Nucleus Commercial Finance – reviews, analysis and fees

Last updated on 10 August 2023

Nucleus Commercial Finance is an online lender that offers SMEs (and, to a lesser extent, sole traders) an array of loans and financing options. This provider offers a range of loan products, in addition to cash advances for a business that completes transactions by debit or credit card.

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The minimum thresholds for qualifying for loans are higher than many competitors, so you will need to be firmly established and enjoy substantial turnover to take advantage of what Nucleus Commercial Finance has to offer, but those who remain eligible will find plenty of love about this lender. 

Video: Business loans and finance explained

Nucleus Commercial Finance business loans and finance

Pros and cons of Nucleus Commercial Finance for business loans 

ProsCons
Several business loans available, alongside merchant cash advances Will not work with sole traders, just limited companies
Nucleus Commercial Finance is regulated by the FCA, and thus needs to follow a set code of conduct Lack of transparency surrounding interest rates on loans – you will only learn your APR when made an offer
Successful applicants usually receive funds within 24 hours – cash advances can be released on the day of application Must have been trading for at least 12 months to qualify for a business loan (four months for a cash advance) – some loans require 18 months of trading
Greater flexibility on lending than a bank – decisions are not based solely on a credit score Personal guarantees will usually be required for any business lending
Excellent online reviews and winners of the 2023 National Credit Award for Business Lender of the Year Lending decisons are made by AI, not a human being that understands nuance
Nucleus Commercial Finance pros and cons

Business loans 

Nucleus Commercial Finance offers a range of business loans for SMEs in various stages of growth and development. Unfortunately, this lender is coy about interest rates so you will not know how much interest you will be expected to pay until you make an application and share your financial information.

Business growth loans

This is a short-term loan to be repaid over six months. This loan can be for any sum between £3,000 and £25,000, but your business must have been trading for at least 18 months to qualify. 

While this loan is unsecured, a personal guarantee will be required and only homeowners in England or Wales may apply. You can apply for a top-up of this loan after four months of repayments.

Business cash flow loans

This loan can be taken out by a business looking to borrow between £10,000 and £2,000,000. The terms of this loan are a little more flexible; you will only need to have been trading for 12 months to qualify, and the repayment term could be anywhere from three months to six years. 

This lending is unsecured, and a personal guarantee may or may not be required depending on your circumstances. You can also apply for interest-only repayments for up to one year, keeping your outgoings lower while you grow your business income.

Property finance 

If you are prepared to secure a loan against a personal or professional property as collateral, Nucleus Commercial Finance offers loans of £25,000 to £5,000,000. 

This lending will be capped at 70% of the value of a residential property and 65% of a commercial property. So, if you are securing a loan against a family home valued at £220,000, you will be able to borrow up to £154,000.

Any business based in England or Wales can apply for this funding, regardless of age, but you will need to provide 12 months of financial statements. If your business has not been trading this long, you’ll need to share information pertaining to your personal finances and a cash flow forecast for the months and years to come.

While there is an element of risk to securing a business loan against property, this will potentially be tempered by a preferential interest rate that is lower than an unsecured loan. You will also have a longer repayment term of up to seven years.

Merchant cash advance

Nucleus Commercial Finance also offers a cash advance service, willing to provide a lump sum of up to 200% of your monthly revenue generated by card sales. Nucleus Commercial Finance refers to this as a revenue based loan.

Video: Merchant Cash Advance explained

On paper, the only restrictions on this service are that you must have been trading for at least four months and complete at least 10 transactions each month by card. However, as the minimum sum available through this lending stream is £3,000, this also suggests that you will also need to take at least £1,500 in card sales each month. The maximum you can borrow through this lending stream is £300,000.

If you agree to a revenue based loan with Nucleus Commercial Finance, your repayments will not be taken from future card transactions. Instead, you will need to set up a weekly direct debit. The repayment term could be anywhere from three months to one year. You will also be eligible to top up your revenue based borrowing every four months. If your income has increased in this time, you will be eligible to request a larger sum.

You will need to provide a personal guarantee for any revenue based loan through Nucleus Commercial Finance, and if the total borrowed exceeds £75,000, this will automatically become a secured loan that must be guaranteed by a homeowner.

Nucleus Commercial Finance account login

Business credit cards

Not available from Nucleus Commercial Finance. See best business credit cards

Asset finance 

Not available from Nucleus Commercial Finance. See best asset finance

Invoice finance

Not available from Nucleus Commercial Finance. See invoice factoring

Commercial mortgages

Not available from Nucleus Commercial Finance. See commercial mortgages.

Business vehicle finance

Not available from Nucleus Commercial Finance. See business vehicle finance.

Nucleus Commercial Finance key information

Phone number020 7839 1980
App downloadsN/A – Nucleus Commercial Finance does not have an app
Websitewww.nucleuscommercialfinance.com
Number of branchesN/A – Nucleus Commercial Finance is an online business
FSCS protected?No
Founded2011, London
Key information

Nucleus Commercial Finance reviews

Review platformScoreNumber of votes
TrustPilot4.8/5324
FeefoNot reviewedN/A
Reviews.ioNot reviewedN/A
Smart Money People4.7/537
Which?Not reviewedN/A
Average score4.75/5361 total votes
Nucleus Commercial Finance reviews and ratings

Business eligibility criteria

The criteria to borrow from Nucleus Commercial Finance varies according to the lending stream that you are looking for. Refer back to our summaries of each product to check your eligibility. However, in a nutshell, you must meet these core criteria:

  • Be a registered business listed on Companies House with at least one UK-based director
  • Have a trading history of at least 18 months for a business growth loan, 12 months for a business cash flow loan, and 4 months for revenue based finance
  • Complete a minimum of 10 transactions per month for revenue based finance.

Business finance alternatives

The closest rival to Nucleus Commercial Finance in terms of the range of products offered is Merchant Money, which also pairs the availability of secured and unsecured business loans with revenue based cash advances, though Capify is another option if these are your needs. If you are just seeking a merchant cash advance, compare the offer of Nucleus with those of 365 Business Finance, YouLend, Iwoca, and Liberis.

Additional considerations

In addition to excellent online reviews from fellow business customers, Nucleus Commercial Finance has been named Business Lender of the Year for 2023 at the prestigious National Credit Awards.

FAQ

How do I apply for funding from Nucleus Commercial Finance?

Head to the Nucleus Commercial Finance website and fill in the short online application form. Nucleus Commercial Finance’s AI software will immediately review your application and come back with an offer if you are eligible for borrowing, which you can approve or decline as you see fit.

How long does it take to receive funding from Nucleus Commercial Finance?

Nucleus Commercial Finance works with AI and open banking tools to speed up the process of approving loan or cash advance applications and releasing funds. If you pass the relevant checks, you could receive your money the same day that you apply for financing, or at worst within 24 hours.

Does Nucleus Commercial Finance work with sole traders?

No, sole traders are not eligible for lending from Nucleus Commercial Finance – you must be the director of a business registered in the UK. Other lenders are available that will consider applications for borrowing from sole traders.

My business has bad credit – will I still qualify for lending through Nucleus Commercial Finance?

While a substandard credit history, especially one that involves CCJs or bankruptcy, will impact any request for borrowing, Nucleus Commercial Finance places greater emphasis on a business’ performance and affordability than on credit score. You may still be able to qualify for a loan or cash advance, and could even use this to bolster your credit score may making regular repayments.

Can I repay a loan from Nucleus Commercial Finance early?

Yes, you will be entitled to settle your account with Nucleus Commercial Finance early if you are in a position to do so, and will not be charged any penalty fees to do so. The sooner you clear your balance, the more you will save in interest repayments.

Does Nucleus Commercial Finance work with my industry?

Unless your business model is considered to be extremely high risk, Nucleus Commercial Finance will likely agree to work with you – this lender is open-minded about supporting a range of small businesses across the spectrum.

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Reviewed by , Managing Director

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