Funding Circle Reviews
Compare Funding Circle with Lendio, Kabbage, and Ondeck, learn what customers have had to say about the lender, and read our review.
Updated on June 30th, 2022
The SMB Guide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Funding Circle is a peer-to-peer lending company that provides small business loans to businesses in the UK, US, Germany, and the Netherlands. Through Funding Circle, business owners are able to get fast, easy access to financing to help grow their business.
Updates:
Updated 7th of February 2020
We added more information about Funding Circle's features, investor accounts, and comparisons with similar lending platforms Kabbage, OnDeck, and The Loan Exchange.
Rates:
Loan Type | Loan Amount | APR | Payment Term |
|---|---|---|---|
Term Loan | $25,000–$500,000 | 8.75% - 32.16% | 6 months to 5 years |
Review:
Funding Circle is an easy-to-use online lending marketplace that connects borrowers with lenders. Compared to similar platforms, Funding Circle provides convenient access to large loan amounts at competitive interest rates but has more stringent qualification requirements. Not ideal for startups but a good alternative for established businesses.
Pros:
- Flexible loan terms and repayment schedules.
- Efficient and convenient technology-driven processes.
- Setting up automatic payments is optional.
- Loan payments are reported to two major business credit bureaus, namely Experian and Dun & Bradstreet (D&B).
Cons:
- Rather stringent qualification requirements, such as a minimum personal credit score of 660 for sole proprietorships.
- Does not offer loans in Nevada and to businesses in certain industries, including nonprofit organizations.
- Does not provide unsecured loans.
Reputation:
Funding Circle is a reputable lending platform that enjoys an A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating.
Customer reviews on the BBB website strongly advocate Funding Circle, praising their professionalism and efficient processes. The few negative reviews cited poor or unsolicited communication (6), dissatisfaction with offered rates (1), and rejected applications (1) as the cause for their dissatisfaction.
Of 7,080 reviews on Trustpilot, over 80% rated Funding Circle as excellent while only around 10% indicated strong dissatisfaction, both from borrowers' and investors' perspectives.
Cost Comparison:
Funding Circle vs. Kabbage:
Funding Circle and Kabbage are similar in that they only offer one type of loan product: Funding Circle only offers term loans and Kabbage only offers lines of credit. They strongly differ in the loan amounts and terms.
While Kabbage only offers up to $250,000 with payment terms of 6, 12, and 18 months, Funding Circle offers up to $500,000 with flexible payment terms up to 5 years. In terms of their rates, Kabbage customers are likely to receive higher rates up to an APR of 80% compared to Funding Circle's APR range of 8.75% to 32.4%.
Funding Circle vs. Kabbage Comparison:
Offer | Funding Circle | Kabbage |
|---|---|---|
Max. Loan Amount | $500,000 | $250,000 |
Terms | 6 months to 5 years | 6, 12, or 18 months |
Avg. APR | 8.75%-32.4% | 20-80% |
Min. Credit Score | 620 | 600 |
Funding Circle vs. OnDeck:
Funding Circle and OnDeck both offer term loans up to $500,000 but differ on a few key points. Funding Circle offers longer payment terms, up to 5 years, a lower APR range (8.75% to 32.4%), but has slightly stricter qualification requirements than OnDeck. OnDeck only offers payment terms up to 3 years with an average APR of 49.06%, although rates start as low as 11.9%.
Funding Circle vs. OnDeck Comparison:
Offer | Funding Circle | OnDeck |
|---|---|---|
Max. Term Loan | $500,000 | $500,000 |
Terms | 6 months to 5 years | 3 - 36 months |
Avg. APR | 8.75%-32.4% | 49.06% |
Min. Credit Score | 620 | 600 |
Funding Circle vs. The Loan Exchange:
The Loan Exchange offers smaller loan amounts (a maximum of $250,000 compared to Funding Circle's $500,000) and a much lower minimum credit score requirement (500 compared to 620). The Loan Exchange does not indicate an average APR.
Funding Circle vs. The Loan Exchange Comparison:
Offer | Funding Circle | The Loan Exchange |
|---|---|---|
Max. Business Loan | $500,000 | $250,000 |
Terms | 6 months to 5 years | 6 to 120 months |
Avg. APR | 8.75%-32.4% | Interest rates starting from 14.90% (15% origination fee) |
Min. Credit Score | 620 | 500 |
Features:
- Personal account manager.
- Efficient technology-driven processes.
- High levels of data security and encryption.
- Reports loan payments to 2 major credit bureaus.
- Option to set up automatic payments.
Funding Circle At A Glance:
Online Dashboard | Yes. |
Mobile App | Yes. |
Lines of Credit | No. |
Term Loans | Yes. |
Customer Support | Phone, email, & social media channels. |
24/7 Support | No. |
Autopay | Yes. |
Key Products:
Term Loans.
Fast loans up to $500,000 at affordable rates (8.75%-32.4% APR) with flexible loan terms for up to five years. Suitable for established small businesses with a good credit score. No minimum annual revenue requirement.
Investor accounts.
Accounts for businesses interested in helping to fund in financing for established small businesses through the purchase of Notes issued by Funding Circle Notes Program, LLC.
Funding Circle charges no management, brokerage account, or transaction fees, only a 1% annual servicing fee that is deducted from loan repayments. Returns for loans originated by Funding Circle between February 2013 and March 2019 averaged 5.3% per year.
Key Information:
Legal Name | Funding Circle Holdings plc |
Founder | |
Founding Date | Sep 01, 2009 |
Address | 85 2nd Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94105 |
Number of Employees | 1074 |
Number of Customers | 77000 |
Telephone | |
Website |
FAQs:
How does Funding Circle work?
Funding Circle is a peer-to-business lending company, also known as a lending circle, where your business is matched up with an individual or large investor in the Funding Circle marketplace. The investor will either contribute part of the loan or the full investment in your company. Funding Circle then manages your monthly repayments.
How do you qualify for a Funding Circle loan?
You need at least two years’ trading history, at least one year of filed or formally prepared accounts, no county court judgments (CCJs) registered in the last 12 months, and no outstanding CCJs larger than £1,000.00 in the last year. Your business also needs to have UK ownership, and the majority of your directors need to be UK residents. You'll need a minimum personal credit score of 620 with no prior liquidations. There is no annual revenue requirement.
Is Funding Circle any good?
We have rounded up some customer reviews below and have written our own review, which you can read to guide you.
How much can I borrow through Funding Circle Loans?
You can borrow between $25,000.00 and $500,000.00 for up to five years. There is a once-off Funding Circle origination fee of between 0.99% and 6.99%, which is deducted from your total loan proceeds. Funding Circle's rates range from 4.99% to 27.79%.
Can people apply for Funding Circle personal loans?
No, Funding Circle does not offer personal loans.
Who wins the Funding Circle vs. Lending Club face-off?
Funding Circle P2P lending offers business loans up to $500,000.00, whereas LendingClub provides up to $300,000.00. With Lending Circle, you only need to be in business for a year but you must have an annual revenue of $50,000.00. So, if you're looking for a larger loan, then Funding Circle may be the best option for you.
How many Funding Circle branches are there?
Funding Circle has offices across the UK, USA, Germany, and the Netherlands. The Funding Circle UK headquarters is located in London. If you're an American customer, you can visit Funding Circle's US site or contact their San Francisco branch.
Where can I read a Funding Circle review to help me make a decision?
You can read the reviews that we have rounded up below to help you make a decision.