Lender review · SME term loan + revolving credit
Credit4
- Reviewed May 2026
- Editor Oliver Mackman
- Companies House 08738775
- Methodology Public
London-based direct lender focused on the £25k to £250k SME ticket band. Combined fixed-term loan plus revolving facility under one credit limit, which is unusual in the UK SME market. Underwrites mid-prime cases that fall between fintech term lenders and high-street banks.
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
- SME term loan + revolving credit
- Ticket size
- £25k to £250k
- Typical rate
- From around 9% APR
- Decision time
- 24 to 72 hours
- Soft search at quote
- Yes
- Limited companies only
- Yes
- FCA regulated
- Yes (check the FCA Register)
- Companies House
- 08738775
Scores against our methodology
- Rate transparency3/5
- Eligibility clarity4/5
- Decision speed4/5
- Decline handling4/5
How Credit4 works
Credit4 operates as a sme term loan + revolving credit provider in the UK SMB market. London-based direct lender focused on the £25k to £250k SME ticket band. Combined fixed-term loan plus revolving facility under one credit limit, which is unusual in the UK SME market. Underwrites mid-prime cases that fall between fintech term lenders and high-street banks.
The product mechanic is straightforward in shape but the underwriting is sector-specific. Tickets sit in the £25k to £250k band, decisions land within 24 to 72 hours, and the published rate range is From around 9% APR. Soft search at quote means no impact on your credit file at the eligibility stage. Credit4 is FCA regulated.
Where Credit4 fits best: established ltd companies, £25k to £250k tickets, working capital plus drawdown flexibility. Where it does not fit: sub-£25k tickets, sole traders, sub-2-year trading.
Pricing examples
Worked examples using Credit4's published rate range (From around 9% APR). Simple-interest approximation, mid-band rate. Real offers will differ and should be confirmed on the lender quote.
| Ticket | Term | Estimated total cost | Approx monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | 24 months | £29,500 | £1,229 |
| £50,000 | 36 months | £63,500 | £1,764 |
| £100,000 | 48 months | £136,000 | £2,833 |
Indicative only. Confirm on a Credit4 quote.
Eligibility
- Trading time: typically 12 to 24 months minimum for the cleanest pricing. Weakness flagged: Sub-2-year trading.
- 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: Sub-£25k tickets.
- Credit profile: Clean credit preferred; older satisfied items often acceptable.
- Company structure: Limited companies only.
- Best fit: Established Ltd companies; £25k to £250k tickets; Working capital plus drawdown flexibility.
Pros
- + Combined term loan + revolver under one limit; rare structure in the UK.
- + Direct lender; no broker mark-up.
- + Comfortable with mid-prime cases mainstream lenders refuse.
- + Decisions in 24 to 72 hours.
Cons
- − Smaller brand vs Funding Circle or iwoca.
- − Below £25k not entertained.
- − Limited Trustpilot footprint to verify reputation.
Best for
- · Established Ltd companies
- · £25k to £250k tickets
- · Working capital plus drawdown flexibility
Weak at
- · Sub-£25k tickets
- · Sole traders
- · Sub-2-year trading
When to use Credit4
Use Credit4 when
Your application matches the best-fit profile: established ltd companies, £25k to £250k tickets, working capital plus drawdown flexibility. The published ticket range (£25k to £250k) covers your ask, the decision speed (24 to 72 hours) fits your cash-gap timeline, and the rate range (From around 9% APR) is acceptable to you given your credit profile. Soft search at quote means there is no downside to running an eligibility check before committing.
Do not use Credit4 when
Your profile sits in the weak-at list: sub-£25k tickets, sole traders, sub-2-year trading. Credit4 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 Credit4 as a screen.
FAQs
What is the minimum trading time for Credit4?
Credit4 is weaker on sub-2-year trading. As a working figure, expect Credit4 to ask for at least 12 months of trading for most product lines, and 24 months for the cleanest pricing.
Does Credit4 require a personal guarantee?
Most UK SMB lenders require a personal guarantee from at least one director. Credit4 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 sme term loan + revolving credit specifically, expect a PG to be requested.
How fast does Credit4 fund?
Credit4 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 Credit4?
Credit4's published range is From around 9% APR. The headline number is rarely the offered number. Rate transparency on this lender scores 3/5 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 Credit4 declines me?
If Credit4 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. Credit4 scores 4/5 on decline handling in our methodology.
Where to apply
Apply directly via credit4.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 Credit4.
Specialty alternatives
See all lender reviews for alternatives.
Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 8 May 2026. Lender website: credit4.co.uk.