FINANCE OPTIONS

^Get 650k R&D Tax Credit Funding – Apply Now

Q: How much can a business borrow with R&D Tax Credit funding

Borrowing capacity is typically between £25,000 and £1,000,000. The amount depends on expected credit or refund value, the strength and completeness of your R&D evidence, whether you are applying pre-claim or using a known or recent outcome, and factors like company size, trading history, and the provider’s risk appetite and reconciliation structure.

Q: How long do decisions and funding usually take

After you provide the required R&D and company documentation, initial decisions are typically 3 to 15 business days. Funds are often available within 1 to 4 weeks from acceptance of terms, subject to underwriting completion. Speed can be influenced by how complete your evidence pack is and how quickly you respond to any underwriting questions.

Q: How are R&D advance costs priced

Effective cost can vary widely. Many providers price using an advance fee and/or a discount and may include interest components, rather than a standard APR-style loan rate. Businesses often see fee or discount structures that can work out to a high single digit to low double digit effective annualised cost depending on claim stage, advance size, risk, and the period until repayment or reconciliation.

Q: Which provider route fits my situation: SME advance, pre-claim, or refinance

Use an SME R&D Tax Credit Advance if you are an eligible UK SME with qualifying R&D and a credible plan to submit or a recent claim path. Choose Pre-Claim funding when you need cash before HMRC processes your next claim. If you have an existing or recently completed R&D claim and want additional funding for subsequent phases, R&D Claim Refinance or a secondary advance may be more relevant. Providers will typically expect evidence of the R&D scope and documents aligned to the chosen route.

£650k R&D Tax Credit advance usually refers to an R&D Tax Credit advance, where cash is advanced against a business’s expected UK R&D Tax Relief claim. The product is designed for SMEs that want to unlock funding earlier than HMRC processing, so R&D work can continue while you manage working capital. Providers typically repay from the eventual HMRC tax credit or via a contractual reconciliation if the final claim outcome differs from projections. Many businesses use this route to fund qualifying R&D spend, maintain specialist headcount, and bridge the gap between R&D delivery and receipt of the refund.

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^Benefits of an R&D Tax Credit advance

For SMEs targeting around £650k of credit, an advance can help convert qualifying R&D expenditure into earlier liquidity, supporting cashflow. Funding is typically structured around the claim cycle and priced using an advance fee and/or a discount to the expected credit value. Decision and funding times often depend on the quality of your R&D evidence and whether you are pre-claim or based on established claim outcomes.

Faster R&D cash access

Reduced short term pressure

Supports claim timing

SCALE YOUR BUSINESS TO NEW HEIGHTS

Types of R&D tax credit funding

SME R&D Tax Credit Advance

Best suited to UK SMEs making qualifying R&D expenditure with a credible plan to submit or a recent submission.

SME R&D Tax Credit Advance

An SME R&D Tax Credit advance is underwritten around your expected UK R&D Tax Relief claim. Providers typically review trading status in the UK, business accounts and tax returns, evidence of Research And Development activity and qualifying cost categories, and your ability to supply adviser or agent documentation support. Common advance levels range from around £50,000 up to £1,000,000+, with terms often structured around 3 to 12 months from drawdown to repayment or reconciliation. Effective cost can be higher than traditional secured lending because the pricing is tied to an outcome-led tax event.

Pre-Claim (Application-to-Advance) R&D Funding

Used when you need cash while HMRC is still processing your next claim.

Pre-Claim (Application-to-Advance) R&D Funding

Pre-claim funding supports businesses that are planning to submit their first or next R&D Tax Relief claim and need cash before the return is processed. Lenders commonly require accounts or tax filings, a draft or prepared claim narrative, a breakdown of R&D costs, and confirmation of adviser or agent arrangements where relevant. Amounts often sit between £25,000 and £750,000+ depending on projected credit and evidence quality, with typical durations aligned to claim submission and HMRC processing, often around 4 to 14 months from advance to reconciliation.

R&D Claim Refinance / Secondary Advance

For businesses that have an existing or recently completed claim and want to top up funding.

R&D Claim Refinance / Secondary Advance

R&D claim refinance, sometimes called a secondary advance, is for SMEs seeking additional funding against a new or subsequent R&D phase. Eligibility usually includes evidence of prior claim submissions or outcomes where available, plus details of the current qualifying work and how repayment will be achieved from the upcoming refund or contractual reconciliation. Typical advances can be £50,000 to £1,000,000+, with structures often running for 3 to 10 months. Pricing may be less expensive than first-time pre-claim products where claim history is reliable, but it varies by provider and risk.

Typical Funding Journeys on Funding Agent

Submit your funding request

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Your request is matched to suitable lenders

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How to get R&D advance via Funding Agent

Share your R&D claim details

Tell us about your company, your expected claim timing, and the nature of the R&D work, including any adviser support. Also outline how much credit you expect to generate and provide the information you already have for your evidence pack. Start by completing the online application form so Funding Agent can understand your business funding needs.

We shortlist matching providers

Funding Agent compares providers by eligibility fit for your stage, such as pre-claim versus existing or recent claim outcomes. You will be matched against the documentation they typically require and the advance size they can underwrite.

Apply and get an advance decision

We help you compile the information requested for underwriting, then support the application process. If you proceed, the provider advances funds and reconciles against the final HMRC outcome under the agreed contract terms.