Answer

Does being pre-revenue completely rule out finance?

Cash-flow lending needs revenue, so a truly pre-revenue company has limited loan options — but not zero routes to funding. Without income there is little for a cash-flow lender to assess. Grants, equity, director investment or asset finance may fit better until trading begins.

2 min read

Limitedfor cash-flow loans
Not zeroother routes
Revenue firstunlocks lending

Why cash-flow lending needs revenue

A cash-flow loan is repaid from income, so a company with no revenue has nothing for the lender to base repayment on. This is the honest constraint: pre-revenue and cash-flow borrowing do not easily meet.

What can fit instead

Before revenue, founders often use director investment, equity, grants or startup schemes; asset finance can fund specific equipment. Once even a few months of evidenced trading exist, cash-flow lending opens up. Read the startup finance guide.

Applying later

Start trading, then apply online once income is evidenced.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a cash-flow loan with no revenue at all?

Generally no — such a loan is repaid from income there is none of yet. A few months of evidenced trading changes that. Before then, other funding routes fit better.

What funding suits a pre-revenue company?

Director investment, equity, grants or startup schemes, and asset finance for specific equipment. Cash-flow lending becomes an option once trading generates evidenced income.

Funding for UK limited companies

Credicorp lends to your company, not to you personally — short-term working capital with no personal guarantee. See what your business could access.