October 21, 2025
Lender Comparisons

Youlend vs Liberis

Compare Youlend and Liberis for business funding solutions based on rates, eligibility, and customer support.
James Laden
Co-founder and CEO

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.

TL;DR
  • Youlend tends to go bigger on maximum funding and plugs into many platforms. Costs are a single fixed fee with repayments taken as a percentage of sales.
  • Liberis focuses on merchants using partner acquirers. You get a fixed fee and a daily revenue split, with funding possible very quickly.
  • Neither is a traditional loan with fixed monthly instalments. Cash flow flex is the main benefit, but fees can be higher than bank term loans.
  • Expect to share card or online sales data. Personal guarantees may be requested, especially for limited companies.
  • Pick the one that integrates best with your takings, offers the right cap on the payment percentage, and gives a transparent total cost.

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.

The bars show an implied annualised cost range from minimum to maximum for each lender. The dot marks a typical case used in partner examples and fixed fee maths. Pricing moves with credit, sector risk, any guarantees or security, and the time you take to clear. A 1% rate gap on £100,000 over 5 years changes monthly by about and total interest by about . Favour a lower typical when your file is strong and stable. A wider range matters if your profile is borderline or volatile.

Bars plot usable ceilings: Youlend £5,000–£2,000,000 and Liberis £1,000–£1,000,000. These products are unsecured against assets but tied to takings, with guarantees common. Smaller bands suit fit‑out, stock, or quick marketing pushes. Larger bands can bridge capex, peak stock, or multi‑site rollouts when sales data supports it. Affordability and stability set the real ceiling, not the headline max. Prepare six months of sales and bank data to speed checks.

Ranges reflect typical clear periods of roughly 3 to 12 months converted into years. Longer terms drop the monthly load but raise total cost. At £50,000, 3 years vs 6 years moves the monthly to about vs and adds roughly of interest over the longer path. Longer helps seasonal cash flows and growth sprints. Shorter suits high‑margin turnover and quick paybacks. Check early settlement rules before you choose.

Read bars as midpoints from application to decision and decision to funds. The third group shows the fastest case for each. Youlend often lands within 1–2 days once approved. Liberis can fund very quickly through partners, down to about an hour in best cases. If payroll is due in 5 days, the faster path is safer. Delays come from document checks, bank statements, and any security steps. Fast tracks assume clean files and quick signatures.

We capture application and late fees. We do not include legal or valuation costs. A £150 fee on a £20,000 advance adds to day‑one cost. Keep fees in view with the fixed price and the expected term to clear. A lower fee can be offset by a higher split, so check the whole basket. Ask for a full cost summary before you sign.

Arrangement % is calculated on the principal. It may be deducted upfront or added to the balance by product. Our working example is 1.5% on £250,000 which equals . A higher fee with a lower fixed price can still win over longer periods. Model both over your expected sales curve. Confirm how fees are treated on early repayment.

Scores map booleans to 1, count partner integrations, and set UX on a 1–5 scale. Open banking speeds checks. APIs help multi‑account firms and embedded flows. Strong integrations reduce admin and speed payouts. Busy owners and group structures gain most. Connect banking and accounting early to cut friction.

Left axis shows Trustpilot and Google stars. Right axis shows NPS. More reviews usually mean steadier signals. Branch and case specifics still vary. Read recent comments on speed, document asks, and portal ease. Match themes to your priorities before you choose.

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).

Feature Youlend Liberis
Typical funding range Up to £2,000,000 depending on sales and partner integration (source). ~£1,000 to £1,000,000 depending on revenue and partner (source).
Pricing model Single fixed fee agreed upfront. No interest accrues (source). Single fixed fee agreed upfront. No interest accrues (source).
Repayment method Pre set percentage of daily sales or periodic sweep, depending on partner (source). Pre set percentage of daily card or platform revenue (source).
Typical term indication Often 3 to 12 months via partner examples (source). No fixed term. Clears when the total is repaid. Timing depends on sales and split percentage (source).
Personal guarantee May be requested depending on case and partner (source). Common for limited companies and LLPs per partner guidance (source).
Speed to fund Same day offers. Funding often within 24 to 48 hours when approved (source). Funds can be available very quickly, even within an hour in some cases (source).

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

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