Funding Circle Marine Business Finance - Rate Table (October 2026)
| Term | Rate from (APR) | Max LTV | Min Loan | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 years | 7.9% | 0% | £10,000 | Best available rate band |
| 5–10 years | 8.4% | 0% | £10,000 | Mid-term pricing |
| 10–5 years | 8.9% | -5% | £10,000 | Longer-term pricing |
| Rate ceiling | 16.9% | -10% | £10,000 | Higher-risk / adverse credit |
Funding Circle offers unsecured marine business loans to £500k - no asset security required. Rates are indicative and subject to lender credit assessment, vessel survey and final underwriting. October 2026.
About Funding Circle Marine Business Loans
Funding Circle is the UK's largest peer-to-peer business lending platform and one of the most accessible sources of unsecured business finance for SMEs - including marine businesses. Unlike the asset finance products offered by Close Brothers, Lombard and others, Funding Circle's loans are unsecured (up to £500,000), meaning no specific asset needs to be identified or used as security. Instead, Funding Circle assesses the overall creditworthiness of the business and, for sole traders and partnerships, the personal creditworthiness of the directors or partners.
This makes Funding Circle relevant in several marine business scenarios: where the business needs working capital rather than a specific asset purchase, where the assets being acquired are not suitable as security (consumables, stock, small equipment), or where the business wants to preserve asset-based credit lines for future equipment needs. The minimum advance is £10,000 and rates range from 7.9% to 16.9% APR - higher than secured lending, as would be expected for unsecured credit.
Funding Circle's process is highly digitised and fast: applications can be completed online, decisions are typically issued within hours or days, and drawdown can occur within a week of approval. For a marine business that needs quick access to working capital - perhaps to fund a large charter booking deposit or bridge a seasonal cash flow gap - Funding Circle can be the most practical solution available. Doulton Bridging Finance includes Funding Circle in our panel to ensure clients have access to the full spectrum of marine business finance products.
Strengths
- Unsecured loans - no specific asset required as security
- Minimum loan only £10,000
- Fast decisions and drawdown (often within a week)
- Suitable for working capital as well as asset purchase
- Up to £500,000 available
- Highly digitised application process
Limitations to note
- Higher rates (7.9%–16.9%) reflecting unsecured nature
- 5-year maximum term
- Personal credit of directors assessed
- Not suitable for very large secured asset finance requirements
- Rate heavily dependent on business credit profile
- Cannot finance very large assets without complementary secured lending