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For your clients: business finance in four easy steps
Apply online in minutes
They tell us about their business using our simple online form.
Inhouse check
We approve them based on their business performance. Our soft search does not impact their credit score.
Decision in two days
Your clients get a funding offer in less than 48 hours, if their application is approved.
Receive their funds
Receive the money within 2 days of their offer being funded.
Our business finance is ethical and interest-free
We believe companies should serve their communities and we welcome applications from businesses that share our values. We’re also committed to efficient and sustainable financial intermediation.
We provide Sharia-compliant business funding
Our finance is rated as Sharia-compliant, meaning it’s managed in line with Islamic principles. These principles are based on doing business in a way that benefits the community and avoiding industries that are considered damaging, such as those involving alcohol, tobacco and gambling. These principles also require the avoidance of paying or receiving interest, meaning our business finance is interest-free.
Why businesses choose Islamic finance
Any UK company can apply for Islamic finance - we do not require that business owners are Muslim. We provide an alternative to a conventional business loan and because it’s based on Islamic principles and certified as Sharia-compliant, our clients can be assured of our ethical approach.
Our finance differs from conventional loans because it’s an interest-free method of raising working capital.
Benefits of partnering with Qardus
We’re a fast-growing and innovative provider of affordable finance for UK small businesses keen to grow. Through us, your clients can receive funding of between £50,000 and £200,000 to invest in their future.
How our business finance serves your clients
Help your clients secure the working capital they need with our straightforward approach.
Unsecured finance
We don’t ask your clients for collateral, meaning they remain in full control of their business assets. We do require a personal guarantee.
Apply in minutes
Our application process has been streamlined by ensuring we ask only for the information we absolutely need.
Prompt access to cash
The money is in your client’s bank account within two working days of their offer being funded.
Repayment terms of up to 36 months
Repayments are made monthly, and terms range from 6 to 36 months. There are no early repayment penalties.
Our solution is different from a conventional unsecured business loan. Here’s how:
Interest-free finance
There are no interest payments. Instead, we do charge a rate (i.e. profit rate) that’s set in advance and a processing fee, which is agreed at the start.
Socially responsible finance
We’re pleased to provide finance for businesses and organisations that make a positive contribution to society. This includes many small and medium-sized firms across many different industries.
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Our customers trust us
BL BN
It was great working with Qardus for a second time to raise this working capital facility. The additional funding will help support stock control to service the high demand we are currently experiencing. Thank you for making the process from end to end seamless and straightforward, we highly appreciate it.
Shahid Khan, Director, Biomed Care Services
How our finance differs from small business loans
We provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional loans.
There are no interest rate worries
Our finance product is interest-free. We do charge a pre-agreed fee which is taken from the funds raised before they are paid to your client.
Business finance that’s Sharia-compliant
Both Muslims and non-Muslims are welcome to apply for our funding. It will be a particularly attractive option to many Muslim business owners.
Business funding with an ethical edge
The good of the community is central to what we do, meaning our product will appeal to values-based businesses.
We use crowdfunding
Your clients are not borrowing from a single lender. Ours is a crowdfunding solution which gives all the same benefits as a business loan.
Funding FAQs
What fees does Qardus charge?
We charge an arrangement fee of up to 8% that is paid by the small business seeking financing on drawdown of the funds. In practice, it will be retained from the advance.
Are there any additional costs that could apply to your financing facility?
An administration fee of 15% of arrears is applied to any repayments that remain unpaid after 3 business days from their due date.
Who can apply for a financing facility?
All UK registered business can apply for financing on the Qardus platform. Businesses must be:- Limited Liability Company with UK registered shareholders
- Minimum of 3 years trading history (Start-ups and sole traders are not eligible)
- Profitable and stable cash flows
- No outstanding CCJ's
As Qardus is a Sharia-compliant platform, businesses with their main activities in the following sectors are excluded:- Advertising if:
- Advertisers of pork, alcohol, gambling, tobacco and all other non-Islamic activities
- Advertising means and modes which contravene the tenets of Islam
- Media & Entertainment (Exceptions that are allowed on the platform include: News Channels, Newspapers, Sports Channels, Children’s Channels, Educational Channels):
- Producers, distributors and broadcasters of music, movies, television shows and musical radio shows
- Cinema operators
- Alcohol
- Cloning
- Financials, except the following that are allowed:
- Islamic Banks
- Islamic Financial Institutions
- Islamic Insurance Companies
- Gambling
- Pork
- Pornography
- Tobacco
- Trading of gold and silver as cash on deferred basis
How quickly can my business get financing?
Your application to obtain funding on the Qardus platform takes minutes to complete. Once this is done, our credit assessment team will review your complete application and get back to you within 48 hours (2 working days).If your application is approved, and after you have signed your financing agreement, your financing request will automatically be listed on the marketplace so that registered Qardus investors can review it and fund your business.
Your financing facility can fund over a period of up to 14 days, although most financing arrangements fund in just a few days. As soon as it's 100% funded your listing will close and we will send you a confirmation email. As long as your financing facility is fully funded before 3pm on any working day, we will transfer the funds into your designated business bank account the same day. (NB: Funds can take up to 3 days to reach your account).What rate will my business pay?
The total cost of your financing facility includes a flat profit rate and Qardus fees. The rate (i.e. profit rate based on the commodity murabaha agreement) your business pays back is determined by a number of factors, including the risk band your financing facility is given during our credit assessment process, and the length of repayment term. The rate is applied to the outstanding principal at the outset to calculate the amount due on each repayment date.
Our rates start from around 1.25% per month but can vary depending on the risk profile of the business.What types of financing can a business get on the Qardus platform?
Qardus currently provides the following type of financing:
- Small business (unsecured) financing facility.
- From £50,000 to £200,000 for working capital purposes.
- Tenors from 6 months to 36 months.
- Personal Guarantees (PGs) will be required by the shareholder(s).
Secured vs. Unsecured business financing
Unsecured business financing typically requires a personal guarantee from the shareholder(s). This is a common practice for this sort of agreement in the UK.
Unlike a secured financing agreement, an unsecured facility does not obligate the business receiving the financing to give up collateral (business assets) if the business defaults on payment.
The financing provider may still be able to take your collateral, but not without a court’s permission. It is typical for non-Sharia-compliant businesses to charge a higher interest rate for unsecured loans; whereas secured loans have lower interest rates.