Funding Circle is a global small business lender founded in 2010 that has deployed $20B+ to 135,000+ businesses in the UK, US, Germany, and Netherlands. In June 2024, its US operations were acquired by iBusiness Funding. In the US, it offers term loans from $25,000 to $500,000 with APRs of 15.22%–45%, SBA 7(a) loans at government-backed rates, and a business line of credit. Fixed monthly payments, no prepayment penalties, and a personal account manager for every application are its core strengths. The 4.5/5 Trustpilot rating across 16,600+ reviews reflects consistently high customer satisfaction. The tradeoffs: origination fees of 4.49%–10.49% deducted from proceeds, a 2-year minimum in business, and a 660 credit score requirement that excludes newer or fair-credit businesses. Best for established businesses wanting bank-quality monthly payments and no prepayment risk at faster-than-bank speeds.
Funding Circle is a global small business lender founded in 2010 that has deployed $20B+ to 135,000+ businesses in the UK, US, Germany, and Netherlands. In June 2024, its US operations were acquired by iBusiness Funding. In the US, it offers term loans from $25,000 to $500,000 with APRs of 15.22%–45%, SBA 7(a) loans at government-backed rates, and a business line of credit. Fixed monthly payments, no prepayment penalties, and a personal account manager for every application are its core strengths. The 4.5/5 Trustpilot rating across 16,600+ reviews reflects consistently high customer satisfaction. The tradeoffs: origination fees of 4.49%–10.49% deducted from proceeds, a 2-year minimum in business, and a 660 credit score requirement that excludes newer or fair-credit businesses. Best for established businesses wanting bank-quality monthly payments and no prepayment risk at faster-than-bank speeds.
Monthly payments, no prepayment penalties, and 16,600+ five-star reviews set Funding Circle apart from comparable online lenders in 2026.
Funding Circle is best suited to established businesses making planned capital investments with predictable repayment needs.
Fund new locations, hiring, or growth initiatives with a fixed-rate term loan and predictable monthly payments over up to 7 years.
Finance major equipment purchases with long-term monthly payments that match expected equipment lifespan and ROI.
Cover payroll, inventory, and operational costs with a lump-sum term loan at a fixed monthly repayment schedule.
Consolidate higher-cost business debt — MCAs or short-term loans — into a single Funding Circle term loan with fixed monthly payments.
Use SBA 7(a) loans for property acquisition or major renovations at government-capped rates and longer terms.
All products start with one online application and a personal account manager who contacts you within one hour.
Fixed monthly payments over 6 to 84 months. APR 15.22%–45%. Origination fee 4.49%–10.49% deducted from proceeds. Collateral and personal guarantee required. No prepayment penalty.
Government-backed at SBA-capped rates. Terms up to 10 years. Requires 640+ credit score and 2+ years in business. Online application with dedicated SBA specialist support.
Revolving credit drawn as needed. Average draw fee 1.6%. Pay interest only on drawn amounts. Best for ongoing working capital and cash flow management.
Complete the online form with basic business info. Submit 2 years of tax returns, personal tax returns, and 6 months of bank statements. A hard credit pull occurs at application.
Your personal account manager contacts you within an hour to collect documentation, explain terms, and begin developing your offer.
Funding Circle underwrites your application and delivers a decision typically within 24 hours. Note: final approved rates may differ from initial pre-qualified ranges.
Accept your offer and funds are deposited within 1–3 business days. SBA loans follow longer government timelines. Monthly repayments begin after a short grace period.
|
Funding Circle
|
Fundivi
|
Fora Financial
|
OnDeck
|
Credibly
|
Kapitus
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | ||||||
| Loan Amount | $25K – $500K | $10K – $5M | $5K – $1.5M | $5K – $400K | $5K – $600K | $10K – $5M |
| Time in Business | 24+ Months | 9+ Months | 6+ Months | 12+ Months | 6+ Months | 12+ Months |
| Monthly Revenue | $50K+ | $30K+ | $12K+ | $8,333+ | $15K+ | $21K+ |
| Min. Credit Score | 660+ | None | 500 | 625+ | 500+ | 600+ |
| Loan Details | ||||||
| Funding Speed | 3 Business Days | Same Day | 72 Hours | Same Day | 24 Hours | 24–48 Hours |
| Approval | — | Within 3 Hours | — | — | 4 Hours | — |
| Rating | ||||||
| Rating | ||||||
| BBB Rating | A+ | A- | A+ | A+ | A+ | N/A |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply | Apply | Apply | Apply | |
Yes. Funding Circle is a direct lender that originates and funds its own term loans and SBA products. In June 2024, Funding Circle’s US operations were acquired by iBusiness Funding. Founded globally in 2010.
Term loans require a minimum personal credit score of 660. SBA 7(a) loans require 640+. No personal bankruptcy in the last 7 years is required for all products.
Funding Circle charges a one-time origination fee of 4.49% to 10.49% deducted directly from loan proceeds before disbursement. On a $100,000 loan, this fee ranges from $4,490 to $10,490 — meaning you receive less than you borrowed but owe interest on the full amount.
No. Funding Circle does not charge prepayment penalties on any of its loan products. You can pay off your loan early at any time with no additional fees.
Decisions arrive in as little as 24 hours. Funding is typically deposited within 1–3 business days of accepting an offer. SBA loans follow longer government processing timelines.
Available in all US states except Vermont. Founded in London in 2010; US headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The US business was acquired by iBusiness Funding in June 2024.
Funding Circle earns its reputation in 2026 as a strong option for established businesses that want monthly fixed payments, longer repayment terms, and no prepayment risk — at speeds faster than traditional banks. The 4.5/5 Trustpilot rating across 16,600+ reviews and A+ BBB status with only one complaint in the last 12 months reflect exceptional operational quality. For businesses with 2+ years of history and a 660+ credit score, Funding Circle delivers a bank-quality product at alternative lender speeds.
The origination fee (4.49%–10.49%) and APR range (15.22%–45%) deserve careful attention before signing. Always request the total repayment amount upfront and compare it against bank or SBA alternatives. If you need same-day capital or have a credit score below 660, look at Fundivi, SBG Funding, or Credibly instead. For those who qualify and want predictable monthly payments over up to 7 years, Funding Circle is hard to beat.
Visit Funding CircleShare your Funding Circle experience. All submissions are moderated before publishing.