December 2025 – Deal of the Month
£100,000 – Business Cash Advance
This month’s Deal of the Month supported a recently rebranded gym preparing for its busiest trading period of the year – the annual “New Year, New Me” surge.
With January membership demand approaching, the business needed capital quickly to expand its weights area and Pilates studios, allowing them to accommodate up to 50% more members during peak times and fully capitalise on seasonal momentum.
Why it stood out:
Despite strong demand and growing membership numbers, the business faced short-term cashflow pressure driven by:
- High upfront refurbishment and equipment costs.
- Increased staffing ahead of peak January footfall.
- Card revenues fluctuating daily in line with class bookings and member sign-ups.
Traditional lenders were unable to move at the required speed or offer a structure that reflected the gym’s trading profile. By analysing live merchant data, historic January performance, and forward booking trends, we structured a Business Cash Advance with revenue-linked repayments, ensuring contributions flexed in line with takings – protecting cashflow during quieter days while scaling naturally during peak periods.
The result:
- £100,000 released to fund expansion works immediately.
- Increased capacity across weights and Pilates rooms.
- Ability to maximise January sign-ups without operational strain.
- Same-day approval and completion.
A strong, broker-relevant example of how alternative finance enables seasonal, growth-led businesses to act quickly – where traditional funding often slows momentum.
Credit Corner
December was another powerhouse month for our Credit Team! Even with year-end trading peaks, we kept decisioning fast and disciplined across BCAs, MCAs and our SIF facilities. Here’s the lowdown:
Speedy Offers: Average time to offer indicative terms is 3 hours 47 minutes across our core products.
Approval Rate: Up 12% since previous month.
Top Performing Sectors:
- Hospitality – Festive travel, events and holiday leisure demand.
- Retail – Christmas spending, promotions and January sales surge.
- Manufacturing – Year-end orders, restocking and contract fulfilment.
Underwriting Insight: We know your clients may be navigating a tricky seasonal period, but our credit team takes the full picture into account. After all, we’re more than number crunchers, were storybook lenders, understanding the journey behind every business.
Pro Tip for Brokers and Introducers: We saw clients that provided open banking from the start of an application, saw an increase in offer times by 42% – helping clients access funding faster during busy trading periods!
Sector Snapshots
What Brokers are Seeing?
Retail & Hospitality:
Strong peak trading. BCAs and short-term facilities used to manage stock, staffing and post-Christmas cashflow gaps.
Construction:
Winter slowdowns mean bridging and invoice finance are key to managing delayed payments.
Manufacturing:
Steady output supported by revolving credit and Selective Invoice Finance.
Transport & Logistics:
Fuel costs, fleet maintenance and seasonal spikes are driving demand for flexible funding.
From the Desk of our CEO, Serge Santos…
“December is always a defining month for SMEs. It’s where preparation meets opportunity. As we close 2025, I’m incredibly proud of the way our team and broker partners have supported businesses at speed, when it matters most.”
“Whether it’s short-term working capital or longer-term growth funding, our focus going into 2026 remains the same – clarity, flexibility, and partnership.”
UK SME Funding | Year-End Market Insights
Banks still cautious.
Credit appetite remains tight, with slower decisioning and rigid criteria.
Alternative finance is now mainstream.
Speed, flexibility and real-time underwriting are driving the majority of SME funding decisions.
SMEs borrowing carefully.
Businesses want flexibility, not long-term debt that restricts cashflow.
Digital-first is the norm.
Fast decisions, minimal paperwork and data-led underwriting are expected, not optional.
Broker education matters more than ever.
Many SMEs still don’t know their options beyond overdrafts and loans – brokers bridge that gap.
Inside Funding Alternative – December Wrap-Up
Broker Partnerships:
A strong end to the year with new broker relationships and repeat submissions from trusted partners.
Speed & Delivery:
Consistently fast decisioning throughout December – even during peak volumes.
Looking Ahead:
January pipeline already building, with strong appetite for:
- Working capital.
- Growth funding.
- Seasonal expansion deals.
As we head into 2026, we’d like to thank our brokers, introducers and partners for another year of collaboration and trust.
