Different problems need different instruments. Borrowing for equipment and borrowing to cover a slow month are not the same decision.
The word "loan" covers several products that behave very differently in your accounts and your cash flow. Choosing the wrong one is expensive even when the rate looks competitive.
Below is what each type is normally used for, in plain language. Which of them are available through our financing partner, and on what terms, is set out further down.
Scan Universal Solutions Inc. is not a lender and does not underwrite or approve credit. We prepare your financial information and refer you to our financing partner, who assesses the application and makes the lending decision. We are paid a commission by that partner if you proceed. This does not change what we advise — if borrowing is not the right step for your business, we will tell you so.
Which of these our financing partner offers, and on what terms, is confirmed at enquiry.
A fixed amount repaid over a set period in regular instalments. Suits a known, one-off cost — a fit-out, a vehicle, an acquisition — where you can match the repayment term to the life of what you are buying.
A limit you draw against and repay as needed, paying interest only on what you use. Suits fluctuating working capital rather than a single purchase.
Borrowing secured against the equipment itself. Often easier to obtain than unsecured borrowing because the asset provides the security.
Advancing cash against unpaid customer invoices. Suits businesses whose cash is tied up in receivables rather than a shortage of sales.
Repaid as a share of card takings rather than fixed instalments. Flexible with seasonality, but the effective cost is frequently higher than it first appears — we will always model this against the alternatives before recommending it.
A useful test: does the money solve a timing problem or a profitability problem? Timing problems — cash arriving later than it leaves — are what lines of credit and invoice finance are built for. Profitability problems are not fixed by borrowing, and financing one usually makes it worse.
If you are not certain which you have, that is worth establishing first. Our financial consulting work covers exactly this, and it is a cheaper question to answer than a mispriced loan.
Send us what you are considering and we will show you the total cost over the life of the facility, not just the headline rate.
Start the conversation →It depends on whether you have a timing problem or a profitability problem, and on what the money is buying. We will work through that with you before any application — it is the part that most affects what you end up paying.
Yes. We will model the total cost over the life of the facility and compare it against the alternatives, so you can see what the headline rate actually means in cash terms.
These vary by product, by amount and by the strength of the application, and they are set by the lender. Rather than quote a headline figure that may not apply to you, we will go through the current options for your circumstances and show you what each one actually costs over its full term.
Lenders generally look at how long you have been trading, your revenue, your credit history and what the funds are for. Requirements differ by product. We will tell you honestly where you stand before you apply, rather than after a decline — a refused application can make the next one harder.
No. We are not a lender and do not underwrite or approve credit. Our financing partner makes that decision. We are paid a commission if you proceed.
A few questions so we can give you a useful answer. Nothing here affects your credit file, and we do not ask for bank details or identification at this stage.