October 24, 2025

Lender Comparisons

Compare Funding Circle Vs Fleximize Loans

Compare business loan options between Funding Circle and Fleximize to find suitable rates and terms for your needs.

Jesse Spence

Finance content writer / Market researcher

Funding Circle vs Fleximize: Which Lender Is Right for Your UK Business?

This guide compares Funding Circle and Fleximize for UK SMEs. It focuses on products, pricing, speed, and eligibility. If you need fast, unsecured growth capital or a flexible facility, this review will help you weigh the trade‑offs and pick a lender that fits your cash flow today.

TL;DR

Funding Circle offers fixed‑rate term loans up to £750k over 6–72 months with a one‑off fee and no early settlement fee when repaid in full.
Fleximize lends £5k–£500k with monthly rates on a reducing balance and features like top‑ups, repayment holidays, and penalty‑free early repayment.
For predictable repayments and bigger tickets, Funding Circle’s term loan can be cheaper at longer terms.
For flexible features and shorter terms, Fleximize can suit newer businesses from 6 months’ trading with tailored monthly pricing.
Both usually require a director’s personal guarantee and quick online applications with decisions within 1–24 hours.

Products and Terms at a Glance

Funding Circle overview, loan sizes, fees, repayment style, terms, eligibility

Funding Circle’s core product is a fixed‑rate term loan for established UK businesses. You can typically borrow £10,000 to £750,000 over 6 months to 6 years with rates advertised from 6.9% per year. Repayments are monthly and fixed for the term. Funding Circle charges a one‑off completion fee when you take out the loan and states there are no fees to settle early if you repay in full. Decisions can be made in as little as 1 hour, with funds commonly arriving within a couple of days. Eligibility pages indicate at least 1 year trading for standard business loans, while some schemes (for example, Growth Guarantee) require 2 years. Personal guarantees are typically required. Sources: Funding Circle product pages and help content.

Typical use: working capital, expansion, equipment. First mention links: unsecured business loans, term loans.
Headline details: £10k–£750k; 6–72 months; fixed rate from 6.9% p.a.; one‑off fee; decision as fast as 1 hour; no fee for early settlement in full. Fixed rate

Pros of Funding Circle

Predictable fixed repayments and advertised rates from 6.9% p.a. with clear one‑off fee.
Quick digital journey with decisions in as little as 1 hour; funding often within 48 hours.
Generous maximum loan size up to £750k and up to 6‑year terms for larger projects.
No fee to settle early if paying in full, which can reduce total interest.

Cons of Funding Circle

Usually requires a director’s personal guarantee.
Eligibility can favour more established firms. Some programmes expect 2 years’ trading.
Completion fee applies; exact percentage is set at offer stage.

Fleximize overview, loan sizes, fees, repayment style, terms, eligibility

Fleximize offers Flexiloan and Flexiloan Lite with £5,000 to £500,000 available. Pricing is typically a monthly interest rate on a reducing balance, with representative bands often starting from around 0.9% to 2.9% per month depending on product and risk. Terms commonly range from 3–12 months (Lite) and up to 48–60 months (Flexiloan). Fleximize differentiates on features: top‑ups, repayment holidays, and a Penalty‑Free Promise so you repay early and pay less interest. Decisions are often within 24 hours. Eligibility typically starts from 6 months’ trading and minimum monthly revenue (often £5k). Unsecured limits are usually up to £250k, with regional caps for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Personal guarantees are common.

Typical use: growth projects, bridging short‑term gaps, refinancing. First mention links: working capital loans, unsecured business loans.
Headline details: £5k–£500k; 3–12 months (Lite) and up to c. 48–60 months (Flexiloan); monthly pricing on reducing balance; top‑ups and repayment holidays; no early repayment fees. Flexible features

Pros of Fleximize

Penalty‑free early settlement on a reducing‑balance loan can materially cut total cost.
Top‑ups and repayment holidays as standard offer cash‑flow flexibility.
Can consider younger businesses from 6 months’ trading with minimum turnover.
Both unsecured and secured options; tailored rates to risk and term.

Cons of Fleximize

Headline prices are monthly rates, which can look high on an APR basis at longer terms.
Unsecured limits and terms may be capped (often to £250k and up to 36 months unsecured).
Personal guarantees are typically required; non‑homeowners can face tighter caps.

Costs and Repayments in Practice

Pricing models differ. Funding Circle uses a fixed annual percentage rate with a one‑off completion fee. Fleximize quotes a monthly rate on a reducing balance, with no early repayment fees and features that can change the cash‑flow profile. Always compare total repayable, not just the headline rate.

Feature	Funding Circle	Fleximize
Facility type	Fixed‑rate term loan	Reducing‑balance business loan (Flexiloan / Flexiloan Lite)
Typical amount	£10k–£750k	£5k–£500k (unsecured usually to £250k)
Typical term	6–72 months	3–12 months (Lite); up to ~48–60 months (Flexiloan)
Pricing headline	Rates from 6.9% p.a. + one‑off fee	From c. 0.9%–2.9% per month on reducing balance
Early repayment	No fee for settling in full	No early repayment fees; interest stops when you settle
Speed	Decision in as little as 1 hour; funds often within 48 hours	Decisions often within 24 hours; funding commonly within 24–48 hours
Extras	Optional line of credit via FlexiPay for short‑term costs (revolving credit style fee‑per‑use)	Top‑ups and repayment holidays as standard features

Notes: All figures are based on lender disclosures at time of writing and third‑party reviews. Actual offers vary by credit profile, security, and term. Fleximize unsecured limits and terms can be lower than secured equivalents.

Worked examples

Funding Circle (illustrative): Borrow £50,000 over 36 months at a fixed 6.9% p.a. Monthly rate ≈ 0.575%. Using standard amortisation, the monthly repayment is about £1,538. Total repayable ≈ £55,368. If a completion fee of, say, 3% were applied, that would add £1,500 to the cost. Assumptions for illustration only; your offer and fee will differ.

Fleximize (illustrative): Borrow £50,000 over 12 months at 2.0% per month on a reducing balance. Using amortised monthly interest, the monthly repayment is about £4,650. Total repayable ≈ £55,800. If you repaid in 6 months instead, total interest would drop materially due to the penalty‑free early settlement. Illustrative only; Fleximize rates are tailored and may vary by region, security, and turnover.

Speed and Service

Funding Circle: online application in minutes, soft‑check quote for some entities, decision in as little as 1 hour, and funding typically within 48 hours once documents are approved. UK‑based support and a well‑documented process.

Fleximize: relationship‑led underwriting with quick decisions, often within 24 hours. Top‑ups and payment holidays are available post‑drawdown, which can help if cash flow is lumpy.

Funding Circle vs Fleximize: the quick, visual answer

This dashboard condenses the guide into eight charts. Read bars as min to max and dots as a typical point where shown. Use it to pick between fixed rate predictability and flexible features. It helps a UK SME decide on amount, term, speed and total cost today. Scan each tab, then follow the note under the chart to act.

Bars show min to max rates. The dot shows a typical advertised or example rate. Funding Circle quotes fixed annual rates from 6.9% p.a. Fleximize quotes monthly bands of about 0.9% to 2.9% on a reducing balance, shown here as simple annualised equivalents. Pricing varies with credit, sector risk, security and term. A 1% rate gap on £100,000 over 5 years changes monthly by about £0 and total interest by about £0. Prioritise the lower typical when cash is tight; accept a wider range if features or speed add more value.

Bars map headline minimum and maximum loans. Funding Circle covers £10,000 to £750,000 unsecured. Fleximize covers £5,000 to £500,000, with unsecured usually up to £250,000 and higher with security. Use cases map neatly: stock and marketing at the lower band; fit out and capex higher up. Larger fixed facilities can exist at the top end subject to risk and collateral. Affordability and security set the real ceiling; test coverage before you set the ask.

Bars show available term ranges. Longer terms cut monthly cost but raise total interest. At £50,000, 3 years vs 6 years at 6.9% p.a. changes monthly to about £0 and £0, adding roughly £0 of extra interest across the longer term. Longer terms suit seasonal cash flow or growth plans. Shorter terms suit quick payback projects. Check early settlement rules and any fee on part settlement.

Each bar splits application to decision and decision to funds. The marker shows the fastest path. Funding Circle signals a decision in as little as about 1 hour and funds within about 48 hours after acceptance. Fleximize often decides within about 24 hours and funds within about 24 to 48 hours. If payroll is due in 5 days, the faster path is safer. Delays come from document checks and signatures; line up bank statements, ID and accounts early.

Bars capture application and late fees where published. Funding Circle charges a one off completion fee in the APR but lists no separate application fee here. Fleximize focuses on monthly pricing and does not list a separate application fee in this summary. Legal and valuation costs are not shown. Impact example: £150 on a £20,000 loan adds 0.75% to day one cost. Compare fees with rate and term, not alone.

Bars show arrangement or completion fees as a percent where disclosed. Some products deduct this upfront; others add it to the balance. Worked example: 1.5% on £250,000 equals £3,750. Funding Circle uses a one off completion fee set at offer. Fleximize prices monthly on a reducing balance and may not use a headline percent fee. A lower rate with a higher fee can still win over long terms; model the total repayable.

Scores follow a simple scheme: booleans count as 1, integrations are tallied, UX is 1 to 5. Open banking speeds underwriting. Accounting links help multi account firms. Mobile access aids approvals on the go. Busy owners and groups gain most. Where data is not published, the axis shows gaps; confirm portal steps during onboarding.

Axes split stars on the left and NPS on the right. Higher review counts give steadier signals. Service can vary by case. Read recent reviews and match themes to your needs, such as speed, documents and portal ease. Check the latest ratings before you decide.

Who Each Lender Suits

Typical scenario for Funding Circle

A profitable limited company seeking a predictable, fixed‑rate loan for refurbishment or capex. It wants up to 6 years to spread repayments and values the option to settle early without a fee if a project delivers faster‑than‑expected returns.

Typical scenario for Fleximize

An SME with at least six months’ trading that needs flexible features for seasonal cash flow. It may want the option to top up mid‑term, take a brief repayment holiday, or settle early and pay less interest if a contract lands.

How to Apply

Application steps and documentation required for each lender.

Funding Circle: check eligibility online, complete the application with company details and bank statements, then review your personalised offer. A director’s personal guarantee is commonly required. If you accept, funds are sent after final checks, usually within a couple of days.

Fleximize: submit a short online form and initial documents. If pre‑approved, a relationship manager finalises underwriting. Personal guarantees are standard; security may be requested for larger or longer terms. Funding can be as fast as 24–48 hours after agreement.

Final Verdict: Which Lender Fits Your Business Best

Choose Funding Circle if…

You want a larger loan amount or a longer term (up to 6 years) with fixed monthly repayments.
You prefer a clear fixed rate from 6.9% p.a. and a one‑off fee, plus no fee for settling early in full.
Your business has 1–2+ years’ trading and can provide a director guarantee.
You value quick, digital decisions and straightforward documentation.

Choose Fleximize if…

You need flexible features like top‑ups and repayment holidays as standard.
Your business is younger (from 6 months) or you want the option to repay early and reduce interest.
You are comfortable with monthly pricing on a reducing balance and possibly shorter unsecured terms.
You want tailored underwriting that can look beyond a simple scorecard.

Still unsure? Compare quotes side by side and sense‑check the total repayable. If you want support across multiple lenders, speak to Funding Agent or tell us about your needs via our enquiry form.

Sources

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FAQs

Which lender offers better rates for business loans, Funding Circle or Fleximize?

Who has more flexible eligibility criteria between Funding Circle and Fleximize?

Are there differences in the fees charged by Funding Circle and Fleximize?

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