Bank lending to SMEs falls

Quote Goat, based in London, has partnered with a number of business lenders and brokers to launch a range of business finance comparison products including invoice finance, merchant cash advances and small business loans.

While testing their business finance product, Quote Goat received over 300 applications for business finance from SMEs in just four weeks, a strong indication that there is demand for innovative alternatives to traditional bank finance.

Recent research by Oxford Economics found that bank lending to SMEs has fallen 3% since 2015, while credit provisions to large companies has risen by 43%. The report also found that SMEs are being given the ‘cold shoulder’ resulting in an impact on recovery against small businesses. (*Source: The Big Business of Small Business, Oxford Economics, June 2019).

Despite the fact that SMEs are responsible for half of all employment in industrialised countries and 50-60% of GDP, the focus of banks is still on loaning primarily to big business.

Michael Foote, Managing Director of Quote Goat said, “As securing bank loans is proving increasingly difficult for small firms and sole traders, there is a real need for new finance products to plug the gap. The business finance comparison products on our site will help businesses secure the right finance to suit their needs.

“With traditional bank loans, borrowers are required to pay back a fixed repayment on a set day each month.  In comparison, a merchant cash advance is a relatively new type of unsecured lending and unlike a typical business loan, there is no interest charged and repayments are based on a percentage of the card machine sales each day.  This helps to ensure that repayments stay in line with cash flow, during both busy and quiet periods throughout the year. The amount to be paid back is based solely on the card receipts and not on cash takings.

“Merchant cash advances have been praised by the government as an alternative funding option for UK businesses and they have already helped thousands of small business owners secure the funding they need for new expansion, new equipment and more.

“If a sole trader or small business has been in business for more than six months, has monthly card sales of £5,000 or more, is a UK resident and over 18, they can qualify for a merchant cash advance. All credit histories are welcome, so even if they have bad credit, they can still be accepted for funding. The application process is quick and requires no paperwork, or credit check.”

Neil Cameron, Investment Director at Parkwalk said, “Real time flow measurement will be a major addition to the clinician’s diagnostic arsenal and will differentiate Echopoint’s product offerings substantially from its nearest competitors. The ability to integrate this technology into existing clinical procedures made Echopoint a compelling investment opportunity for Parkwalk.”