NimbleFins review of Capify business loans

NimbleFins review of Capify business loans

Capify is a business lender set up with smaller businesses in mind. But are their loans any good? Let’s dive in and take a closer look.

Good for

  • Loans available for new businesses with only 6 months’ trading
  • Super speedy 60 second pre application checker
  • Quick and easy application process
  • Clear and simple website
  • Great guides to provide information on business loans
  • Rated 4.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot

Bad for

  • Currently offer limited range of business loans
  • Higher interest rates
  • Only short terms of up to 12 months are currently available

Editor's Rating

4.0/5.0

Capify was started in 2008 to help businesses that were struggling to find business funding after the global financial crisis. Since then the business has gradually expanded to offer a range of different business finance options.

In This Review

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Get started

  • Borrow from £5,000 to £500,000 over 12 months
  • Repay early with no fees
  • Decisions in 1 working day
  • Funding in as little as 24 hours
  • Help from a dedicated account manager

Capify overall review

Capify is a customer-focused business and has achieved a rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 on Trustpilot. They aim to make their products simple and accessible. They have a specialist customer service team who can help guide business owners through the loan application process and find the best solution for them.

If you’ve struggled to get business funding elsewhere, then Capify might work for you. They provide a dedicated point of contact who will be available at the end of the phone if you have a query on your application. They also have a specialist team of underwriters who look at every application on a case by case basis.

We were also impressed by the range of flexible lending options for small businesses. With Capify’s business loans, you may be able to apply to a top up after you’ve paid off 50% of your existing loan. That could be a life line if you struggle with cash flow problems.

On the downside, Capify only offers short term loans of from 3 to 12 months and interest rates are on the high side, for example with an average effective APR of 67.89% in an example on their site for a £24,000 loan.

Bottom Line

We were impressed by Capify’s simple website and their quick application process. If you’re a small business owner and you’ve struggled to get finance with a traditional lender, then Capify could be a good option. You’ll get a super quick decision and could receive funding within a few days. But you might find better terms elsewhere.

Key features of Capify Business Loans

  • Loans for businesses with only 12 months’ trading
  • 60 second pre application checker
  • Dedicated account manager
  • Flexible payment options available

Types of business loan available from Capify

Capify currently offers three main business finance options, a small business loan, a secured business loan and a merchant cash advance. Here are some more details.

Small business loan

Capify offers business loans of between £5,000 to £500,000 and you can typically borrow up to 90% of your turnover. Capify’s quick quote tool helps you check if you’re eligible for funding within 60 seconds and won’t affect your credit score. After applying, you won’t have to wait long for a decision. You should receive your business funding within a few days.

Interest rates are typically around 20% per annum and you’ll be able to apply for a loan of between 6 to 18 months.

Loans are available for businesses that meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • UK-based businesses that are set up as a limited company, limited partnership, partnership or sole trader
  • Turnover > £10,000 per month (Capify can often lend up to 90% of turnover)
  • Trading records for at least 12 months

However, they may look at other factors as well, such as how you accept cash, the number of card and cash transactions you process, the reason for borrowing, payment history, etc.

Capify loans are set up differently to traditional banks and lenders and you’ll be able to repay your loan through daily or weekly regular small payments, rather than a large fixed monthly payment.

With a Capify loan, you’ll also have more flexibility than with a traditional lender. After you’ve repaid 50% of your loan you’ll be eligible to top up your loan. Before approving the loan top-up, you’ll need to undergo eligibility checks and a credit check to make sure you can afford the extra payments.

Sometimes situations change and you need to borrow a little bit extra for your business. Topping up your loan at its most basic level is simply borrowing additional money, and all lenders approach it differently.

For more information on how simple business loans work, check out our detailed guide on small business loans.

Merchant cash advance

Capify also offers flexible merchant cash advances for small businesses. Businesses can typically receive £5,000 to £500,000, via an advance of up to 150% of their monthly credit and debit card turnover. You will repay your loan in small amounts every day through your card receipts.

Merchant cash advances are available for businesses that meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • UK-based business that is either as a sole trader, a partnership or a limited company
  • At least £20,000 per month in card payments
  • At least 12 month’s worth of trading records

You may also need a business plan and debt repayment history, for example.

Typically, merchant cash advances have higher borrowing costs than traditional loans, but they're no collateral requited and quick access to funds. If you want to find out more about how merchant cash advances work, then have a look at our detailed guide on merchant cash advances

Secured business loan

Capify has added a third funding option to the mix: secured business loans. With this, businesses can raise from £75,000 up to £500,000 by using an asset as a security. Payback involves fixed, regular payments. The process of securing a secured business loan is like applying for a mortgage and can take several weeks, as the lender will evaluate the value of the asset you propose as collateral.

While collateral on a secured business loan can sometimes encompass various forms, such as real estate properties, cutting-edge equipment, valuable inventory, or substantial accounts receivable, Capify only accept residential properties as security against the loan amount.

Secured business loans can benefit from lower interest rates (because the lender has less risk, due to the pledged collateral), but note that in the unfortunate event that you cannot make the loan repayments, the lender may exercise their right to claim ownership of the asset pledged as security (e.g. your home).

What are the fees on Capify loans?

In addition to interest, you’ll have to pay some fees on your Capify loans. Processing fees and origination fees are due when you take out a loan and monthly Cashplus fees are due on certain types of account. Here are the details:

Amount borrowedProcessing feeOrigination feeMonthly Cashplus fee (if applicable)
Paid up front on business loans and merchant cash advancesPaid up front on business loansPaid monthly
Up to £9,999£249Up to 6%£24.90
£10,000 – £19,999£349Up to 6%£24.90
£20,000 – £49,999£449Up to 6%£24.90
£50,000 – £79,499£549Up to 6%£24.90
£75,000 – £99,999£649Up to 6%£24.90
£100,000 plus£749Up to 6%£24.90

Note: the monthly fee for merchant cash advances is £25 (10p higher than for business loans).

How do I apply for a Capify loan?

Capify has a simple process that is designed to be as straightforward as possible. You’ll have to pass a credit check and Capify will also need to see the following information:

  • Proof of ID
  • Details of how much you want to borrow and the purpose of the loan
  • Financial reports including information on income, outgoings, profit, assets
  • Details of any outstanding borrowing arrangements

You can speed up the application process by making sure all your information is ready to hand when you apply.

After applying, Capify’s friendly Manchester-based sales team will sort out your funds and you should receive them within a few days. You’ll have a dedicated account manager to go to if you have any queries.

Other services offered by Capify: card terminals

Capify also offers small businesses the opportunity to apply for a card terminal. This could help you take payments more easily and save you valuable admin time.

Capify provides a range of different terminals, through their partner United Merchant Services.

They offer competitive rates and supply modern card machines that are easy to use and accept all major credit and debit cards. Having a card terminal will reduce the need for invoicing and enable your business to take instant card payments. You’ll be able to take contactless and mobile payments and speed up transactions during peak times.

Customer ratings

Capify ratings & customer reviews

Capify ratings & customer reviews
Trustpilot reviews4.5 out of 5

How do existing customers rate Capify for their business loans? To get the low down, we've searched through hundreds of online customer reviews to find out how customers rate their experience with Capify.

Capify Trustpilot reviews

Capify has earned a very respectable 3.9 stars out of 5 with Trustpilot reviewers.

Here are some of the recent reviews:

"I’ve been working with capify for over a year now and just took out my fourth loan. They are honest quick and efficient."

“Clare Jones has been the most helpful person ever to deal with! She was not only quick but thorough too. We had to prepare more documents than usual but this wasn't an issue. Clare went above and beyond to help us and we're excited to work with Capify in the future in our aggressive growth plans! 10 stores will be turning into 20!” March 2022

“A true personal touch....my advisor really took an interest in my business, and went the extra mile to make the funding available. A fantastic service was received.” March 2022

“Louise, the relationship manager who handled my case, is exemplary: super helpful, highly professional, knowledgeable and very personable. She went the extra mile for me to make sure everything was delivered smoothly and swiftly. I cannot praise her enough. She is an absolute star… All in all, they have a great team.” Feb 2022

“Smooth and easy - funds received in 48 hours! Christopher C was incredibly attentive and helpful and kept us updated throughout the day. He provided us with an offer within a few hours and we received the funds within 48 hours. Thanks again!.” Sep 2021

“Very good service from initial contact through to completion and provision of monies. Where other lenders would not even consider us due to the circumstances of a new company just before a global pandemic, Capify looked at all of the information provided and [has] supported my business. This does come with associated costs which would be my only feedback but as with everything nothing is free. Sian was brilliant throughout, couldn't fault the communication and dealings. Would definitely use again!.” Mar 2021

How to contact Capify

If you need to contact Capify then you can use phone or social media or ask for a call back using the pop up on their website. You can also find useful guides on their website to help you decide which type of loan is suitable for you.

Contact information for Capify:

Alice Guy

Alice Guy is a Suffolk-based business and personal finance writer. She trained with KPMG in London as a Chartered Accountant before working as a business analyst for Tesco Plc. Alice has personal experience surviving on a tight budget when she took time out to care for her young family. She loves to write about business finance, saving and investing—all the money stuff we were never taught at school.

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