London · Greater London
Working Capital in London
Short-term funding to smooth company cash flow, cover payroll and stock, or bridge the gap between paying out and getting paid. For limited companies, LLPs and 4+ partner partnerships in London and across the Greater London.
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At a glance
Working Capital in London: at a glance
Typical terms: 3–24 months
around 2 working days
- Limited companies, LLPs and 4+ partner partnerships
- Often 6+ months trading
- Unsecured
- 1
Tell us what you need
3 taps: purpose, amount, business type. Takes 60 seconds, won’t affect your credit score.
- 2
We match you to lenders
Apply just once. We check your profile against lender criteria and approach only those likely to consider it.
- 3
Compare any offers
Compare the rate, fees, security and any personal guarantee side by side before final decision.
Lenders we work with
Local insight
How London companies use working capital
Running a business in the capital means big fixed costs arriving on fixed dates. Commercial rent is commonly billed quarterly in advance, business rates are high, and payroll for London salaries leaves little slack if a client pays late or a quiet month follows a busy one. Working capital finance is built for those gaps. Facilities of roughly £5,000 to £500,000, repaid over three to twenty-four months, can keep wages and suppliers paid while money is tied up in debtors, stock or seasonal trade. Typical users include West End restaurants bracing for January, architecture practices waiting on stage payments, and wholesalers in Park Royal buying ahead of peak demand. Welcome Finance compares short-term options from UK lenders, usually by phone or video, and we set out the total cost and any personal guarantee before you commit.
Typical examples
Where it helps in London
- 01
Covering a quarter-day rent bill
A Soho post-production company uses a short-term facility to pay its quarterly rent in advance while several broadcaster invoices are still outstanding.
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Staffing up for the festive season
A group of Covent Garden bars borrows over six months to cover extra staff and stock through December, repaying from the stronger takings that follow.
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Bridging stage payments
An architecture practice run as an LLP keeps salaries flowing between project stages when a developer client delays sign-off on a design phase.
The process
How it works
- 01
Tell us about the cash gap
Explain how much you need, what it covers and when you expect cash to come back in.
- 02
We match the right structure
We compare short-term loans, revolving facilities and card or invoice-based options, and explain which fits your cash cycle.
- 03
Quick assessment
Lenders usually focus on recent bank statements and turnover, so decisions can often be made within a day or two.
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Funds and repayment
Funds are paid into your business account and repaid over a short term, typically monthly, weekly or in line with your takings.
Calculator
Run the numbers
Cash tied up in your trading cycle
£328,767
- Owed by customers
- £328,767
- Held in stock
- £98,630
- Less: owed to suppliers
- −£98,630
- Cash conversion cycle
- 60 days
This is roughly the cash your company needs to keep trading at this size. Invoice finance, stock finance or a working capital facility can fund some or all of it.
Check eligibility for working capitalIllustrative only. Actual rates, fees and terms depend on your circumstances and the lender. This is not an offer of finance.
Local insight
Cash flow pressure on London firms and how working capital helps
Cash flow is a live issue for London companies. In the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Q3 2026 survey of 514 London businesses, 31% reported that cash flow had worsened over the previous three months, against 12% reporting an improvement, and 64% were operating below full capacity. Short-term working capital finance is designed for exactly these gaps: paying staff, rent and suppliers while customer payments or a busy season catch up.
Source: LCCI
Seasonality is a big factor in the capital's visitor economy. London received 20.9 million inbound visits in 2024, with international visitors spending £17.3 billion. Hotels, restaurants, attractions and their suppliers often need cash to staff up and buy stock before peak trade, then repay once takings rise.
Source: GLA Economics
Slow payment from customers adds pressure. In March 2026 the government confirmed plans for a 60-day ceiling on payment terms when larger businesses buy from smaller suppliers, though this is not expected before 2027. For free help with cash flow planning, London companies can use Grow London Local, the Mayor of London's small business support service.
Source: Farrer & Co, Grow London Local
Working Capital in London: questions
Is working capital finance suitable for London hospitality businesses with seasonal trade?
It often is. A facility can be sized to cover staffing and stock ahead of busy periods such as summer tourism or December, then repaid once trade picks up. Lenders will want bank statements showing the seasonal pattern and evidence that the business can afford repayments through quieter months too.
Can working capital help us pay a quarterly rent bill in advance?
Yes, this is a common use in London, where commercial rent is often billed quarterly in advance. A short-term facility can spread a large rent payment over the following months. Lenders will look at whether regular income comfortably covers both rent and repayments, not just the one-off bill.
Our London business rates bill is high. Should we use finance to pay it?
First check whether your council will let you pay in monthly instalments, and whether any relief applies, as that may be cheaper. If cash is still tight, working capital finance can bridge the gap. Lenders will want to see that rates are part of a manageable cost base rather than a sign of ongoing losses.
Can a London wholesaler borrow to buy stock ahead of Christmas?
Often, yes. Food, drink and gift wholesalers supplying London retailers and restaurants commonly buy months before peak demand. A short-term facility can fund that stock, with repayments planned around when customers pay. Lenders usually want to see previous years' seasonal sales and a clear plan for selling through.
Should a London company use working capital finance or invoice finance?
It depends on where your cash is tied up. If you invoice other businesses on credit, invoice finance releases money against those invoices and grows with sales. If cash is needed for rent, payroll or stock in a business without many unpaid invoices, a working capital loan is often the simpler fit.
More finance in London
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For UK limited companies, LLPs and partnerships of 4+ partners
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