Youlend vs Liberis


This guide helps UK owners choose between flexible, sales-linked funding from Youlend and Liberis. We compare limits, costs, speed, and fit so you see where each option works best. Both advance capital against future takings, with repayments that rise and fall with sales. We spell out the trade-offs, common pitfalls, and when one can outperform the other. Use it to make a clear, cash-flow friendly decision today.
Products and Terms at a Glance
Both providers offer a form of merchant cash advance. You receive a lump sum and repay a pre agreed percentage of daily card or platform sales until a fixed total is cleared. No interest accrues. The total you repay is the advance plus a disclosed fee.
Youlend overview, loan sizes, fees, repayment style, terms, eligibility
Youlend is an embedded finance provider that funds through partners and directly to UK merchants. Headline funding can reach up to £2,000,000, with repayments taken automatically as a fixed percentage of sales and one fixed fee instead of interest (official overview). Some partner pages indicate typical repayment periods of around 3 to 12 months and automatic deductions from platform or card takings (eBay UK partner FAQ and Mews partnership). Eligibility is data led. Third party broker pages reference at least three months trading and minimum monthly card revenue, for example £1,500 per month (Capitalise lender page). Youlend’s own docs show that a personal guarantee can be part of the process for some cases (Youlend developer docs).
Pros of Youlend
- High potential maximums for larger SMEs and multi channel sellers.
- Clear fixed fee. No compounding interest.
- Repayments flex with sales. Helpful for seasonal trade.
- Strong partner network across marketplaces and payment providers.
- Rapid decisions and funding when data is connected.
Cons of Youlend
- Fee can be higher than a bank term loan on a like for like basis.
- Payment percentage caps your daily cash flow during busy periods.
- Personal guarantees can apply depending on the case.
- If sales drop, some contracts include a minimum monthly amount to keep paying. Check your terms.
Liberis overview, loan sizes, fees, repayment style, terms, eligibility
Liberis provides revenue finance via payment acquirer and platform partnerships. Funding ranges around £1,000 to £1,000,000 with a single fixed fee and a pre agreed split of daily revenue (Liberis Explore Funding). Liberis states funds can be available very fast, sometimes within an hour (Liberis speed claim). Independent guides and partner pages show repayment is taken as a fixed percentage of daily card takings, with typical eligibility including 4 months trading and minimum monthly card sales such as £1,000 and a minimum number of transactions (BMCAA overview; Worldpay partner page). Some partners indicate a minimum monthly contribution requirement, for example 3% of the outstanding balance (ClearAccept FAQs). Elavon’s page also notes that personal guarantees are usually required for limited companies or LLPs (Elavon and Liberis). Liberis describes its Business Cash Advance as receivables finance rather than a regulated loan (Liberis site footer).
Pros of Liberis
- Very quick access to funds once approved.
- Simple fixed price and automated daily split.
- Deep integrations with acquirers make collections seamless.
- Eligibility can suit smaller merchants as takings build.
Cons of Liberis
- Fixed fee can be significant at smaller ticket sizes.
- Personal guarantees are common for limited companies.
- Minimum monthly contribution may apply during slow periods.
- Product is unregulated receivables finance, so fewer formal protections.
Smart funding pick: Youlend vs Liberis
This dashboard turns the blog into numbers you can scan. Each tab shows a focused chart with ranges and a typical point where useful. Read bars for spread and dots for the centre of gravity. Use it to judge cost shape, usable limits, timing, and digital fit. It helps a UK SME decide today which lender lines up with sales flow, payment cap, and total cost clarity.
Costs and Repayments in Practice
Both lenders use a fixed fee model rather than an APR. You agree a total payback at the start. Daily payments are a percentage of sales until the total is cleared. Some partner examples show how this looks in practice and confirm the structure (Opayo by Elavon; Youlend eBay UK).
Important: Exact fees and payment rates vary by partner and business performance. Where exact UK fee bands are not published, the examples below use reasonable SME assumptions for illustration only.
Worked example: Youlend
Assumptions for illustration: £50,000 advance. Fixed fee 12%. Repayment rate 12% of daily sales. Average card and online sales £80,000 per month.
- Total to repay = £50,000 + 12% fee = £56,000.
- Average monthly repayment = 12% of £80,000 = £9,600.
- Estimated duration = £56,000 ÷ £9,600 ≈ 5.83 months. Round to about 6 months in steady conditions.
- Cash flow effect: on a £5,000 trading day, payment = 12% × £5,000 = £600. On a £2,000 day, payment = £240. Lower takings mean lower payments.
Worked example: Liberis
Assumptions for illustration: £30,000 advance. Fixed fee 20%. Repayment rate 12% of daily sales. Average card sales £50,000 per month. Some partners also require a 3% minimum monthly contribution toward the balance.
- Total to repay = £30,000 + 20% fee = £36,000.
- Average monthly repayment = 12% of £50,000 = £6,000.
- Estimated duration = £36,000 ÷ £6,000 = 6 months. If sales slow, a minimum monthly amount may still be due, so check that clause.
- Cash flow effect: on a £4,000 trading day, payment = 12% × £4,000 = £480. On a £1,500 day, payment = £180.
Third party examples show similar maths, for instance Retail Merchant Services illustrate an advance of £10,000 with an 18% fee, a 10% split, and a 12 month indicative payback at £10,000 monthly takings (example page).
Speed and Service
Youlend highlights instant offers and payout in about 24 to 48 hours once approved, with automated deductions from marketplace or acquirer flows (Youlend speed claim; eBay UK FAQ).
Liberis focuses on very fast decisions through partners and claims funding can be in as little as an hour in some cases (Liberis speed claim). In practice, timescales depend on how quickly sales data can be verified and agreements signed.
Who Each Lender Suits
Typical scenario for Youlend
A multi channel retailer or e commerce seller with strong sales data across card terminals and online checkouts. They want a larger one off injection to stock up before peak season and value quick approval. The business can handle a double digit revenue split on busy days without starving operations.
Typical scenario for Liberis
A high street merchant processing most sales through a partner acquirer such as Worldpay or Elavon. They need funds fast for refurb, stock, or marketing. A small, predictable percentage can come off batched card takings each day without causing cash squeezes.
How to Apply
Application steps and documentation required for each lender.
Youlend. Start via a partner dashboard or the lender’s application page. Share consent to access sales data from your marketplace or PSP. You may be asked for bank statements, recent management figures, and ID for directors. Offers are generated from your sales performance. You pick a payment percentage within a range, then e sign the contract. Funds arrive to your account or settlement wallet and repayments are taken as agreed (overview; eBay UK).
Liberis. Apply through a partner link tied to your acquirer or platform. Eligibility checks use recent card takings and transaction counts. Typical asks include 4 months trading, minimum monthly card volume, and photo ID for signatories. For limited companies, a personal guarantee is common. Once accepted, the fixed fee and daily split are set and funds are released to your account with deductions taken automatically from batched settlements (Worldpay; Elavon).
If you decide a fixed daily split is too restrictive, consider alternatives such as a revolving credit facility or a classic term loan. These can offer lower total cost where you qualify, but repayments are fixed and affordability tests are stricter.
Final Verdict: Which Lender Fits Your Business Best
Choose Youlend if…
- You need a higher ceiling on funding and can connect marketplace and PSP data quickly.
- You want clear fixed pricing and flexible daily or periodic sweeps taken from platform sales.
- Your sales profile can comfortably support the selected payment percentage in peak weeks.
- You value broad partner support and potential same day offers.
Choose Liberis if…
- Your card takings run mainly through a Liberis partner acquirer and you want very fast access to funds.
- You prefer the simplicity of a fixed fee with a transparent daily revenue split.
- Your average sales can sustain the agreed split and any minimum monthly contribution if one applies.
- You are comfortable providing a personal guarantee where required.
Both options are flexible working capital tools that track sales. If total cost feels high or the split strains cash flow, compare unsecured business loans or a revolving credit facility if you qualify. To get tailored options, speak to Funding Agent or send details via our enquiry form.
Sources
- Youlend overview: fixed fee, sales based repayments, headline limits
- Youlend eBay UK partner page: repayment method and speed
- Mews partnership page: typical 3 to 12 month repayment window
- Capitalise lender page: example eligibility benchmarks
- Youlend developer docs: personal guarantee can apply
- Liberis Explore Funding: amount range, fixed fee, speed
- BMCAA Liberis profile: amounts and eligibility
- Worldpay Business Cash Advance: eligibility indicators
- ClearAccept Revenue Finance FAQs: minimum monthly contribution example
- Elavon and Liberis: PG requirement for limited companies
- Retail Merchant Services example: fixed fee and split illustration
- Liberis site footer: receivables finance, not FCA regulated