Lender review · Invoice finance and asset finance
Catalyst Business Finance
- Reviewed May 2026
- Editor Oliver Mackman
- Companies House 08230044
- Methodology Public
Catalyst Business Finance Limited (CN 08230044) is currently in liquidation per Companies House. Historically a Yorkshire-based invoice and asset finance specialist focused on UK SMEs. Existing clients should contact the appointed insolvency practitioners; the entity is not accepting new applications. Listed for borrower reference, not as a current option.
Director, BestBusinessLoans
Oliver leads BestBusinessLoans's editorial reviews and methodology. With a background in UK commercial finance, he oversees lender research, rate verification and review independence.
Last reviewed: 8 May 2026
At a glance
- Product
- Invoice finance and asset finance
- Ticket size
- £25k to £2m
- Typical rate
- Quoted at offer
- Decision time
- 24 to 72 hours
- Soft search at quote
- No
- Limited companies only
- No
- FCA regulated
- No
- Companies House
- 08230044
- Founded
- 2012
Scores against our methodology
- Rate transparency0/5
- Eligibility clarity0/5
- Decision speed0/5
- Decline handling0/5
How Catalyst Business Finance works
Catalyst Business Finance operates as a invoice finance and asset finance provider in the UK SMB market. Catalyst Business Finance Limited (CN 08230044) is currently in liquidation per Companies House. Historically a Yorkshire-based invoice and asset finance specialist focused on UK SMEs. Existing clients should contact the appointed insolvency practitioners; the entity is not accepting new applications. Listed for borrower reference, not as a current option.
The product mechanic is straightforward in shape but the underwriting is sector-specific. Tickets sit in the £25k to £2m band, decisions land within 24 to 72 hours, and the published rate range is Quoted at offer. A hard search may apply at quote stage; ask before you submit if credit-file footprint matters to you. Like most UK lenders to limited companies, the standard SMB lending sits outside the FCA perimeter.
Where Catalyst Business Finance fits best: reference and historical context only. Where it does not fit: any new business loan need (in liquidation).
Pricing examples
Worked examples using Catalyst Business Finance's published rate range (Quoted at offer). This lender prices by factor rate or bespoke quote, so we show the structure, not a worked APR.
| Ticket | Term | Estimated total cost | Approx monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | 24 months | See lender quote | See lender quote |
| £50,000 | 36 months | See lender quote | See lender quote |
| £100,000 | 48 months | See lender quote | See lender quote |
Indicative only. Confirm on a Catalyst Business Finance quote.
Eligibility
- Trading time: typically 12 to 24 months minimum for the cleanest pricing.
- Turnover floor: not always published. As a working figure, expect a £100k+ turnover requirement for term loans of £50k+. Smaller tickets and MCA structures have lower floors.
- Sector exclusions: Any new business loan need (in liquidation).
- Credit profile: Clean credit preferred; older satisfied items often acceptable.
- Company structure: Limited companies and (in some cases) sole traders / partnerships.
- Best fit: Reference and historical context only.
Pros
- + Historical specialism in factoring and invoice discounting for SMEs.
- + Owner-led service model during operating years.
Cons
- − In liquidation per Companies House; not accepting new applications.
- − Existing borrowers should contact the appointed insolvency practitioners.
- − Not a current option for any UK SMB.
Best for
- · Reference and historical context only
Weak at
- · Any new business loan need (in liquidation)
When to use Catalyst Business Finance
Use Catalyst Business Finance when
Your application matches the best-fit profile: reference and historical context only. The published ticket range (£25k to £2m) covers your ask, the decision speed (24 to 72 hours) fits your cash-gap timeline, and the rate range (Quoted at offer) is acceptable to you given your credit profile.
Do not use Catalyst Business Finance when
Your profile sits in the weak-at list: any new business loan need (in liquidation). Catalyst Business Finance will likely decline, and the decline itself can sit on broker records for 90 days. If you have any of these flags, route directly to a specialist (post-decline lender, MCA against card flow, asset-backed alternative) rather than using Catalyst Business Finance as a screen.
FAQs
What is the minimum trading time for Catalyst Business Finance?
Catalyst Business Finance typically asks for 12 to 24 months of trading. Newer businesses can sometimes qualify against alternative underwriting (card flow for MCA, asset security for asset finance), but the cleanest pricing tends to require two full sets of accounts.
Does Catalyst Business Finance require a personal guarantee?
Most UK SMB lenders require a personal guarantee from at least one director. Catalyst Business Finance is no exception in the standard case. The few exceptions: asset-backed lending where the asset itself stands as security, and a small number of MCA structures where card flow is the underwriting basis. For invoice finance and asset finance specifically, expect a PG to be requested.
How fast does Catalyst Business Finance fund?
Catalyst Business Finance quotes 24 to 72 hours for an underwriting decision. Funding to bank account typically follows within one to three working days of acceptance, subject to KYC, signed documents, and (where applicable) registration of any debenture or charge.
What rate should I expect from Catalyst Business Finance?
Catalyst Business Finance's published range is Quoted at offer. The headline number is rarely the offered number. Rate transparency on this lender scores 0/5 in our methodology. Expect the cleaner end of the band only if you have 2+ years of trading, clean credit, and turnover comfortably above the lender's stated floor.
What happens if Catalyst Business Finance declines me?
If Catalyst Business Finance declines, you have three realistic next steps. First, ask for the decline reason in writing, most reputable UK lenders will tell you. Second, route the application to a specialist post-decline lender (Bizcap, JPM Capital, Bolton Finance) where credit issues are the constraint, or to an asset-backed alternative where security is available. Third, use a broker panel to fan the application across the lenders most likely to accept your specific decline reason. Catalyst Business Finance scores 0/5 on decline handling in our methodology.
Where to apply
Apply directly via catalystbusinessfinance.co.uk, or use our free quote form to be matched across the UK broker panel most likely to approve your specific profile, not just Catalyst Business Finance.
Specialty alternatives
See all lender reviews for alternatives.
Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 8 May 2026. Lender website: catalystbusinessfinance.co.uk.