Kriya vs Liberis: Which Lender Is Better for UK Business Finance?

Choosing between Kriya and Liberis is less about who is “better” and more about which structure fits how your business gets paid. Both brands are active in UK business finance, but they tend to solve different cash flow problems, Kriya is commonly associated with invoice led funding and pay later style products, while Liberis is best known for revenue based finance delivered via partners. This comparison is for UK SMEs weighing speed, repayment flexibility, and how much visibility they want over fees and total repayable. It matters in 2026 because many lenders have tightened underwriting and are leaning more on real time data connections rather than long, paper heavy applications.

Products and terms at a glance

Before comparing costs, it helps to be precise about product type. A fixed repayment business loan behaves very differently to invoice finance or revenue based finance, even if the headline amount borrowed looks similar. If you want a broader overview of mainstream SME borrowing options, Funding Agent has a useful primer on business loans.

Kriya, overview

Kriya is the UK facing brand used by Kriya Finance, which describes itself as a provider of business finance products including invoice and working capital solutions on its official site, see Kriya business finance. In practice, Kriya’s positioning is often around funding linked to receivables or invoices, and around embedded finance partnerships, rather than a single standardised term loan product for every SME, as reflected in its description of solutions on its product pages.

Because Kriya offers more than one product line, the “term” and “repayment” mechanics can vary, for example invoice linked facilities tend to revolve with your sales ledger, while a loan style product uses scheduled repayments. Kriya’s own materials indicate product availability depends on business profile and channel, see Kriya’s business finance overview.

Kriya, pros

• May suit B2B businesses that invoice customers, because invoice linked products can align borrowing capacity with receivables, subject to eligibility and debtor quality, as described on Kriya’s business finance pages.
• Can be relevant if you want finance embedded in software or platforms, Kriya positions itself for partner based distribution on its official overview.
• Potentially useful for smoothing cash flow gaps between delivering work and getting paid, depending on the specific invoice or working capital product offered by Kriya, per Kriya.

Kriya, cons

• Not a single “one size fits all” product, you may need to confirm the exact facility type, fees, and operational steps, such as invoice upload, integrations, or notice of assignment, depending on what you are offered, as Kriya describes multiple solutions on its product pages.
• If you do not invoice other businesses, or you have a small or inconsistent debtor book, invoice linked options may be less suitable, as invoice finance is inherently linked to receivables, see Funding Agent’s explainer on invoice financing.
• Like many alternative finance providers, Kriya does not publish one universal APR table for every business type, so you will need an individualised quote for comparable total cost, see Kriya’s product overview.

Liberis, overview

Liberis is the UK facing brand used by Liberis Limited, which markets revenue based business finance and partner delivered funding on its official website, see Liberis. Liberis is widely positioned as a provider of revenue based finance to SMEs, often distributed via payment providers, e commerce platforms, or business service partners, which Liberis describes under its partner and product information on its site.

Revenue based finance is typically structured so that repayments flex with sales, rather than being a fixed monthly repayment schedule. Liberis describes its finance as being designed to align repayments with revenue performance on Liberis’ official pages.

Liberis, pros

• Repayments can be aligned to sales, which can reduce pressure in slower trading periods, as described by Liberis.
• Often delivered via partners, which can make the application experience more integrated if you already use the partner platform, per Liberis.
• Can suit businesses with high card or online sales volumes, where lender underwriting can use transaction data, consistent with Liberis’ revenue based positioning on its site.

Liberis, cons

• Because offers are commonly delivered via partners, pricing, documentation, and support journeys can differ between channels, so you should check the specific partner’s flow and terms, aligned with Liberis’ partner distribution model described on Liberis.
• Revenue based finance is not the same as an APR based instalment loan, comparing total cost can require translating factor style pricing into total repayable and expected repayment timeline, see Funding Agent’s explainer on factor rate vs APR.
• If your revenues drop significantly, flexible repayments can extend the time you are repaying, which may affect overall cash planning, this is a general characteristic of revenue based repayments, see the concept explanation on repayment structures and Liberis’ positioning on its site.

Costs and repayments in practice

In 2026, most SMEs care about two separate things, the total cost, and the cash flow impact of the repayment profile. Kriya and Liberis can sit on opposite sides of that second point, Kriya’s invoice linked products often move with your receivables cycle, while Liberis’ revenue based products often move with your sales.

Where businesses get stuck is trying to compare “rates” that are expressed differently. An invoice finance facility might have a service fee and a discount charge, a term loan might have an interest rate plus an arrangement fee, and revenue based finance may be quoted as a fixed fee or factor style total repayable. If you want a methodical way to compare offers, Funding Agent’s guide to calculating interest vs APR, fees, and total repayable is a good starting point.

Worked example 1, Kriya (illustrative, not a quote)

Assumptions: A B2B services firm invoices £80,000 per month to a spread of established customers, with typical 30 day terms. The business wants to reduce the gap between payroll and invoice settlement. It is considering an invoice linked facility described broadly on Kriya’s business finance page.

Illustrative mechanics: The firm could fund a portion of outstanding invoices, then repay as customers pay those invoices. The cash flow benefit is that borrowing rises and falls with the sales ledger, rather than being a fixed monthly loan repayment. The cost could include fees linked to the facility and the time invoices are outstanding, but the exact structure depends on the contract, Kriya does not publish one universal fee schedule on its overview, so treat pricing as quote dependent.

What to check before accepting: Ask for a worked quote showing (1) your expected advance rate, (2) any minimum fees, (3) how fees are calculated over time, and (4) what happens if an invoice is disputed or paid late. These checks matter because invoice finance is operational, not just a number on a term sheet, see Funding Agent’s overview of invoice financing.

Worked example 2, Liberis (illustrative, not a quote)

Assumptions: An online retailer turns over £60,000 per month, with seasonal peaks. The business needs £25,000 for inventory and marketing, and is offered revenue based finance through a partner channel, consistent with how Liberis describes distribution via partners.

Illustrative mechanics: The offer may state a fixed total repayable, for example principal plus a fixed fee, with repayments taken as a percentage of sales until the total is repaid. If sales spike, the balance can clear faster, if sales dip, repayments reduce but the payback period can extend. That variable timeline is central to revenue aligned products, as described by Liberis.

What to check before accepting: Confirm (1) total repayable, (2) the repayment percentage, (3) whether there are any additional fees for early settlement, and (4) whether repayments are taken daily, weekly, or on another schedule within the partner flow. For comparing this to a loan, model at least three revenue paths, a base case, a downside case, and a peak season case, using the approach in Funding Agent’s explainer on comparing factor style pricing to APR style lending.

Speed and service

Speed is not just about how fast you can submit an application. It is also about how quickly underwriting can validate turnover, identity, and affordability, and how quickly legal documentation can be issued and signed. As a rule, products that rely on real time data connections can be faster than products that require manual document packs, but the exact timeline depends on the provider and the channel.

Kriya describes digital business finance solutions on its business finance pages, but it does not present a single guaranteed decision or payout time on that overview, so any timing should be treated as quote and product dependent. For invoice linked facilities, the practical speed can depend on the setup process, which may include verifying invoices, debtors, and payment behaviours, which is part of how invoice finance works generally, see Funding Agent’s explainer on what invoice finance is.

Liberis positions itself around partner embedded journeys on its website. Because applications can be initiated through a partner, speed can depend on whether the partner already holds your trading data and whether you can complete identity and business checks quickly. Liberis’ official pages describe the model at a high level, but do not provide one universal “funds in X hours” promise on the main site, so timelines should be confirmed in the specific offer flow.

If your primary aim is fastest possible funding, treat any “same day” expectations cautiously, and focus on what you can control, connecting accounts, providing accurate details, and responding quickly to requests. For context on typical fast funding expectations, Funding Agent’s page on same day business loans explains why speed varies across products and lenders.

Who each lender suits

Below are practical scenarios where one approach is often a better fit. These are not rules, final eligibility depends on underwriting and the specific product offered.

Scenario 1, you invoice other businesses and want funding that scales with the ledger

Kriya may be a better starting point if your cash flow gap is mainly driven by slow paying invoices, and you want a facility whose availability is connected to receivables, consistent with how Kriya describes business finance. This is most relevant when you have a stable base of creditworthy debtors and clean invoicing processes, which are common requirements in invoice finance generally, see Funding Agent’s guide to invoice financing.

Scenario 2, you take most revenue through card payments or online platforms and want repayments to flex

Liberis may suit businesses with predictable transaction data and variable month to month revenue, because revenue based finance is designed to align repayments with sales, as described on Liberis’ official site. This can be particularly attractive for seasonal retail, hospitality, and e commerce businesses that prefer not to commit to a fixed monthly instalment in quieter months.

Scenario 3, you want a clear, fixed repayment schedule for budgeting

If your priority is a fixed monthly repayment and a clear amortisation schedule, you may find a traditional term loan structure easier to forecast than invoice linked or revenue based products. Kriya and Liberis can both offer products that behave differently depending on the specific contract and partner channel, so you should confirm whether you are looking at a true instalment loan, a revolving facility, or a revenue aligned advance, using the comparison method in Funding Agent’s cost guide.

Scenario 4, you are comparing offers and want to avoid apples to oranges

If you have quotes from both lenders, focus on total repayable, expected repayment period, and what triggers deductions, rather than trying to compare a single “rate”. Funding Agent’s breakdown of factor rate vs APR is a helpful framework for keeping comparisons fair.

How to apply

Application steps can vary by product and channel. The safest approach is to start with the lender’s official application entry points and follow the requirements for the specific facility you are offered.

Applying to Kriya

• Start at Kriya’s business finance page and choose the most relevant solution.
• Expect to provide core business details and consent to checks required for underwriting, the specific checks depend on product type, as Kriya indicates multiple business finance products on its overview.
• If the product is invoice linked, be prepared to share invoicing information and customer payment behaviour information, because invoice finance underwriting is receivables based, see Funding Agent’s explanation of invoice finance.
• Review the offer carefully for fees, advance rates, and operational requirements, then sign and complete any onboarding steps before funds can be drawn, consistent with the multi product approach described by Kriya.

Applying to Liberis

• Start at Liberis or via the partner platform where you received an offer, as Liberis describes its partner model on its official site.
• Complete the application flow, which may include connecting sales or payment data and completing identity and business checks, aligned with how partner embedded finance typically works and with Liberis’ positioning on its website.
• Confirm the repayment mechanism, for example percentage of sales, deduction frequency, and total repayable, as part of reviewing your agreement, consistent with revenue aligned finance described by Liberis.
• If you are offered the product through a platform, check who provides support for changes, settlements, or issues, the partner, Liberis, or both, because partner journeys can vary, per Liberis.

Final verdict

In 2026, the cleanest way to choose is to match the repayment structure to your cash conversion cycle, then compare total repayable under realistic scenarios. Kriya is often most compelling when invoices are the constraint, Liberis is often most compelling when revenue is the constraint and you want repayments to flex.

Choose Kriya if

• You are a B2B business with consistent invoicing and want funding aligned to receivables, as positioned on Kriya’s business finance pages.
• You can operationally support invoice linked finance, such as sharing invoice data and managing exceptions, consistent with how invoice finance works, see Funding Agent’s invoice finance explainer.
• You want a facility that can scale with billing volumes rather than a fixed loan limit, depending on the product offered by Kriya.
• You prefer to compare offers using a full quote that itemises fees and assumptions, as recommended in Funding Agent’s cost comparison guide.

Choose Liberis if

• You want repayments aligned to sales rather than a fixed instalment, as described on Liberis.
• You are comfortable receiving finance through a partner platform and you value an embedded application experience, consistent with Liberis’ partner model described on its official site.
• Your revenues are seasonal and you want lower repayments in quieter periods, which is a common reason businesses choose revenue based products, per Liberis.
• You are able to model different sales paths to understand the likely payback period, using the approach in Funding Agent’s factor rate vs APR guide.

If you would like to compare offers across multiple lenders, or you are unsure whether invoice linked funding, a term loan, or revenue based finance is the best fit, you can start with Funding Agent and share a few details via the form.

Sources

• Kriya, Business finance
• Liberis, Official website
• Funding Agent, Business loans
• Funding Agent, Invoice financing
• Funding Agent, What is invoice finance
• Funding Agent, Term loans
• Funding Agent, Factor rate vs APR
• Funding Agent, Interest vs APR and total repayable
• Funding Agent, Same day business loans