October 8, 2025
Lender Comparisons

Clearco vs Wayflyer: Which Revenue-Based Lender Is Best for UK E-commerce in 2025?

Clearco vs Wayflyer for UK ecommerce funding: compare fees, flexibility, data tools and use cases to pick the right non-dilutive finance for growth.
Abdus-Samad Charles
Head of Content

Clearco and Wayflyer both offer fast, non-dilutive working capital that scales with your sales. Clearco pioneered revenue-based advances for online brands and also built a dedicated invoice funding tool; Wayflyer has grown rapidly in the UK with revenue-share advances plus a wholesale financing product for brands selling through retail channels. This guide compares their products, pricing, repayment mechanics, speed, eligibility, and fit by scenario, using only verified public sources from the providers and reputable reports.

TL;DR
  • Both use fixed fees instead of interest, repaid via a share of sales that flexes with revenue.
  • Clearco historically offered revenue advances and a distinct invoice funding product; new UK clients have been referred via a partner arrangement.
  • Wayflyer offers revenue advances and a wholesale financing option with fixed weekly or monthly instalments for retail supply needs.
  • Typical fees sit in the mid single to low double digits, with no compounding interest and no personal guarantee.
  • Application is data-driven, integrating your store, payments, and marketing accounts, with decisions and funding possible within days.
  • Choose based on channel mix, the need to fund invoices or inventory, desired repayment rhythm, and current UK availability.

Clearco vs Wayflyer: UK Business Funding Analysis

This interactive dashboard compares two leading alternative funding providers for UK e-commerce businesses. Both offer revenue-based financing (non-dilutive capital) with flexible repayment structures. Navigate through the tabs to explore key metrics including fee structures, funding limits, customer satisfaction ratings, and repayment timelines. Note: Clearco ceased direct UK operations in 2022, partnering with Outfund, while Wayflyer maintains an active UK presence.

Both providers use flat-fee structures instead of traditional interest rates. Clearco charges 6-12% depending on use-case (lower for marketing/inventory), while Wayflyer typically charges 5-10% based on business risk assessment. Wayflyer's average fee is slightly lower at ~7%, making it marginally more cost-effective. Neither charges origination fees, monthly fees, or penalties for early repayment, though Clearco offers prorated fee rebates for early invoice funding payoffs.

Wayflyer offers a wider funding range with lower minimums (£4k vs £8k) and higher maximums (£16M vs £8M), making it accessible to both smaller startups and larger enterprises. Wayflyer's Scaler program specifically targets businesses with £15M+ annual revenue for multi-million pound advances. Both providers scale funding capacity as businesses grow and successfully repay, effectively creating revolving credit facilities that expand with business performance.

Wayflyer significantly outperforms in customer support, with UK clients frequently praising their dedicated account managers by name. While both providers offer fast funding, Wayflyer's combination of automated tech with high-touch service creates a partnership feel rather than a transactional relationship. Clearco excels in platform automation and self-service capabilities, but some customers reported operational issues with payment collections and support responsiveness during its UK operations.

Wayflyer maintains an exceptional 4.9/5 Trustpilot rating with 92% five-star reviews, demonstrating consistent customer satisfaction. Clearco's 4.4/5 rating is still positive, but with 14% one-star reviews compared to Wayflyer's 6%, indicating more variable experiences. The review disparity largely stems from customer service differences: Wayflyer's personalized approach versus Clearco's more automated model. Click the chart to toggle between provider data and compare their review distributions directly.

Both providers dramatically outpace traditional banks, which can take weeks or months for business loan approvals. Clearco offers 2-minute funding capacity estimates using proprietary AI scoring, while Wayflyer typically provides conditional offers within 4 hours. Wayflyer edges ahead in disbursement speed (24 hours vs 48 hours) and uniquely offers instant access via virtual debit cards through Stripe Issuing, allowing businesses to start spending immediately. This speed is critical for time-sensitive opportunities like seasonal inventory purchases or flash advertising campaigns.

While fixed fees seem straightforward, the effective APR varies dramatically based on repayment speed. Quick repayment (2-4 months) results in high effective APRs (27-54%), making these products expensive for short-term needs. However, the flexibility advantage is crucial: unlike fixed-term bank loans, slower repayment during low-sales periods doesn't trigger defaults or additional fees. Both providers' fees remain constant regardless of duration, offering downside protection that traditional debt lacks. The model works best when funds generate ROI quickly—inventory that sells within the season or ads with strong ROAS.

Products and Terms at a Glance

Clearco, products, sizes, fees, repayments, eligibility

Clearco’s core e-commerce funding uses a fixed fee on the advance and remits a percentage of sales until the total is repaid. Clearco also offers dedicated Invoice Funding that pays suppliers directly, uses capped weekly repayments tied to revenue, and allows early payoff with a prorated fee rebate on that invoice facility. Repayments flex with sales and are typically capped so collections do not exceed a share of weekly revenue. According to reporting, Clearco shifted international operations and has referred new overseas clients via a partner, which UK founders should note when considering access and ongoing service.

Pros of Clearco

  • Transparent flat fees on advances rather than interest, with flexible revenue-share repayments.
  • Invoice Funding is purpose-built to pay vendors quickly with weekly caps and early repayment rebate.
  • No personal guarantees highlighted for these facilities.

Cons of Clearco

  • International scale-back means new UK access is via partner arrangements rather than direct origination.
  • Fixed-fee structures can imply higher effective APR if you repay very quickly compared with a low-rate bank loan (general characteristic of fixed-fee revenue advances).

Wayflyer, products, sizes, fees, repayments, eligibility

Wayflyer’s flagship is a revenue-share advance with a fixed fee and daily or weekly remittances until the total is cleared, detailed in the fees overview and independent reviews. For larger or specialised needs, Wayflyer also provides Wholesale Financing that supports brands selling via retailers, with fixed weekly, fortnightly, or monthly instalments set against revenue expectations. Eligibility includes connecting e-commerce, payments, and analytics accounts, and meeting minimum revenue and operating history as outlined in Wayflyer’s requirements.

Pros of Wayflyer

  • Simple fixed-fee pricing with no hidden charges.
  • Fast decisions and funding, with the option of near-instant spend via a virtual card in some cases.
  • Wholesale Financing for omnichannel and retail-supply use cases with predictable instalments.

Cons of Wayflyer

  • Fixed fee is payable even if repaid early, which raises the effective APR if you clear quickly.
  • Daily remittances can tighten cash on slower days unless you agree a weekly or monthly cadence for suitable products.

Costs and Repayments in Practice

Both providers charge a one-off fixed fee on the advance. There is no compounding interest, no monthly interest accrual, and repayments flex with sales, either daily or weekly, based on the product and agreement. Clearco’s materials cite fee ranges that often sit in the mid single to low double digits for revenue advances and describe capped weekly repayments and early fee proration for invoice funding. Wayflyer’s help centre states typical fees of about five to ten percent, with remittances taken as a percentage of sales on a daily, weekly, or bi-weekly basis.

Feature Clearco Wayflyer
Pricing Fixed fee on advance; no interest Fixed fee, no hidden charges
Repayment cadence Revenue share with weekly caps; flexible collections Daily or weekly percentage of sales; fixed instalments for wholesale facility
Specialised options Invoice Funding that pays suppliers directly, with fee rebate on early payoff for invoices Wholesale Financing for retail supply and omnichannel, fixed weekly or monthly instalments
Personal guarantees Not required on these facilities per product pages

Worked example, Clearco

Assume a £50,000 advance with an 8 percent fee. Total to repay is £54,000. Clearco sets a 10 percent revenue-share with a cap so collections never exceed roughly 30 percent of weekly sales. If you sell £20,000 this week, £2,000 is remitted. If the following week is £10,000, only £1,000 is remitted. If you use Invoice Funding for a £50,000 inventory invoice and clear early, the prorated fee rebate reduces your cost on that invoice facility.

Worked example, Wayflyer

Assume a £100,000 advance with a 6 percent fee. Total to repay is £106,000. Remittance is 10 percent of daily sales until the total is repaid. If you sell £5,000 today, £500 is collected; on a £2,000 day, £200 is collected. For the Wholesale Financing option, you might agree fixed weekly instalments calculated against expected sales, improving predictability for retail supply cycles.

Speed and Service

Clearco’s platform emphasises rapid scoring and funding capacity estimation once you connect store, payments, and bank data, with disbursement commonly within one to two days after approval.

Wayflyer highlights conditional offers within hours and funding in as little as the next business day, with an option to spend quickly via a virtual card in some cases. Application and underwriting rely on integrated data, and customers connect store, processor, and analytics accounts.

Who Each Lender Suits

Scenario 1, heavy online sales with frequent supplier prepayments

Clearco’s combination of revenue advances and Invoice Funding can suit brands that often need to pay manufacturers quickly while smoothing weekly cash flow. The weekly cap and invoice fee rebate support inventory cycles.

Scenario 2, omnichannel brand supplying retailers

Wayflyer’s Wholesale Financing offers fixed weekly, fortnightly, or monthly instalments that align with purchase orders and retail payment timing, while its standard advance serves D2C marketing and stock top-ups.

How to Apply

Clearco, steps and documents

  1. Sign up and connect online sales, payments, and bank data for scoring.
  2. Review offers for a revenue advance or submit invoices for the invoice facility as applicable.
  3. Provide standard KYC and company documents, then e-sign; funds or supplier payments are typically released within one to two days.

Wayflyer, steps and documents

  1. Create an account, connect store, payments, and analytics for automated underwriting.
  2. Receive a conditional offer detailing fixed fee and remittance cadence; agree daily or weekly collections, or fixed instalments for wholesale.
  3. Complete KYC and banking verification, e-sign, and receive funds, with quick access in some cases via virtual card.

Final Verdict, Which Lender Fits Your Business Best

Choose Clearco if…

  • You want revenue-share advances with transparent flat pricing and weekly capped collections.
  • You value a dedicated invoice funding tool to pay suppliers rapidly, with early payoff rebate on invoice fees.
  • Your operations are primarily e-commerce and you want repayments that scale with weekly sales.

Choose Wayflyer if…

  • You want straightforward fixed fees with fast decisions and flexible remittance schedules.
  • You sell across D2C and retail, and prefer a wholesale facility with fixed weekly or monthly instalments.
  • You want optional quick-spend access after approval and an analytics-driven dashboard experience.

Both providers can be effective for UK brands that meet the data and revenue requirements. Your choice should reflect how you sell, what you are funding, and how you want repayments to behave against your cash flow if you would like an independent view across multiple non-dilutive options.

Sources

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