2 min read
Why software and SaaS companies fund differently
SaaS businesses pay to acquire customers up front while revenue arrives monthly over the customer's lifetime, creating a cash gap that recurring, predictable revenue can nevertheless support. With little in the way of machinery or property to secure against, the funding question is not 'what asset do we buy?' but 'how do we bridge the gap between spending and being paid?'. That points toward working-capital facilities and unsecured lending rather than asset finance.
The facility that usually fits
For this trade the natural route is business loagainst recurring revenue. It is designed for the recurring, temporary gaps that asset-light businesses live with, and — in the case of invoice finance — it grows with the invoices as the business grows. Credicorp's unsecured lending to limited companies carries no personal guarantee, which matters when there is no asset to pledge. Read the underlying guide before committing.
Size it against real figures
Model the gap with our return on borrowing calculator and the using a loan for growth on Learn. For asset-light firms the key number is how long cash is tied up between paying costs and collecting fees — get that right and the facility sizes itself.
How lenders view the trade
Our sector page for software and SaaS companies sets out what a lender looks at when there are few hard assets, and the general answers on whether your sector affects borrowing and what lenders check give the wider picture. When ready, you can apply. General information, not an offer of finance.
Frequently asked questions
Can software and SaaS companies borrow without physical assets to secure against?
Yes. Credicorp offers unsecured lending to limited companies with no personal guarantee, and invoice finance is secured on the debtor book rather than on equipment or property. Asset-light businesses are funded on their income and trading, not on what they own. This is illustrative and not an offer of finance.
Is invoice finance suitable for software and SaaS companies?
Where the business invoices other businesses on terms, invoice finance can release cash tied up in unpaid invoices and grows with turnover. It is less relevant where income is mainly from consumers paying on the day. The fit depends on how you invoice.
How much can software and SaaS companies borrow?
It depends on turnover, profitability and how comfortably repayments fit your cash flow, not the sector alone. Recurring, predictable revenue strengthens the case for an asset-light business. Run your figures through the affordability calculator before applying.
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Read →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.