Capital on Tap vs Close Brothers: Which UK Business Loan Provider in 2026?
Capital on Tap edges this matchup in our 2026 UK review, scoring 4.3 of 5 against Close Brothers on 4.2. Capital on Tap runs a business credit card with revolving credit line at From 15.5% APR variable on cash; 0% on card spend if cleared in full with decisions in 2 minutes to same day; Close Brothers runs a asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans at Bespoke, quoted at offer. That said, the headline rating is not the whole answer: Close Brothers beats Capital on Tap for established smes needing asset or invoice finance. Read the side-by-side, then jump to the "when X wins" sections for the buyer-fit logic.
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
Side-by-side
| Capital on Tap | Close Brothers | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Business credit card with revolving credit line | Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans |
| Founded | 2012 | 1878 |
| Ticket range | Up to £250k credit limit | £25k to £25m+ |
| Typical rate | From 15.5% APR variable on cash; 0% on card spend if cleared in full | Bespoke, quoted at offer |
| Decision time | 2 minutes to same day | 5 to 14 business days |
| Soft search at quote | Yes | No (hard search) |
| Limited companies only | No | No |
| FCA regulated | Yes | Yes |
| Companies House | 09867706 | 00195626 |
| Best for | Cash-flow cards on monthly cycle; Established Ltd companies and sole traders with clean credit; Borrowers wanting same-day approval | Established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance; Print, transport, manufacturing, motor trade; Broker-introduced deals |
| Overall rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-05-08 | 2026-05-08 |
When Capital on Tap wins
- Soft-search application with no credit-file footprint at quote.
- Decisions in around 2 minutes for clean cases.
- No interest if statement balance is cleared in full each month.
- 1% unlimited cashback or Avios collection on card spend.
Best for
Cash-flow cards on monthly cycle, Established Ltd companies and sole traders with clean credit, Borrowers wanting same-day approval.
Watch outs
- Cash-advance APR materially higher than card-spend APR; using it as cash erodes the maths.
- Personal guarantee required from a director.
- Credit limit can be reset down without warning if account behaviour changes.
When Close Brothers wins
- Genuine UK merchant bank with 145+ years of trading history.
- Multiple product lines under one underwriter (asset, invoice, commercial loans).
- Strong sector specialisms in print, transport, manufacturing and motor trade.
- PRA-regulated; FSCS deposit protection on linked savings products.
Best for
Established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance, Print, transport, manufacturing, motor trade, Broker-introduced deals.
Watch outs
- Broker-distributed, not self-serve.
- Headline rates not published; quoted at offer.
- Slower than fintech alternatives.
FAQ
Capital on Tap or Close Brothers: which is the better UK business loan in 2026?
Capital on Tap scores higher overall in our 2026 review at 4.3 of 5 versus 4.2 for Close Brothers. That said, the right answer depends on what you trade and what you need. Capital on Tap is the stronger pick for cash-flow cards on monthly cycle, while Close Brothers is the stronger pick for established smes needing asset or invoice finance. If your business sits inside one of those use cases, ignore the headline rating and pick for fit.
What rates and ticket bands do Capital on Tap and Close Brothers offer?
Capital on Tap runs a business credit card with revolving credit line with tickets of Up to £250k credit limit at From 15.5% APR variable on cash; 0% on card spend if cleared in full. Close Brothers runs a asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans with tickets of £25k to £25m+ at Bespoke, quoted at offer. Decision time on Capital on Tap is 2 minutes to same day; on Close Brothers it is 5 to 14 business days. Headline rates rarely match the offered rate, so verify on the lender site before committing, and assume bespoke pricing above £100k where the data allows it.
Eligibility: Capital on Tap vs Close Brothers, who qualifies?
Capital on Tap is soft-search at quote stage (no credit-file footprint) and accepts sole traders and partnerships as well as Ltd companies. Close Brothers is hard-search at quote and accepts sole traders and partnerships as well as Ltd companies. Capital on Tap is FCA regulated; Close Brothers is FCA regulated.
Which is the wrong answer for what?
Capital on Tap is the wrong answer for long-tenor capex finance. Close Brothers is the wrong answer for self-serve sub-£25k. If either of those describes your business, look at the side-by-side table for the alternative, or get a quote from our UK lender panel and we will surface the right shortlist.
Can BestBusinessLoans help me choose between Capital on Tap and Close Brothers?
Yes. Our reviews are editorial; we run a UK lender panel via our /get-quotes/ form that includes both. Tell us monthly turnover, sector and what you need the money for. We match you against the lenders most likely to approve and beat your current cost, then route the application without affecting your credit file at quote stage.
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Get quotes →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-05-08. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).