Nucleus Commercial Finance aims to merge the lending power of a regular bank with the speed and flexibility of a challenger. Here's our analysis of its business loans. Loans amounts from £3,000 to £2,000,000 between 3 and 72 months.
Nucleus Commercial Finance was created in 2011 to help UK-based small and medium-sized businesses find alternative sources of finance. It now employs around 200 people and claims to be flexible and 100% transparent, including on any potential penalty charges. Borrowers pay an initial set-up fee and fixed monthly payments. It provides bespoke finance plans for property, construction, invoices and cash flow.
Quick overview of Nucleus business loans
Minimum trading period
12 months
Loan terms
From 3 to 72 months
Loan amounts
From £3,000 to £2,000,000
Minimum turnover
Not specified
What types of business finance does Nucleus offer?
Unsecured. Security free loan with flexible loan amounts and terms.
Cash Flow Finance. A competitive cash flow injection that covers day-to-day business operations.
Business Cash Advance. This provides funding for virtually any business-related purpose.
Invoice Finance. This is an advance given to buffer your cash flow while you wait for a client to pay an invoice. It’s a way of ensuring that your business isn’t held back by clients delaying their payments.
Property Finance. This allows you to use property as collateral for a secured loan and as a result, borrow greater sums of money.
Education Finance. These are schemes that are designed for education providers and include access to EFSA instalments, outsourced credit control, cash flow management and more.
Asset Finance. This is funding allowing you to invest in the machinery or equipment that your business needs to get to the next level.
Construction Finance. This is a cash flow funding product designed for contractors and sub-contractors working in the construction industry.
Key features of Nucleus business loans at a glance
Loan duration. The duration of the payment plans spans from 3 months to 8 years.
Security. Secured and unsecured business loans are offered. If you’re going for a secured loan, your assets may be used to repay debt if you are not able to make your repayments. This could potentially result in your home being repossessed.
Fixed monthly repayments. You will pay the same monthly fee throughout the duration of your payment plan.
Option to take a repayment holiday. This is not explicitly stated on the website, so you’ll need to ask Nucleus about this option.
Quick decision. When applying for a loan, you can expect to receive an answer within 24 hours.
Repay your loan early at any time. No matter how early you pay off your loan, you won’t be hit with financial penalties.
Set-up fees. Nucleus charges a set-up fee. The exact amount differs depending on the particulars of the loan in question.
Preferential rates for existing customers. Nucleus isn’t a bank so this option doesn’t apply.
Nucleus Commercial Finance customer reviews
Nucleus Commercial Finance has received mostly positive reviews from customers on the review platform Trustpilot, where it currently has an “excellent” rating of 4.7 out of 5, based on over 380 reviews (updated July 2024).
Some customers cited that the loan process was quick and efficient, while others suggested the customer service was poor and communication was difficult.
Am I eligible for a Nucleus business loan?
If you’re certain you can make your monthly payments, it’s worth exploring the eligibility criteria before you apply to Nucleus.
Nucleus has not published information about its lending criteria. So we’ve put together the following list as a guide – it’s based on the criteria set by similar companies.
You have been trading as a business for at least two years.
Your firm is a sole trader, partnership, limited liability partnership or a limited company. It also must be registered at Companies House if it applies to your business.
Your business has a valid UK bank account.
Your business’s premises are in the UK.
Your company has a good and clean credit history.
Neither you nor any of the your company’s directors, shareholders or members has had an individual voluntary arrangement at any time within the last six years.
Nucleus hasn’t stated its official requirements so this is a guide based on similar lenders’ criteria. Contact Nucleus directly for precise details about the assessment criteria.
You’re a legal resident of the UK.
You’re aged over 18.
You have authority (signatory) over your company’s bank account.
You have a good and clean credit history.
How can I apply?
If you want to apply for funding, go to the Nucleus’ website and fill out an online application form.
Customer support
You can contact customer support by calling 020 7839 1980 or you can e-mail Nucleus on contact@nucleus-cf.co.uk.
Nucleus offers funding varying from £3,000 to £2m depending on the type of finance.
Depending on the amount you want to borrow Nucleus will ask for different security. (Business Cash Advance offered by Nucleus is unsecured)
Cash Flow Finance
Nucleus offers a cash flow finance between £25K and £150K for a term of 3 months to 5 years.
Yes, currently to use Cash Flow Finance product from Nucleus you must be a homeowner.
If you want to apply for Cash Flow Finance you need to be trading for a minimum of 3 years.
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Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio
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