Rise Funding review

Using a credit broker can be a convenient way to help you find the right type of loan for your business. As well as saving you time by searching the market on your behalf, a broker can also help you find a loan if you’ve struggled to get credit in the past.

The drawback of using a credit broker is that you might have to pay a fee. Make sure you understand how much this will cost you before proceeding. It’s also important to check that the broker you’re thinking of using is authorised. Legitimate credit brokers are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and listed on the Financial Services Register. They should also clarify that they are a credit broker and not a direct lender.

In this review, we take a detailed look at Rise Funding.

Rise Funding loans comparison

Rise Funding business loans

Compare Rise Funding’s business loans by loan type, loan amount and more to find the best for your budget and financial goals.

Other popular business loans

Compare business loans from other top lenders by loan type, loan amount and more to find the right fit for you.

What is Rise Funding?

Founded in 2022, Rise Funding is a credit broker that provides a wide range of funding options to businesses across the UK. The broker helps businesses source finance solutions such as business loans, asset finance, invoice finance and cash flow finance.

Rise Funding has access to a wide panel of lenders and matching technology to help increase your chances of getting approved for finance. Plus, you’ll have a dedicated account manager to keep you updated and answer any questions you have.

What types of business loans does Rise Funding offer?

Rise Funding offers a range of different loans, as outlined below:

Long term business loans

To qualify for a long term business loan, you’ll need to be an established business with a good credit score and a solid business plan. Loan terms are typically 5 years, and loan rates are competitive. The downside is that you might be required to secure your loan against an asset such as property. This makes this type of loan a higher risk for you, the borrower, as should you be unable to meet your repayments, you risk losing your asset.

Short term business loans

A short term loan could be a good option if you’re a fairly new business and need to bridge a cash flow gap. You can select a term of up to 24 months, but interest rates are usually higher than long-term loans. However, if you have a lower credit score, you’re more likely to get approved for a short-term loan.

Short-term business loans are typically unsecured, so you will not need to use an asset as collateral. But you might need to sign a personal guarantee. This means that you will be personally responsible for repaying the loan if your business cannot.

VAT loans

A few specialist lenders provide loans specifically to cover tax bills, such as VAT or corporation and income tax. Lenders will usually ask to see your tax bill and will pay the outstanding balance directly to HMRC. Your loan will typically be unsecured with a 3- to 12-month term.

Bridging finance

A bridging loan is a short-term secured loan for property developers and investors, which can help you ‘bridge’ a financial gap until funds become available. Loan terms are typically up to 12 months, and providers will want to know how you will repay the loan in full at the term’s end. Usually, this is done by moving the loan onto a long-term commercial mortgage or selling the property after renovation.

Development finance

This works in a similar way to a bridging loan, but it comes in 2 parts – a loan for the original purchase and a loan for the building or renovation costs. This can be a good option for property developers when they find land with planning permission, as they can use it to buy the land and build the property. Most lenders will provide finance in stages, and loan terms are typically up to 24 months. Lenders will let you borrow a percentage of the property’s initial purchase price and the full cost of development.

Merchant cash advance

If you make a good percentage of sales through card machines or online card payments, a merchant cash advance could work for you. A lump sum is usually advanced to you based on your future card sales. You then repay the amount borrowed as a percentage of your card sales, with fees added. This means your repayments flex in line with how much you sell – you’ll pay more when business is booming and less when things are quieter.

Key features of Rise Funding’s business loans

The exact features depend on the type of business loan you choose, but generally, the features you’ll come across include:

• Dedicated account manager
• Short or long-term loan options
• Unsecured or secured options
• Monthly repayments

Who is eligible for a Rise Funding business loan?

Exact eligibility criteria depend on the type of loan you’re applying for, but you’ll typically need to be at least 18 years old and your business will need to be registered in the UK.

Having a good credit rating increases your chances of getting accepted for a loan, and you’re more likely to secure the best interest rates too. However, if your credit score is lower, Rise Funding can still help to match you with lenders and products you’re more likely to get accepted for.

Repaying a Rise Funding business loan

Most business loans, including secured and unsecured loans, are repaid in monthly instalments. You make these repayments over a set term, and by the term’s end, you’ll have repaid the loan in full.

Bridging loan repayments are also made monthly, but some lenders might allow interest payments to be rolled up and paid at the term’s end.

Merchant cash advance repayments can be monthly, weekly or even daily. Your repayments fluctuate depending on card sales.

Rise Funding application process

To start the application process, you will need to fill in a short form online or over the phone to provide information about your business. This enables Rise Funding to help you find the right lender and type of funding. The broker will then search the market to help generate a shortlist of potential lenders. These loan providers will be tailored to your requirements.

Once you’ve chosen a finance option, Rise Funding will gather any further information requests, and you might need to provide documents such as bank statements and profit and loss accounts. Depending on the lender, the complexity of the application and whether you’ve supplied all the necessary information, funding can be completed in as little as 24 hours.

Pros and cons of Rise Funding

Rise Funding customer reviews

Rise Funding scores well on review site Trustpilot, with a rating of 4.6 out of 5. This is considered an “Excellent” rating overall, although this is only from 44 reviews (July 2024).

A total of 91% of customers gave Rise Funding an “Excellent” rating, with positive comments focused on the seamless process and professional service. Any negative comments have mostly concerned marketing emails from the company.

Customer support

You can contact Rise Funding by calling them on 0203 833 4369

Alternatives to business loans

Some other options you could consider instead of a business loan are outlined below. Some of these can also be arranged through Rise Funding.

Invoice finance

This enables you to borrow money based on the invoices you’ve issued, which means you’ll get paid faster. Your lender advances you between 75% and 95% of the invoice value upfront. When the invoices are due, your lender collects the amount owed from the customer and pay you the remaining balance minus any fees.

Invoice finance

Asset finance

This enables you to get your hands on business equipment, machinery and vehicles without needing to pay for them upfront. You can do this through hire purchase, where you pay for the asset in instalments over a fixed term and will own the asset outright at the term’s end. Or you can choose lease finance, where you rent the equipment from the leasing company, and at the end of the term, you can hand it back, extend the term, exchange the equipment for a newer model or make a final “balloon” payment to own it outright.

Asset finance

Business credit card

A business credit card is a flexible way to borrow the funds you need. You can borrow up to your credit limit as and when you need to and then pay this sum back in flexible repayments. However, you’ll need a good credit rating to get a higher credit limit and a lower interest rate.

Business credit card

• Is Rise Funding safe?

  Yes, Rise Funding is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This means it must follow set criteria laid out by the FCA.

• Is Rise Funding a direct lender?

  No, Rise Funding is an independent commercial credit broker and does not provide loans itself. Instead, it introduces applicants to a range of loan providers.

• How long does the Rise Funding business loan application process take?

  This depends on the type of business loan you’re applying for and how quickly you can provide any requested documentation. However, in many cases, a lender will give you an answer within 24 hours, and in some cases, it can be as little as 2 hours. The funds will be in your business account within a couple of days.

• Can I take out a second Rise Funding business loan?

  You might be able to take out a second business loan, but this depends on your business’ financial situation. Remember that it can be harder to keep track of repayments if you have more than 1 loan.

• Can I change my repayment date?

  This depends on the type of loan you've taken out, so it’s best to contact Rise Funding to find out more.

• How does Rise Funding make money?

  Rise Funding makes money by charging administration and broker arrangement fees. It also receives commission from certain lenders.

• Will I need to provide a personal guarantee or some form of security?

  This depends on the lender’s requirements, loan type and the circumstances of your business. It’s important to ensure you understand the terms in full before signing up for anything.