Where the fee is payable to a named franchisor, it can be settled in the same way Slice pays a supplier directly.

Matching repayment to payback

A franchise model should produce a fairly steady return once the unit is trading, so aim to align the repayment term with how quickly that income is expected to build. Be realistic about the ramp-up period before a new site reaches its expected turnover, and leave room in your forecast for the franchisor's ongoing management service fees, which are separate from the initial fee you are funding.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, never to sole traders or individuals. You apply as the company for the business purpose of taking on the franchise, and if we make an offer you repay over the term and at the rate shown in your offer document. We do not take a personal guarantee from directors.

Credicorp is an exempt business lender and sits outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply. You can read more about what that means for a Slice facility before you commit.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, Bridging a late CIS or VAT refund, Bridging an R&D tax credit claim.

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Marketing is one of the few costs where the spend and the return are deliberately out of step. You pay for the campaign now and the leads, sales and brand value accrue over the weeks and months that follow. For a company confident in its numbers, a Credicorp facility can fund a campaign so a good window isn't missed for lack of upfront cash.

What a campaign facility can cover

• Paid advertising and media buying.
• Creative, production and agency costs.
• Launch events, sponsorships or a seasonal push.

How it works

You apply as a UK limited company or LLP for the business purpose of marketing. If approved, you draw the funds, run the campaign, and repay over the term and at the rate shown in your offer document as the returns come through.

Invest with discipline

Borrowing for marketing is sensible when you can measure return and have a realistic view of payback — not as a hopeful punt. Track results so you know the campaign is covering its cost. The facility is to the company, with no director personal guarantee. Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Paying suppliers early to secure settlement discounts, Using a Credicorp facility to fund a VAT bill, Funding a new hire before they become profitable.

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A good hire usually costs money before they make any. There is recruitment, onboarding, training and several months of salary before a new person is fully productive. For a growing company, that lag can be the main thing holding back the next hire. A Credicorp facility can fund the ramp-up period so the right person joins at the right time.

What the funding can cover

• Recruitment fees and advertising.
• Salary and on-costs during the ramp-up period.
• Equipment, software and training for the new role.

How it works

You apply as a UK limited company or LLP for the business purpose of hiring. If approved, you draw the funds and repay over the agreed term, at the rate shown in your offer document. The facility is to the company, not the individual being hired, and we take no director personal guarantee.

Hire with a plan

Funding a hire works best when you can point to the revenue or capacity the role is expected to unlock, and time the repayments to that. Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Funding expansion into a second site or location, Paying suppliers early to secure settlement discounts and Bridging the gap between one contract ending and the next.

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Opportunities sometimes appear with a short fuse: a supplier clearing a line, a closing business selling its stock, or a one-off lot at a price you will not see again. If the goods fit your market, a Credicorp loan can give you the cash to act before the chance is gone.

Be quick, but be disciplined

A bargain is only a bargain if you can sell it. Before committing, be honest about how much of the lot you can realistically move, at what price, and over what period. Compare the expected margin against the cost of the funding at the rate shown in your offer, and discount for anything you may have to clear cheaply.

Check the goods, not just the price

• Condition, shelf life, and whether the stock is current or dated.
• Any warranty, returns, or after-sales obligations that come with it.
• Storage and handling for a sudden large volume.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Slice suits a single opportunistic purchase. Repay over your agreed term.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp is outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply.

See also: Replacing equipment that has failed unexpectedly, How can a retailer fund seasonal stock? and Marketplace payout delays and how funding bridges them.

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Every employer running a payroll owes PAYE income tax and National Insurance to HMRC, usually monthly. Unlike a one-off cost, this is a recurring, non-negotiable obligation that arrives on the 22nd whether or not your invoices have cleared. A Credicorp facility can help a UK limited company or LLP meet a PAYE and NIC payment on time and repay over an agreed term.

Why timing causes pressure

• The PAYE deadline is fixed; client payment dates are not.
• Missing it risks interest, penalties and a damaged HMRC record.
• Employee trust depends on the wider payroll machinery running smoothly.

Using a facility responsibly

Funding payroll taxes works best as a bridge across a clear timing gap, not as a way to prop up a payroll the business cannot sustain. If we approve your application, you draw the funds, pay HMRC and repay on the schedule and rate shown in your offer.

What to remember

The loan is to the company, with no director personal guarantee. Credicorp is an exempt business lender, so this facility is not covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or FSCS. If PAYE pressure is recurring rather than occasional, speak to your accountant about the structural cause before borrowing again.

See also: Funding monthly payroll when receipts are delayed, Funding for trades businesses run through a limited company and Funding payroll between customer payments.

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Moving to a new electronic health record (EHR), patient-management or case-management platform is one of the larger pieces of software spend a professional practice will take on. A dental, veterinary, clinic or legal practice rarely pays for it month by month: the supplier typically wants an annual licence up front, plus a separate implementation fee for configuration, data migration from the old system, and staff training. That whole cost can land in a single billing cycle, on top of the equipment and premises costs the practice already carries. A Credicorp facility lets a UK limited company or LLP carry out the rollout now and spread the cost over an agreed term.

What a rollout actually costs

The licence fee is usually only part of it. When you size the funding, account for the full project rather than the headline subscription:

• The annual or upfront platform licence for every seat or surgery.
• Implementation — configuration, integrations with imaging or accounting tools, and migrating records off the legacy system.
• Data migration and validation, which is often the most underestimated line.
• Training, and the reduced-capacity period while the team learns the new workflow.

Match the term to the benefit

The case for borrowing is strongest when the new system earns its place — faster patient or matter throughput, fewer errors, less manual admin, or recall and billing that no longer leak revenue. Estimate that benefit and weigh it against the cost of the funding at the rate shown in your offer, then aim to align the repayment term with how quickly the efficiency is expected to show up. Because a practice-management platform is meant to serve the business for years, a structured repayment over a defined term usually fits a one-off rollout well.

Paying the software supplier

If the vendor issues a single invoice for the licence and implementation, Credicorp Slice can settle that supplier in full and let you repay over a short, fixed schedule. For broader or phased technology spend across the year, see funding software, licences and subscription tools, which covers the wider picture of licence and platform costs. Credicorp Slice suits a single upfront rollout; Credicorp Flex suits investment spread over time.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, including practices in regulated professions. We look at the company's affordability and prospects, not at any individual clinician's, vet's or solicitor's personal finances — the same approach described for dental practices and veterinary practices. The loan is to the company or LLP, and we do not take personal guarantees from directors or partners. Where the platform handles patient records or client data, that data stays under your own regulatory obligations and is never part of our security.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp sits outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply to this facility. Your rate and term are those shown in your offer.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, Bridging a late CIS or VAT refund, Bridging an R&D tax credit claim.

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A refit can be the difference between a tired space and one that wins more business — a refreshed shopfront, a reconfigured workshop, a better customer area. The trouble is that the whole cost falls at once, often during a closure that also dents takings. A Credicorp facility lets a UK limited company or LLP carry out the work and spread the cost over an agreed term.

Typical fit-out costs

• Building works, flooring, lighting and signage.
• Fixtures, furniture and customer-facing equipment.
• Any short closure or reduced-trading period during the works.

How it works

You apply as a company for the business purpose of refurbishment. If we make an offer, you draw the funds, complete the work, and repay over the term and at the rate shown in your offer document. We do not take a personal guarantee from directors.

Match repayment to the payback

A good refit should lift revenue or efficiency; aim to align the repayment term with how quickly that uplift is expected to land. Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply to this facility.

See also: Funding a refit or refurbishment of your premises, Funding a shop fit-out or refurbishment and What is asset finance?.

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Rent and business rates often fall in large quarterly lumps that don't line up neatly with how revenue actually comes in. A company can be perfectly viable across the year yet feel real pressure in the week a quarter's premises costs land. A Credicorp facility can smooth one of those payments so a UK limited company or LLP keeps its premises secure without draining operating cash.

Why these bills bite

• Quarterly billing concentrates a big cost into a single date.
• Premises costs are fixed regardless of how trade is going that month.
• Falling behind on rent can put your lease and location at risk.

How it works

You apply as a company for the business purpose of meeting premises costs. If approved, you draw the funds, pay the landlord or local authority, and repay over the term and at the rate set out in your offer document.

Use it for timing, not decline

This works well as a way to spread a lumpy but affordable cost — less so if premises are simply unaffordable, which is a structural issue worth addressing directly. The loan is to the company, with no director personal guarantee. Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Can I use Credicorp to pay a Corporation Tax bill?, Funding expansion into a second site or location and Funding monthly payroll when receipts are delayed.

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A tired interior can quietly cost you sales. Refitting a shop floor, refreshing a restaurant, or reconfiguring a workspace can lift footfall, capacity, or efficiency — but the bill usually lands before any of those gains arrive. A Credicorp loan can fund the work so you can do it properly rather than in cautious half-steps.

Define the scope before you borrow

Refit projects are notorious for creeping. Get firm quotes, agree a scope with your contractor, and decide what is essential versus nice-to-have. Borrowing against a clear, costed plan is far safer than funding an open-ended project.

Build the gap into your plan

• Allow for the period when trading may be disrupted or paused.
• Keep a contingency for the surprises that older buildings tend to hide.
• Check landlord consents and any planning or building-control requirements.

Choosing a product

Credicorp Slice suits a single, well-defined refit with a fixed budget. Credicorp Flex can help where the work runs in phases and you want to draw funds as each stage completes. Repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. As an exempt business lender, we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Flex or Slice for funding an asset purchase?, Funding a shop fit-out or refurbishment and Funding energy-efficiency upgrades to your premises.

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A trade show or exhibition is a concentrated burst of spend with a payback that arrives later. You commit to the stand months ahead, build and ship it, send your team, and carry stock to show or sell — yet the orders, leads and follow-up sales come in over the weeks that follow. That gap between paying out and being paid is exactly the kind of time-boxed growth cost a Credicorp facility is built for, so a strong event isn't skipped for lack of upfront cash.

What a trade show facility can cover

• Stand design, build, hire and shipping to the venue.
• Floor space, exhibitor fees and on-site services.
• Travel, accommodation and staffing for the team attending.
• Demo units, samples and stock to display or sell at the event.

Why it differs from a general marketing campaign

A trade show is more front-loaded than most marketing. The deadline is fixed by the organiser, the spend is largely committed before a single lead arrives, and the payback window is short and measurable — you can usually tie new enquiries and orders back to the event. If your spend is broader brand or advertising activity rather than one dated event, our note on funding a marketing campaign is the better fit.

Flex or Slice for an event

Both products can fund an exhibition. Slice tends to suit a single, well-sized event where you know the total cost up front and want to repay over a set term. Flex tends to suit a run of shows across a season, or a build where costs firm up in stages, because you can draw as the spending lands. The same logic we set out in choosing Flex or Slice for a purchase and Flex or Slice for a cashflow need applies here — pick the structure that matches how the spend and the payback actually play out.

How it works

You apply as a UK limited company or LLP for the business purpose of attending the event. If we make an offer, you draw the funds, commit to the stand and the logistics, and repay over the term and at the rate set out in your offer document as the post-show orders convert. The facility is to the company, with no personal guarantee from directors. If you are also carrying extra stock to sell on the day, our note on funding stock ahead of demand covers that side of it.

Invest with a clear payback in mind

Borrowing for an event works best when you have a realistic view of what it should return — leads, orders, or a pipeline you can value — and a plan to track it. Capture contacts and attribute the sales that follow so you know the show covered its cost and earned its place in next year's calendar. Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply to this facility.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, Bridging a late CIS or VAT refund, Bridging an R&D tax credit claim.

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A wrapped van is advertising that works every time it is on the road. For a trades business, a courier operation, or any company whose vehicles are seen all day, livery turns an asset you already own into a marketing channel. The cost is upfront — design, print and fitting — but the return builds over the months the wrap stays on the road. A Credicorp facility lets a UK limited company or LLP brand a single vehicle or a whole fleet now and spread the cost over an agreed term.

What a livery project can cover

• Design and artwork, including a layout that works across different vehicle shapes.
• Printing and the vinyl itself, whether a partial wrap, a full wrap, or simple sign-written panels.
• Professional fitting, removal of old graphics, and any colour-change or specialist finishes.

One vehicle or the whole fleet

Branding one van is a contained, one-off job. Rolling a consistent livery across a fleet is a larger project that you may want to phase — wrapping vehicles as they come back from contracts rather than taking them all off the road at once. If you want to draw funds in stages as the rollout progresses, Credicorp Flex suits that pattern. If you are doing the whole fleet in a single batch, Credicorp Slice may be cleaner. Compare both against your agreed term and the rate shown in your offer.

Treat it as marketing spend

Livery is a marketing investment, so judge it the way you would judge any campaign. A clear, professional wrap that carries your name, what you do and how to reach you earns its keep across every journey. Think about how long you expect to keep each vehicle, because a wrap on a van you plan to sell soon has less time to pay back than one on a vehicle you will run for years. The same investment discipline that applies to funding a marketing campaign applies here: set a measurable expectation for what the branding should do for enquiries and recognition.

How we lend

You apply as a UK limited company or LLP for the business purpose of vehicle branding. If we make an offer, you draw the funds, commission the design and fitting, and repay over the term and at the rate set out in your offer document. The facility is to the company, and we take no personal guarantee from directors.

If the branding is part of a wider plan to grow capacity, it often sits alongside expanding a delivery fleet or financing a commercial vehicle in the first place. Trades businesses weighing several costs at once may find financing tools for a trades business a useful starting point. Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. As an exempt business lender, we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply to this facility.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, Bridging a late CIS or VAT refund, Bridging an R&D tax credit claim.

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Moving a working warehouse is not the same as opening a new one. For a logistics, wholesale, or distribution company, the relocation itself carries a cluster of costs that all land in a tight window — and most of them hit while the operation is half-packed and not running at full tilt. A Credicorp facility can fund that changeover so the move doesn't drain the working capital your day-to-day trading still depends on.

What this covers — and what it doesn't

This article is about the move: the physical relocation of stock, racking, and handling kit from one unit to another, plus the overlap and downtime that go with it. It is distinct from the things either side of it. Standing up a brand-new branch is covered in funding expansion into a second site or location; reconfiguring or refitting the space you land in is funding a premises fit-out or refurbishment; and buying racking and shelving in the first place is funding warehouse storage, racking, and handling kit. This is the bit in between — getting from the old building to the new one.

It is also not property finance. Credicorp is an unsecured business lender; we do not provide a commercial mortgage or any secured loan against the building. If you are buying the new premises outright, that part needs a property lender. We fund the working-capital side of the relocation.

Costs a relocation facility can cover

• Specialist removals — pallet movement, vehicle hire, and the labour to load and unload at both ends.
• Dismantling, transporting, and re-installing racking, mezzanine, and pallet-handling equipment, plus any re-certification the new layout needs.
• A dual-rent overlap, where you hold both units for a few weeks so the move can happen without slamming the doors on trading.
• Dilapidations and making-good on the unit you are leaving, which a lease often requires before the deposit is returned.
• Temporary cover — agency pickers, extra shifts, or short-term outsourced storage — to keep orders going out during the changeover.

Bridging the downtime

The part that catches relocating operators out is rarely the removal van — it is the dip in throughput while the warehouse is in transit. Picking slows, dispatch backs up, and the cash that normally comes in from steady fulfilment thins out for a fortnight or two even as costs spike. Treat that trough as a planned, fundable event rather than a surprise. If the squeeze is purely a timing mismatch between money out now and money in once you are settled, our note on bridging a short-term cashflow gap covers how a facility smooths it.

How it works

You apply as a UK limited company or LLP for the business purpose of relocating. If we make an offer, you draw the funds to cover the move and the overlap, then repay over the agreed term at the rate shown in your offer document — set after underwriting rather than quoted in advance. Credicorp Slice suits a single, defined relocation budget; Credicorp Flex helps where the spending lands in stages across the move, from deposit on the new unit through to making good the old one.

Plan the whole move, not just the van

Cost the relocation end to end — overlap rent, re-racking, downtime cover, and dilapidations together — rather than the headline removal quote alone, since the surrounding costs usually outweigh it. Match repayments to how quickly the new site is expected to be running at full capacity, and keep some working-capital headroom for the first trading weeks after you land. If the new unit also brings ongoing occupancy costs, see funding business rates and rent.

The loan sits with the company, and we take no personal guarantee from directors. As an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, Credicorp facilities are not covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or FSCS. To talk an upcoming move through, get in touch via contact us.

See also: Bridging a late CIS or VAT refund, Bridging an R&D tax credit claim, Bridging the gap between one contract ending and the next starting.

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A website rebuild or rebrand is usually a one-off project with a sizeable upfront cost and a return that builds slowly — better conversion, more enquiries, a stronger market position. Paying for it all at once can be uncomfortable even when the project is clearly worthwhile. A Credicorp facility lets a UK limited company or LLP carry out the work now and spread the cost over an agreed term.

What this can fund

• Website design, build and content.
• Brand identity, logo and collateral.
• Photography, copywriting and launch activity.

How it works

You apply as a company for the business purpose of a digital or brand project. If we make an offer, you draw the funds, commission the work, and repay over the term and at the rate set out in your offer document. We take no personal guarantee from directors.

Treat it as an investment

The clearer the link between the project and future revenue, the more comfortable the borrowing. Set measurable goals so you can judge the payback. Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply to this facility.

See also: Funding a new hire before they become profitable, Funding a quarterly rent or business rates bill and Funding an MOT bay or fleet servicing equipment.

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Business insurance is one of those costs that arrives once a year as a single, sizeable bill. Professional indemnity, public liability, commercial property, fleet and combined business cover are usually quoted as an annual premium, and the renewal date doesn't move just because your cash is tied up elsewhere. Paying it all at once can pull a meaningful chunk out of your working capital in a single week. A Credicorp facility lets a limited company or LLP spread that premium over an agreed term, so the cover stays live and the day-to-day cash stays where it's needed.

Why companies spread an annual premium

• The premium is fixed and dated, but it rarely lands in a month when cash is comfortable.
• Letting cover lapse — even briefly — can breach client contracts, lease terms or lender conditions, and a gap can be expensive to reinstate.
• Many insurers and brokers offer their own instalment plans, but having your own funding line means you control the term and aren't tied to a single provider's terms.
• Smoothing a known, recurring obligation is usually easier to plan around than a one-off hit to reserves.

How it works

You apply as a limited company or LLP, for a genuine business purpose. If we make an offer, the rate and term you see are the ones set out in your offer document — there are no figures quoted here, because pricing belongs in your own quote. You draw the funds, pay the premium, then repay over the agreed schedule. We don't take personal guarantees from directors, so the obligation sits with the company rather than with you personally.

If you'd rather the supplier was paid directly, Credicorp Slice is built for exactly this kind of one-off bill — insurance renewals are among the bills it covers. With Slice, we settle the insurer or broker in full and you repay us over the term, so your account with them is squared away immediately. If your premiums and other lumpy costs recur through the year, a revolving option such as Flex for managing supplier and stock costs may suit better, because the headroom refreshes as you repay.

Choosing between paying it yourself and funding it

Funding a premium makes sense when paying it outright would leave your buffer uncomfortably thin, or when the cash is better deployed in stock, payroll or a customer order that earns a return. It's less suitable if the renewal simply reflects a cost the business can absorb without strain. The same logic applies to other large, predictable outgoings — see smoothing lumpy, irregular income and covering an unexpected cost without draining reserves for related approaches.

Things to keep in mind

Spreading a premium is sensible when the underlying cash position is sound and you're simply matching the cost to the year it covers. Because Credicorp lends to UK limited companies and LLPs outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, this facility isn't covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or the FSCS. We don't lend to sole traders or individuals. Always check the figures in your offer against your cash-flow forecast before you draw, and confirm the renewal date with your insurer so the funds land in time.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, Bridging a late CIS or VAT refund, Bridging an R&D tax credit claim.

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Adding an MOT bay or kitting out a workshop for in-house fleet servicing is one of the clearest cases for asset finance. It is a planned, mostly single purchase — a class 4 or class 7 test lane, a brake roller, a headlamp tester, a two-post or four-post ramp, an emissions analyser, diagnostic kit, or a tyre changer and wheel balancer — and the equipment starts earning the moment it is signed off and in use. A Credicorp loan lets a garage or transport business put the kit to work now and pay for it as it brings in test fees and saves on outsourced servicing.

Why a single Slice drawdown fits this purchase

An MOT bay fit-out or a fleet servicing rig is normally a defined cost you can quote up front: the equipment, plus installation, calibration, and any DVSA approval work. Because it is one lump sum rather than a rolling spend, Credicorp Slice is usually the right shape — you draw the amount once and repay over an agreed term. If you expect to phase the buy, or to keep dipping into funding for consumables and follow-on kit, Credicorp Flex may suit you better. We cover the trade-off in choosing Flex or Slice for an asset purchase.

Will the bay pay its way?

The strongest case for borrowing is when the equipment increases what you can charge for or saves a cost you currently pay out. Before you commit, estimate the realistic extra income — MOT volume at your local test fee, plus the repair and retest work an in-house bay pulls through — or, for a transport operator, the saving from servicing your own fleet instead of paying a third party. Set that against the cost of the funding over your term at the rate shown in your offer.

• Factor in DVSA approval, site requirements, calibration, and staff training, not just the headline kit price.
• Match the repayment term to the working life of the equipment — a ramp or test lane should outlast the loan comfortably.
• Check warranty, servicing, and recalibration intervals so an unexpected breakdown does not leave you paying for an idle bay.
• Keep a small reserve for tyres, fluids, and consumables once the bay is trading.

Buying outright versus financing

Paying cash for a full bay can swallow the working capital you need for stock, wages, and quieter months. Spreading the cost keeps that headroom intact while the equipment earns. If you are weighing the two approaches, equipment finance versus buying with a loan walks through the comparison, and using a loan to buy equipment covers the general points that apply to any workshop purchase.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes — not to sole traders or individuals — and we are a lender, not a broker. The loan is to the company, and we do not take personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Slice funds a single MOT bay or servicing fit-out as a lump sum; Credicorp Flex suits phased or ongoing spend.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp sits outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply. If you want to talk a purchase through, get in touch before you apply.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, Bridging a late CIS or VAT refund, Bridging an R&D tax credit claim.

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When a critical machine, vehicle or piece of kit fails without warning, the cost of being out of action usually dwarfs the cost of the repair itself. The trouble is that the bill is unplanned and immediate. A Credicorp facility can cover an urgent repair or replacement so a UK limited company or LLP keeps trading and spreads the cost over an agreed term.

Why speed matters

• Downtime can halt production, deliveries or service entirely.
• An emergency replacement often costs more than a planned one.
• Customers and contracts may be at risk if you can't operate.

How it works

You apply as a company for the business purpose of repairing or replacing essential equipment. If approved, you draw the funds, get back up and running, and repay over the term and at the rate shown in your offer document.

Worth keeping in mind

For genuinely unplanned breakdowns, fast funding protects revenue; for ageing kit, factor likely replacement into your forecasting so it is less of a shock next time. The loan is to the company, with no director personal guarantee. Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply. See more on equipment & vehicle repair finance for when kit fails without warning.

See also: Replacing equipment that has failed unexpectedly, How do I cover an unexpected cost without draining reserves? and Does interest keep building while my company is in arrears?.

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Energy is a running cost that rewards investment. Upgrading to efficient lighting, better insulation, modern heating, or lower-consumption equipment can reduce your bills month after month. A Credicorp loan can fund the upfront work so your premises start saving sooner, with the savings helping to offset the cost of borrowing.

Let the savings guide the spend

The strongest efficiency projects pay for themselves over time. Try to estimate the reduction in your running costs, then compare it against the cost of the funding at the rate shown in your offer over your agreed term. Where the saving outweighs the cost, the case is compelling.

Things to check

• Whether the work needs landlord consent or planning permission.
• Any grants or incentives that might reduce what you need to borrow.
• The expected lifespan of the upgrade against your repayment term.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Slice suits a single upgrade; Credicorp Flex suits a phased programme of works. Repay over your agreed term.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp is outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply.

See also: Flex or Slice for funding an asset purchase?, Funding the fit-out of a new business location and Funding a bulk fuel or energy purchase.

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Working capital is the money your company needs to run normal operations: buying stock, paying staff, settling supplier invoices and covering overheads between sales. When working capital is tight, even a busy, profitable business can feel constantly squeezed.

Why working capital runs short

It is usually a cycle problem. You pay for materials and labour upfront, deliver the product or service, then wait to be paid. The longer that cycle, the more cash you need tied up in it just to keep trading at the same level. Growth makes this worse before it makes it better, because more orders mean more upfront cost.

How a facility helps

• Smooths the gap between paying costs and collecting revenue.
• Lets you take on larger orders without starving the rest of the business of cash.
• Keeps supplier relationships healthy by paying on time, sometimes unlocking early-settlement terms.

Borrow to the cycle, not beyond it

Working capital finance works best when it is sized to your trading cycle and repaid as cash comes back in. You repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer. Avoid using short-term working capital funding to buy long-term assets; match the finance to the job it is doing.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to individuals or sole traders and take no personal guarantees from directors. As an exempt lender we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Using Flex to manage supplier and stock costs, Funding stock purchases ahead of a busy period and Funding for restaurants and cafés.

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Opening a second site, a larger unit or a new branch carries a cluster of upfront costs — fit-out, deposit, stock, initial staffing and marketing — that all land before the location earns a penny. A Credicorp facility can fund that opening phase so you don't have to strip working capital out of the part of the business that is already trading.

Costs an expansion facility can cover

• Premises deposit and fit-out works.
• Initial stock and equipment for the new site.
• Recruitment, training and launch marketing.

How it works

You apply as a UK limited company or LLP for the business purpose of expansion. If approved, you draw the funds across the opening costs and repay over the agreed term. The rate and schedule are those shown in your offer document, set after underwriting rather than quoted upfront.

Plan before you commit

Expansion repayments are best matched to how long the new site is expected to take to break even — build that into your forecast. The loan is to the company, with no director personal guarantee. As an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, Credicorp facilities are not covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or FSCS.

See also: Funding the fit-out of a new business location, Funding a new hire before they become profitable and Can finance help my company take on a large new order?.

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When demand outgrows your current vehicles, adding to the fleet lets you take on more work — but each vehicle is a commitment that has to earn its keep. A Credicorp loan can fund the expansion, whether you are adding one van or several, so growth is not held back by the cost of the assets themselves.

Scale to demand, not to hope

Add capacity that you can keep busy. Look at confirmed work, repeat customers, and realistic pipeline rather than a single optimistic forecast. A vehicle that sits idle still costs you in funding, insurance, and depreciation.

Plan the whole cost of growth

• Drivers, training, and any operator licensing for the larger fleet.
• Insurance, maintenance, and the cost of vehicles being off the road.
• Telematics, scheduling, and the admin of running more vehicles.

Phased or one-off

If you want to add vehicles gradually as work firms up, Credicorp Flex lets you draw funds in stages. If you are buying a batch at once, Credicorp Slice may be cleaner. Compare both against your agreed term and the rate shown in your offer.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. As an exempt business lender, we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Funding an MOT bay or fleet servicing equipment, How can a retailer fund seasonal stock? and Marketplace payout delays and how funding bridges them.

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Importing goods stretches the gap between paying and earning. You often pay a supplier deposit, settle the balance before shipping, and cover freight, duty, and VAT at the border — all weeks or months before the stock reaches your customers. A Credicorp loan can fund that long import cycle so an overseas order does not drain your working capital.

Cost the landed price, not the invoice

The supplier's price is only part of the story. Build a full landed cost that includes shipping, insurance, customs duty, import VAT, and any port or handling charges. Borrowing against the true total avoids a shortfall when the goods clear the border.

Manage the timing risks

• Allow for shipping delays and longer-than-expected lead times.
• Consider currency movement between order and payment.
• Match your repayments to when the imported stock is likely to sell.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Flex can fund recurring import runs; Credicorp Slice suits a single large shipment. Repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp is outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Funding stock purchases ahead of a busy period, How can a retailer fund seasonal stock? and Marketplace payout delays and how funding bridges them.

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Payroll is the one cost a business cannot defer. Staff plan their own lives around payday, and a missed or late run does lasting damage to morale and retention. When a large customer pays late or a project milestone slips, an otherwise healthy company can find itself briefly short of the cash it needs to run payroll. A Credicorp facility can cover that gap.

A bridge, not a crutch

Borrowing for payroll is appropriate when the shortfall is a timing problem — the money is coming, just not yet. It is not a fix for a wage bill the business cannot afford. Be honest with yourself about which situation you are in.

How it works

• You apply as a limited company or LLP for a genuine business purpose.
• If approved, you draw funds and run payroll as normal.
• You repay over the term and rate set out in your offer document.

Key points

The facility is to the company, and we do not take personal guarantees from directors. Because Credicorp lends outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protections do not apply. Compare Credicorp Flex and Credicorp Slice to find the repayment pattern that matches your billing cycle. You can read more about payroll finance and how it bridges a delayed receipts gap.

See also: Using finance to cover payroll during a cashflow gap, Funding a PAYE and National Insurance payment and Funding stock purchases ahead of a busy period.

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Landing a large order is good news that often arrives with a cash problem attached. You may need to buy raw materials, components, or packaging up front, pay your team to produce the goods, and then wait for the customer to settle. A Credicorp loan can fund that production gap so a single big contract does not stall for want of working capital.

Map the cash timeline first

Before you borrow, sketch out when money leaves and when it returns. Identify the deposit you can secure from the customer, the staged payments you might negotiate, and the final settlement date. The funding only needs to cover the shortfall between outgoings and inflows, not the whole contract.

Sensible safeguards

• Get the order confirmed in writing before committing to materials.
• Ask for a deposit or staged payments to reduce what you need to borrow.
• Build in a buffer for late settlement by the customer.
• Match your repayment timing to when the contract pays out.

Borrowing terms

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to your company, with no personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Slice suits a single defined need; Credicorp Flex suits drawing funds across a longer production run. Repay on the agreed term at the rate shown in your offer.

Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Funding the costs of delivering a large customer order, Marketplace payout delays and how funding bridges them and Can finance help my company take on a large new order?.

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For many businesses the busiest weeks of the year also need the most hands — extra warehouse staff before a peak, more drivers, additional shop floor cover. The wages go out as those people start, but the resulting sales arrive over the weeks that follow. A Credicorp facility can fund the upfront wage cost so a UK limited company or LLP can staff up for the peak with confidence.

Why seasonal hiring strains cash

• Wages are weekly or monthly; the sales they generate are spread out.
• Stock and staffing for a peak often need funding at the same time.
• Understaffing a peak can mean lost orders and disappointed customers.

How it works

Apply as a company for the business purpose of seasonal staffing. If we make an offer, you draw the funds, run the extra payroll, and repay over the term and at the rate in your offer document as the peak's trade lands.

Match the term to the season

A shorter, peak-aligned repayment usually fits seasonal staffing better than a long one. The loan is to the company, with no director personal guarantee. Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime; the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Can I use a Credicorp loan to buy stock ahead of a busy season?, Funding stock purchases ahead of a busy period and Funding a shop fit-out or refurbishment.

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Software costs have shifted. Many of the tools a business relies on now come as an annual licence paid up front, a sizeable platform fee, or a one-off implementation cost. If a system is essential to how you operate, a Credicorp loan can fund the outlay so cash flow is not knocked sideways by a single large renewal or rollout.

Borrow for value, not just convenience

Funding makes most sense where the software genuinely earns its place — by automating work, unlocking sales, or replacing several smaller tools. Weigh the benefit against the cost of the funding at the rate shown in your offer, and against simply paying monthly if that option exists.

Questions worth asking

• Is this a one-off cost or a commitment that recurs each year?
• What does implementation, data migration, and training really cost?
• How locked-in are you if the tool stops suiting the business?

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Slice suits a single upfront licence or rollout; Credicorp Flex suits funding tools across the year. Repay over your agreed term.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp is outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Funding a shop fit-out or refurbishment, Funding equipment for a café, kitchen, or bar and Can I use funding to upgrade our IT and technology?.

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Adding a new product line can open up customers you do not reach today — but it also means committing cash to stock that has no sales history yet. A Credicorp loan can fund an initial run so you can test a range properly, rather than under-ordering and selling out at the first sign of interest.

Start measured, scale on evidence

A new line carries more uncertainty than your proven sellers. Consider borrowing enough for a credible first order, then reordering on the strength of real demand. That keeps your exposure sensible while still giving the range a fair trial.

Plan for both outcomes

• If it sells well, how quickly can you restock to keep momentum?
• If it stalls, how would you clear slow stock and recover cash?
• Does the new line need different storage, handling, or marketing?

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Flex suits drawing funds as you reorder a successful line; Credicorp Slice suits a single launch order. Repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp is outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply.

See also: How can a retailer fund seasonal stock?, Funding stock purchases ahead of a busy period and Funding the fit-out of a new business location.

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Retailers, wholesalers and product businesses often need to buy stock weeks or months before they can sell it. Suppliers want paying on order or delivery, but your cash only comes back once the goods are sold. That front-loaded spend can leave a healthy business short of working cash exactly when it needs to be ready to trade.

Why timing matters

If you cannot fund the stock, you miss the season. Empty shelves during your busiest weeks cost far more than the finance to fill them. The opportunity is real, but only if the inventory is in place when customers are buying.

How a facility helps

• Lets you place larger orders and meet supplier minimums.
• Helps you secure better unit pricing through bulk or early purchase.
• Keeps everyday cash free for wages, rent and overheads while stock is bought.

Match the term to the sell-through

Stock finance works best when the repayment lines up with how quickly you expect to sell. You repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer. Be realistic about sell-through; over-ordering slow-moving stock turns a cashflow tool into a cashflow problem.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, never to individuals or sole traders, and we take no personal guarantees. As an exempt lender we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: How can a retailer fund seasonal stock?, Can I use a Credicorp loan to buy stock ahead of a busy season? and Funding import orders, duties, and shipping.

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Winning a large order is the goal, but delivering it can stretch cash hard. You may need to buy materials, pay extra labour and absorb overheads for weeks before the customer settles the invoice. That working-capital gap can make a profitable order feel financially uncomfortable. A Credicorp facility can fund delivery so a UK limited company or LLP can take on bigger work with confidence.

Costs a delivery facility can cover

• Materials and stock specific to the order.
• Additional labour or subcontractor costs.
• Overheads carried until the customer pays.

How it works

You apply as a company for the business purpose of fulfilling the order. If we make an offer, you draw the funds, deliver the work, and repay over the term and at the rate shown in your offer document once your customer pays.

Check the order stands on its own

Make sure the order's margin comfortably covers both delivery costs and the funding. Watch the customer's payment terms — a long settlement period needs a matching repayment plan. The loan is to the company, with no director personal guarantee. Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Funding raw materials to fulfil a large order, Can finance help my company take on a large new order? and Funding a quarterly rent or business rates bill.

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Opening a new site is a milestone — and a moment when costs land all at once. Before a new location earns a penny, you may face fit-out, fixtures, signage, equipment, and stock to fill it. A Credicorp loan can fund the work needed to get the doors open, so a promising location is not held back by the cost of getting it ready.

Cost the opening, not just the lease

The rent is rarely the biggest surprise. Build a full opening budget: fit-out and decoration, equipment and furniture, opening stock, utilities and connections, plus a launch marketing push. Borrowing against a complete budget avoids returning for more midway through.

Factor in the ramp-up

• Allow for slower trade while the location builds a customer base.
• Keep working-capital headroom for the first few months.
• Match repayments to when the site is expected to stand on its own.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, and we do not take personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Slice suits a single defined opening; Credicorp Flex can help where spending runs in stages. Repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp is outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply.

See also: Funding expansion into a second site or location, Funding energy-efficiency upgrades to your premises and Funding stock for a brand-new product line.

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When your stock or order volumes grow, your storage has to keep up. Investing in racking, shelving, pallet handling, or a better-organised warehouse can cut picking time, reduce damage, and let you hold more without taking on extra space. A Credicorp loan can fund that infrastructure so your operation scales smoothly.

Capacity that pays back

Good storage is rarely glamorous, but it has a real return: faster fulfilment, fewer mistakes, and the ability to buy stock in more efficient quantities. Weigh those gains against the cost of the funding at the rate shown in your offer.

Plan the layout properly

• Design for the volumes you expect, not just today's stock.
• Factor in installation, safety compliance, and any downtime during fit-out.
• Consider handling equipment and training alongside the racking itself.

How we lend

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Slice suits a single warehouse project; Credicorp Flex suits a phased expansion. Repay over your agreed term.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp is outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply.

See also: Flex or Slice for funding an asset purchase?, Funding an MOT bay or fleet servicing equipment and How can a retailer fund seasonal stock?.

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For many businesses the toughest stretch is not the busy season itself but the slump that follows it. Hospitality after the festive rush, retail in the new-year lull, trades after a summer peak: the work drops away, but the bills that built up during the busy period still need paying.

Why the slump bites

During a peak you often spend ahead, on stock, staff and supplies, to meet demand. When the rush ends, the income falls faster than the costs, and you can be left settling peak-season invoices on a trickle of off-season revenue. It is a predictable squeeze, which makes it a manageable one.

How a facility helps

• Covers fixed costs and lingering supplier bills through the quiet weeks.
• Helps you keep trained staff on rather than losing them before the next peak.
• Buys time to prepare and stock up for the next busy period.

Repay as trade returns

Because the slump is temporary and the recovery is foreseeable, this is a sound short-term use of finance. Structure it so repayments build as trade picks up again, at the rate shown in your offer over your agreed term. Plan ahead each year so the slump becomes routine rather than a shock.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to individuals or sole traders and take no personal guarantees from directors. As an exempt lender we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: How do I manage a seasonal dip in trading?, Planning your borrowing around seasonal trading and Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?.

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Some businesses do not earn steadily. Project-based firms, agencies, contractors and milestone-billed companies often see income arrive in large, irregular lumps with long quiet stretches in between. The work is profitable overall, but the cash arrives in a rhythm that does not match the steady drumbeat of wages and overheads.

The problem with lumpy income

Fixed costs are smooth; your income is not. In a strong month everything feels fine, but during the gaps between big payments you can be cash-poor even though your order book is full. Planning becomes guesswork, and a single delayed payment can tip a comfortable month into a stressful one.

How a facility helps

• Covers steady running costs during the gaps between large receipts.
• Reduces the temptation to take poor work just to bring cash forward.
• Lets you plan around your true profitability rather than this month's bank balance.

Repay as the lumps land

The natural way to use smoothing finance is to repay when your large payments come in, then draw on it again as needed across the cycle. You repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer. Keep an eye on the trend; smoothing should reduce stress, not become a permanent overdraft substitute.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, never to individuals or sole traders, and we take no personal guarantees. As an exempt lender we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Can finance help my company take on a large new order?, How seasonal businesses can use Slice, Funding the costs of delivering a large customer order.

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Some costs do not wait for a convenient month. A piece of essential equipment fails, a delivery vehicle needs urgent repair, a key supplier changes terms, or an unbudgeted bill lands. These shocks are part of running a business, but they can do real damage if they drain the cash reserves you keep for everyday trading.

Why protecting your buffer matters

Your cash reserve exists to absorb the routine ups and downs of trading. If a single unexpected cost wipes it out, you are left exposed to the next, smaller bump that you would normally take in your stride. Sometimes it is healthier to finance the one-off shock and keep your buffer intact.

How a facility helps

• Lets you deal with an urgent cost immediately, so trading is not interrupted.
• Preserves your reserves for their real job, day-to-day resilience.
• Spreads the impact of a lumpy, unplanned cost over your agreed term.

Weigh the urgency against the cost

Genuine, business-critical costs are the right candidates here. You repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer. For costs that are not urgent, it may be better to budget and save rather than borrow; reserve finance for the things that genuinely cannot wait.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to individuals or sole traders and take no personal guarantees from directors. As an exempt lender we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Funding an MOT bay or fleet servicing equipment, Funding an urgent equipment repair or replacement and Managing cashflow around a Corporation Tax or VAT bill.

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Many businesses earn most of their income in a few strong months and then face a predictable quiet stretch. A garden centre slows in winter, a tourism operator slows out of season, an events supplier slows after the summer. The challenge is that your fixed costs, rent, salaries, insurance, do not take the same break.

Plan the dip before it arrives

Because seasonal dips are predictable, they are easier to finance responsibly. Look back over previous years, map your low months, and work out how much cash you typically need to cover the trough. That figure is what you are really planning around.

How a facility helps

• Covers fixed overheads during the quiet months without draining reserves.
• Lets you retain skilled staff through the off-season instead of rehiring later.
• Funds stock or preparation ahead of your next busy period.

Repay from the peak

The natural repayment source for seasonal finance is your busy season. Structure your agreed term so repayments fall when cash is flowing again, and pay back at the rate shown in your offer. The aim is to even out the year, not to carry the cost indefinitely.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, never to individuals or sole traders, and we take no personal guarantees. As an exempt lender we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Getting through the quiet trading slump after a busy season, Managing repayments when your business is seasonal and Can a facility replace an unreliable business overdraft?.

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Cashflow problems rarely appear overnight. They build over weeks, usually visible in the numbers long before they become a crisis at the bank. Companies that finance well are the ones that see the gap coming and plan a response calmly, rather than scrambling when an account runs dry.

Build a simple cashflow forecast

A rolling forecast, even a basic spreadsheet, mapping money in and out over the coming weeks is the single most useful tool here. It turns a vague worry into a clear picture: which week is tight, how tight, and what is driving it.

Early warning signs

• Your debtor days are creeping up; customers take longer to pay.
• You are paying suppliers later than you would like to preserve cash.
• A large tax bill or quiet season is approaching with no buffer set aside.
• You are dipping into reserves to cover routine costs.

Plan the response, don't react to it

When you can see a gap coming, you have options: tighten collections, defer non-essential spend, or arrange finance in good time. Borrowing arranged ahead of need, sized to a clear gap and repaid over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer, is far healthier than emergency borrowing under pressure.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, never to individuals or sole traders, and we take no personal guarantees. As an exempt lender we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Credicorp Flex or Slice for a cashflow need?, Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, Using finance to cover payroll during a cashflow gap.

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When late invoices and cashflow gaps are the problem, businesses often weigh two routes: invoice finance, which advances money against unpaid invoices, and a term facility like Credicorp's. Both ease cashflow, but they work in different ways and suit different situations.

How invoice finance works

Invoice finance is tied to your sales ledger. A provider advances a portion of each invoice's value, then collects or waits for the customer to pay. It scales with your invoicing, but it usually involves the provider being closely involved with your customer payments, and the funding rises and falls with your ledger.

How a term facility works

A Credicorp facility gives your company an agreed amount, repaid over an agreed term at the rate shown in your offer, independent of any single invoice. It is simpler to predict, not linked to specific customers, and you keep full control of your own collections.

Which suits you

• Invoice finance can suit businesses with a large, steady book of reliable trade debtors.
• A term facility can suit defined, time-limited needs and businesses that want to keep customer relationships in their own hands.
• Some businesses use a mix, depending on the situation.

There is no single right answer; it depends on how you trade. Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, never to individuals or sole traders, and we take no personal guarantees. As an exempt lender we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, Using cashflow finance responsibly: a checklist and Credicorp Flex versus Credicorp Slice: which suits your borrowing?.

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Corporation Tax, VAT and PAYE all fall due on dates that have nothing to do with when your customers pay you. A large quarterly VAT bill or an annual Corporation Tax payment can collide with a quiet trading month and create a sudden squeeze, even for a profitable company.

Why this gap is common

VAT in particular can catch businesses out because you collect it on sales but may have already spent the underlying cash before the bill lands. If your customers are slow to pay, you can owe VAT on invoices you have not yet been paid for.

How a facility helps

• Lets you meet the deadline on time and avoid interest and penalties from HMRC.
• Spreads the impact of a lumpy tax bill across your agreed term.
• Protects your relationship with HMRC, which matters for future flexibility.

Plan tax as a known cost

Tax bills are predictable. The most resilient approach is to set money aside as you trade, but where a timing gap still appears, short-term finance can bridge it. You repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer. If you are already struggling, also speak to HMRC about a Time to Pay arrangement.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to individuals or sole traders and take no personal guarantees from directors. As an exempt lender we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Bridging the gap between one contract ending and the next starting, Can a facility replace an unreliable business overdraft? and Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?.

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For project-led and contract businesses, income can stop and start with the work itself. One contract wraps up, the final invoice is paid, and there is a pause before the next project mobilises and starts generating cash. During that pause, your overheads carry on regardless.

Why the gap appears

New contracts usually cost money before they pay. There is mobilisation, hiring or retaining staff, buying materials and setting up, all before the first milestone invoice is raised, let alone paid. Combine that with a lull between projects and you have a clear, time-limited cashflow gap.

How a facility helps

• Keeps your team and overheads funded between projects so you are ready to start.
• Funds the upfront mobilisation costs of the next contract.
• Stops you having to win work at any price just to keep cash moving.

Size it to the gap

This is a textbook short-term need: defined start, defined end, clear repayment source. Size the finance to the length of the gap and the mobilisation cost, and repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer as the new contract starts billing.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to individuals or sole traders and take no personal guarantees from directors. As an exempt lender we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Bridging the gap between one contract ending and the next, Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap? and Managing cashflow around a Corporation Tax or VAT bill.

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Many suppliers offer a discount for paying within a short window rather than on standard terms. For a company with steady margins, taking those discounts consistently can meaningfully improve unit economics. The catch is that you need the cash available the moment the invoice arrives. A Credicorp facility can give a UK limited company or LLP that flexibility.

When the maths works

This only makes sense when the discount you capture is worth more than the cost of the funding. Compare the saving against the rate shown in your offer over the time the funds are outstanding. If the discount comfortably exceeds the cost, you are effectively buying margin.

How companies use it

• Settle priority supplier invoices inside the discount window.
• Repay the facility as your own customer receipts arrive.
• Build a reputation as a prompt payer, which can improve future terms.

Points to weigh

The facility is to the company, with no director personal guarantee. As an exempt business lender, Credicorp falls outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply. Run the discount-versus-cost comparison on every drawing rather than assuming it always pays off.

See also: Should I borrow to take a supplier's early-payment discount?, Funding a new hire before they become profitable and Are there fees for paying off my facility early?.

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When a machine that your business depends on fails, every day it is down can cost you orders, customers, and reputation. If you do not have the cash to replace it immediately, borrowing can be the difference between a brief interruption and a serious loss of trade. A Credicorp loan can fund an urgent replacement so you get back to work quickly.

Move fast, but don't skip the basics

Urgency is a poor reason to overpay. Even under pressure, take a moment to compare a like-for-like replacement against an upgrade that might prevent future breakdowns. Weigh the cost of the funding, at the rate shown in your offer, against the revenue you lose for each day you stay offline.

Reduce the chance of a repeat

• Consider a model with a stronger service or warranty package.
• Build a small maintenance reserve once trading recovers.
• Keep a note of lead times so you know your exposure on critical kit.

Terms of borrowing

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Slice is well suited to a single urgent purchase; repay over your agreed term.

Credicorp is an exempt business lender outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Funding a one-off stock clearance or supplier buy-out, Funding an urgent equipment repair or replacement and Funding energy-efficiency upgrades to your premises.

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Many suppliers offer a discount if you pay early rather than waiting out the full credit terms. It can be tempting, but if your cash is tight you may not have the funds free to take the offer. This raises a sensible question: is it worth using finance to capture a supplier discount?

It can be a smart trade

If the saving from paying early is worth more than the cost of the short-term finance, the maths can work in your favour. You are effectively swapping a small cost of borrowing for a larger supplier saving, while keeping your own cash free for other needs.

Do the comparison honestly

• Compare the cost of the finance over your agreed term against the discount value.
• Factor in how long you would hold the borrowing before repaying.
• Only count discounts you would actually use, on stock or supplies you genuinely need.

Avoid the trap

The strategy backfires if you borrow to buy more than you need just to chase a discount, or if the finance costs more than you save. Use it deliberately on real, needed purchases. You repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to individuals or sole traders and take no personal guarantees from directors. As an exempt lender we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Paying suppliers early to secure settlement discounts, Using funding to take a bulk inventory discount and Are there fees for paying off my facility early?.

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When your company needs equipment, you generally have two routes: lease or rent it under a separate finance arrangement, or buy it outright using a loan such as Credicorp Slice. Neither is universally better — the right choice depends on the asset, how long you will use it, and how you want to manage cash and ownership.

Where buying with a loan tends to suit

Buying outright makes the equipment your company's asset from day one, with no usage limits or return conditions. It often suits long-life kit you expect to keep and use heavily. You meet the cost over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer, then own it free of further commitment.

Where leasing can make sense

• Technology that dates quickly and you may want to swap out.
• Equipment you need only for a fixed project or season.
• Situations where keeping the asset off your balance sheet matters to you.

How we lend

Credicorp is a lender, not a leasing company or broker — we offer business loans to buy assets, not lease agreements. We lend only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company, with no personal guarantees from directors. Take your own accounting or tax advice on which route suits your figures.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp is outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply.

See also: Flex or Slice for funding an asset purchase?, Funding a bulk fuel or energy purchase and Funding equipment for a café, kitchen, or bar.

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A VAT return falls due every quarter whether or not your customers have paid you. When the bill lands before the cash does, many companies face a short, predictable squeeze. A Credicorp facility can spread that liability over an agreed term so the payment to HMRC goes out on time and your day-to-day operating cash stays intact.

Why companies use funding for VAT

• The liability is fixed and dated, but incoming receipts rarely line up with it.
• Paying late risks HMRC surcharges and a poorer compliance record.
• Borrowing to smooth a known obligation is often cheaper than the disruption of an unpaid invoice run.

How it works

You apply as a limited company or LLP for a business purpose. If we make an offer, the rate and term you see are the ones shown in your offer document. You draw the funds, settle HMRC, then repay over the agreed schedule. We do not take personal guarantees from directors, so the obligation sits with the company.

Things to keep in mind

Funding a tax bill is sensible only when the underlying cash gap is genuinely timing, not a structural shortfall. Because Credicorp lends outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, this facility is not covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or FSCS. Review the figures in your offer against your forecast before you draw. For more on this use case, see VAT bill finance.

See also: Funding an MOT bay or fleet servicing equipment, Funding for restaurants and cafés and Funding a quarterly rent or business rates bill.

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Cashflow finance can be genuinely useful, but only when it is used for the right reasons and sized to the right need. The difference between finance that helps and finance that hurts usually comes down to a few honest questions you ask before you borrow.

Ask these before you commit

• Is this a timing problem or a profitability problem? Finance fixes timing, not losses.
• Can I clearly identify the money that will repay it?
• Is the cost of the finance smaller than the cost of not having it?
• Have I borrowed the amount I actually need, not the maximum available?
• Does the repayment fit comfortably within my forecast cashflow?

Signs you should pause

Be cautious if you are borrowing to cover routine losses, repaying one facility by taking another, or borrowing because you have not looked at your numbers rather than because you have. These are signals to review the business, not to add more debt.

Borrow with eyes open

Read your offer in full before you sign. Understand the rate shown, your agreed term, and exactly what your repayments will be. If anything is unclear, ask us. Responsible borrowing is informed borrowing.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, never to individuals or sole traders, and we take no personal guarantees. As an exempt lender we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, How does a Credicorp facility differ from invoice finance? and Building a thirteen-week cashflow forecast.

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Of all the bills a company faces, payroll is the one with the least flexibility. Staff rely on being paid in full and on time, and so do HMRC for the PAYE and National Insurance that follow. When a temporary cashflow gap lands on a pay date, the pressure is real and immediate.

Why a short bridge can be the right call

If you have profitable work in progress or invoices about to land, but the timing does not line up with payday, finance can keep your team paid without disruption. You repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer, ideally as the expected income arrives.

Use it for genuine timing problems

• The shortfall is short-term and you can identify the money that will repay it.
• The alternative, missing wages, would damage trust and retention.
• You have accounted for PAYE and pension contributions, not just net pay.

When borrowing for payroll is a warning sign

If you find yourself borrowing for wages month after month, the issue is usually that the business cannot currently support its wage bill. That is a structural problem finance will not solve. Treat repeated payroll borrowing as a prompt to review pricing, staffing levels and contract profitability.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. We do not lend to individuals or sole traders and take no personal guarantees from directors. As an exempt lender we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Can business finance help bridge a short-term cashflow gap?, Funding monthly payroll when receipts are delayed and Can a facility replace an unreliable business overdraft?.

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Suppliers often reward volume. If buying a larger quantity drops your unit cost, the saving can be real money — but only if you can fund the bigger order without starving the rest of the business of cash. Borrowing to capture a bulk discount is a legitimate use of a Credicorp loan, provided the maths works in your favour.

The simple test

Compare the total saving from the discount against the total cost of the funding over your agreed term, at the rate shown in your offer. If the saving comfortably exceeds the cost of borrowing, the deal stacks up. If it is marginal, the risk of slow-moving stock may outweigh the benefit.

Things that quietly erode the saving

• Stock that sells slower than expected, tying up cash you have paid to borrow.
• Extra storage, insurance, or handling for the larger volume.
• Wastage, obsolescence, or shrinkage on perishable or fast-moving lines.

Who we lend to

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes. The loan is to the company and we do not take personal guarantees from directors. Credicorp Flex and Credicorp Slice can both fund a one-off bulk buy; choose the one that matches how you want to repay.

As an exempt business lender, Credicorp is outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection do not apply.

See also: Should I borrow to take a supplier's early-payment discount?, Funding a bulk fuel or energy purchase and Funding a one-off stock clearance or supplier buy-out.

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Late payment is one of the biggest pressures on UK limited companies. You have done the work, raised the invoice, and now you are waiting, sometimes well beyond your agreed terms. Meanwhile your own bills keep their original dates. The problem is rarely that the business is unprofitable; it is that your cash is sitting on someone else's balance sheet.

Using finance to stay operational

A Credicorp facility can release funds against the income you are expecting, so wages, suppliers and tax are paid on time while you chase what you are owed. You repay over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer, ideally as the outstanding invoices come in.

Pair finance with collection discipline

• Send invoices the day the work completes, with clear due dates.
• Set automatic reminders before and after the due date.
• Know your rights on statutory interest for overdue commercial debts.
• Flag persistently late payers and review whether to keep extending them credit.

A short-term bridge, not a substitute

Finance helps you absorb the wait, but it does not fix a customer who never intends to pay. Treat it as breathing room while you tighten collections, not as a reason to ignore a bad debtor.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, never to individuals or sole traders, and we take no personal guarantees. As an exempt lender we are outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Bridging while you wait for a grant or R&D tax credit, A big customer has paid us late — what does that mean for our loan?, Funding everyday working capital for your company.

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It catches many directors by surprise: the busier and more successful the company gets, the tighter cash becomes. Sales are up, the order book is healthy, and yet the bank balance feels worse than ever. This is overtrading, and it is one of the most common cashflow traps for growing businesses.

Why growth eats cash

Every new sale usually costs money before it pays. You buy more stock, hire more people and take on more overhead to service rising demand, all before the extra revenue arrives. The faster you grow, the bigger that upfront gap becomes. Profit on paper does not equal cash in the bank.

How a facility helps

• Funds the working capital that growth consumes ahead of revenue.
• Lets you accept rising demand without starving daily operations of cash.
• Smooths the gap until your larger sales base starts generating steady cash.

Grow at a fundable pace

The goal is to grow at a rate your cashflow can support. Use finance to fund expansion you can see paying back, repaid over your agreed term at the rate shown in your offer, and keep a close eye on your forecast so growth does not outrun your cash.

Credicorp lends only to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, never to individuals or sole traders, and we take no personal guarantees. As an exempt lender we sit outside the FCA consumer-credit regime, so the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS do not apply.

See also: Bridging the gap between one contract ending and the next starting, Getting through the quiet trading slump after a busy season and How do I manage a seasonal dip in trading?.

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