Head to head
Capital on Tap vs Close Brothers: Which UK Business Finance Provider in 2026?
Independent, side by side. Rate, ticket band, decision speed and eligibility compared for UK limited companies and LLPs.
Start here · What do you need?
Capital on Tap is the stronger all-round pick in our reviews, but Close Brothers wins on specific files. Capital on Tap offers business credit card with revolving credit line (ticket range: Up to £250k credit limit; rate: From 13.86% APR (variable); no interest on card spend if the balance is cleared in full); Close Brothers offers asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans (ticket range: £25k to £25m+; rate: Bespoke, quoted at offer). The right answer depends on ticket size, trading history and sector. Close Brothers beats Capital on Tap for established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance. Read the side-by-side, then jump to the "When Capital on Tap wins" and "When Close Brothers wins" sections for the buyer-fit logic.
Source: FundBiz methodology. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).
Capital on Tap, at a glance
- Product
- Business credit card with revolving credit line
- Ticket range
- Up to £250k credit limit
- Typical rate
- From 13.86% APR (variable); no interest on card spend if the balance is cleared in full
- Decision time
- Decision in 2 minutes (Capital on Tap's own figure)
- FundBiz editorial view
- Stronger all-round; best for cash-flow cards on monthly cycle
Close Brothers, at a glance
- Product
- Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans
- Ticket range
- £25k to £25m+
- Typical rate
- Bespoke, quoted at offer
- Decision time
- 5 to 14 business days
- FundBiz editorial view
- Wins on specific files; best for established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance
Side-by-side
Full profiles: Capital on Tap · Close Brothers
| Compared on | Capital on Tap | Close Brothers |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Business credit card with revolving credit line | Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans |
| Ticket range | Up to £250k credit limit | £25k to £25m+ |
| Typical rate | From 13.86% APR (variable); no interest on card spend if the balance is cleared in full | Bespoke, quoted at offer |
| Decision time | Decision in 2 minutes (Capital on Tap's own figure) | 5 to 14 business days |
| Soft search at quote | Yes | No (hard search) |
| Ltd-only? | No | No |
Sources: Capital on Tap's own site · Close Brothers's own site. Figures change; confirm with the lender before you rely on one.
FundBiz enquiries are for limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners. Some lenders on this page also accept other business types; we do not arrange those and do not recommend a lender on that basis.
When Capital on Tap wins
- Applying won't affect your credit score and the decision comes back in minutes, per Capital on Tap's own site (checked 23 September 2026).
- No interest if statement balance is cleared in full each month.
- Unlimited 1% cashback on card spend, redeemable for cash, Avios, gift cards or against the balance (Capital on Tap's published terms).
Best for
Cash-flow cards on monthly cycle, Borrowers wanting same-day approval.
Watch outs
- Cash-advance APR materially higher than card-spend APR; using it as cash erodes the maths.
- Personal guarantee required from a director.
- Credit limit can be reset down without warning if account behaviour changes.
When Close Brothers wins
- Genuine UK merchant bank with 145+ years of trading history.
- Multiple product lines under one underwriter (asset, invoice, commercial loans).
- Strong sector specialisms in print, transport, manufacturing and motor trade.
- PRA-regulated; FSCS deposit protection on linked savings products.
Best for
Established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance, Print, transport, manufacturing, motor trade, Broker-introduced deals.
Watch outs
- Broker-distributed, not self-serve.
- Headline rates not published; quoted at offer.
- Slower than fintech alternatives.
FAQ
Capital on Tap or Close Brothers: which is the better UK business finance provider in 2026?
Capital on Tap is our stronger all-round pick in our reviews, but the right answer depends on what your file looks like. Capital on Tap is the stronger pick for cash-flow cards on monthly cycle, while Close Brothers is the stronger pick for established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance. If your file sits in one of those buckets, pick the right fit rather than the headline. See our /methodology/ for how we assess each lender.
What does each product look like, Capital on Tap vs Close Brothers?
Capital on Tap offers business credit card with revolving credit line (ticket range: Up to £250k credit limit; rate: From 13.86% APR (variable); no interest on card spend if the balance is cleared in full; decision time: Decision in 2 minutes (Capital on Tap's own figure)).
Close Brothers offers asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans (ticket range: £25k to £25m+; rate: Bespoke, quoted at offer; decision time: 5 to 14 business days). Capital on Tap uses a soft search at quote. Close Brothers runs a hard credit search at full application.
Verify live commercials before signing because lender pricing moves and bespoke rates are common above £100k tickets.
Which is weakest for what?
Capital on Tap is the wrong answer for long-tenor capex finance. Close Brothers is the wrong answer for self-serve sub-£25k. If either of those describes your file, look at the side-by-side table for the alternative, or read our other lender reviews.
Can FundBiz help with Capital on Tap or Close Brothers?
FundBiz is not a lender and is independent of both. This comparison and our lender reviews are editorial research to help you decide which to approach. FundBiz doesn't send enquiries to lenders. If you send an enquiry through FundBiz, we pass it to a business finance broker, who will contact you about your options.
Who can send an enquiry through FundBiz?
The FundBiz enquiry form is for limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners. Eligibility for Capital on Tap and Close Brothers is set by each lender, and trading history requirements vary, so check each lender's own criteria.
Related comparisons
Other UK specialty finance head-to-heads involving Capital on Tap or Close Brothers:
How we ranked these lenders
Every lender is scored on the same four FundBiz criteria: pricing transparency, eligibility clarity, decision speed and treatment of declined applicants. Scores are our own desk-research assessment built from the FCA Register, Companies House filings and each lender's published product sheets, not customer reviews and not hands-on product testing. Each comparison shows the date it was last updated. Inclusion is never paid for, and FundBiz receives no commission from lenders. FundBiz is paid a fixed fee by a business finance broker for each enquiry we pass on. See our full methodology.
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Tell us what you need in 2 minutes. FundBiz is not a lender and does not run a credit check. We pass your enquiry to a business finance broker, who will contact you about your options. For limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners.
Send an enquiry →FundBiz is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman. Last updated: . Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).