As we enter the final stretch of 2025, many businesses are looking at their working capital requirements. If we look at our digital data, one of the questions which comes up is “Who are the flexible working capital loan businesses in South Africa?” – here are a couple of comments on this question.
How much working capital are you looking for?
Your funding requirements will drive some of your decision-making around which lender you can work with.
There are a number of fintech businesses – we touch on two below – who offer up to R5m in funding through their online solutions within 72 hours. When you start moving beyond the R5m mark you will find yourself needing to work through more established credit committees. This may have a material impact on your short-term funding strategies.
Have a clear idea of what your funding requirements are, a clear understanding of the cost of capital and ensure you leave yourself breathing room to meet your repayment obligations.
Do you have the data on hand to actually apply for the working capital solution you’re applying for?
Our fintech partners are great – you can apply for between R20 000 and R5m and get an answer within 24 hours. However, it is critical that you have your accounts up to date and are able to share this data with their platforms.
This is typically done through a data feed / data ingest or you can upload elements including bank statements, tender document and cashflow statements.
Ensuring you keep your financials up-to-date will be critical so that you can enjoy maximum flexibility when engaging with lenders.
Have you left yourself enough time at the end of the year?
Depending on the partner you elect to work with, you need to allow yourself enough time for your application to be reviewed and to engage around terms and options. Be aware that many financial institutions are potentially closing out their books for the year.
Similarly, they will be looking at your cashflow profile and typically they will be looking at your 3- and 6-month bank statements. If your cashflow is already starting to dip-off going into the last quarter, this may impact the facility you may qualify for.
Who are the South African lenders who can offer short-term working capital solutions quickly?
LulaLend:
This innovative fintech business provides fast and flexible business funding to SMEs and sole traders that traditional lenders often can’t serve. They can help thanks to their innovative online business model and credit scoring algorithm.
You can apply for up to R5m in funding for your working capital needs here.
Bridgement:
Business funding shouldn’t be time-consuming and complicated.
Get between R20,000 and R5,000,000 in business finance with a Bridgement credit facility. This award-winning South African fintech can help you improve your cash flow in under 24 hours through a number of offerings including:
- Business Loans
- Lines of Credit
- Invoice Finance
- Trade Credit
Setup your Bridgement account today HERE.
Engage around payment holidays
One of the reasons we enjoy working with these South African fintech businesses is their willingness to look at your cashflow profile and offer payment holidays. This can be particularly helpful if December and January are relatively slow months in your business.
Need R10m or more in structured Working Capital?
If your business is looking for more than R10m in working capital and you need assistance in structuring this transaction, we have a team on hand to assist you.
Through an innovative partnership, our experienced team has raised over R2.8bn in funding for clients with an average raise of R120m in debt and grant funding. To access this funding, clients are supported through funding readiness assessments and advised on the best tools to fuel their growth.
If you would like to setup a discussion, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
