Revenue Based Lending with Bad Credit: Can You Still Get Approved in Ireland?
Gary Grimes
CEO & Founder | Head Of Revenue at Simplí Finance
Published:
A poor credit history should not be the end of the road for an Irish business owner who needs funding. Revenue based lending works differently to a bank loan and that difference matters a great deal when your credit file is not perfect.
At Simpli Finance, we assess applications based on how your business is actually performing right now, not on what happened years ago. We work with Irish business owners every day who were turned down by a bank and still got approved with us.
Here is what you need to know about applying for revenue based lending with bad credit in Ireland.
Does Credit History Matter for Revenue Based Lending?
It matters, but it is not the deciding factor. Unlike a pillar bank, which places enormous weight on your credit file, a revenue based lender focuses primarily on your current trading performance. If your business is generating consistent revenue right now, that data speaks louder than a past financial difficulty.
We look at six months of trading history and your monthly revenue figures. A business that is trading well today has already demonstrated it can service a repayment tied to its sales.
What Lenders Actually Look At
The primary factor is your monthly revenue. We want to see consistent income over a sustained period because that is what determines both your eligibility and the repayment structure. Six months of steady trading is the baseline.
Secondary factors include the nature of your business, your industry, and the reason for any credit issues. A business that hit a difficult period during a downturn and has since recovered is viewed very differently to one with ongoing financial problems.
- ✗ Personal credit score
- ✗ Years in business (3+ required)
- ✗ Property or asset collateral
- ✗ Audited accounts
- ✗ Clean credit history
- ✓ Monthly card & bank turnover
- ✓ Revenue consistency (6–12 months)
- ✓ Sector and business type
- ✓ Time trading (6+ months OK)
- ✓ Growth trajectory
What Counts as Bad Credit in This Context
Bad credit typically means missed payments, CCJs, defaults, or a low personal or business credit score. For revenue based lending in Ireland, the most relevant concerns are recent and unresolved issues, not historical ones that have since been settled.
If your credit difficulty is in the past and your business is trading well now, that recovery story is something we can work with. We ask about your credit position upfront so we can give you an honest assessment before you go through a full application.
How to Strengthen Your Application
Know your monthly revenue figures before you apply. The clearer your picture of what your business brings in, the faster and more straightforward the assessment. Six months of bank statements and card terminal reports are typically what we need.
Be upfront about your credit history. Surprises mid-application slow things down. If you explain what happened and when, we can factor that context into our review rather than discovering it without context.
What a Less-Than-Perfect Credit File Does Not Rule Out
It does not rule out approval. Many of the businesses we fund have imperfect credit histories. What matters most is whether your current revenue is strong enough to support the repayments and whether your business is otherwise stable.
It does not mean you pay a penalty rate. Our offer is based on your revenue profile, not a punitive rate for having had financial difficulty. Every application is assessed on its own merits.
How Long Does Approval Take?
We aim to give every applicant a fast decision after receiving their information. For applications with complex backgrounds, it may take slightly longer while we review the full picture. We will always tell you where you stand.
If approved, funds are typically in your account within five business days. There is no prolonged underwriting process.
FAQ: Revenue Based Lending with Bad Credit in Ireland
Will you do a credit check?
We do conduct a credit assessment as part of our process. However, a poor credit score does not automatically disqualify you. Revenue performance is the primary factor in our decision.
Can I apply if I have a CCJ or default?
Possibly, depending on when it occurred and the current state of your business. We assess each case individually and we recommend speaking to us before applying so we can give you an honest view.
Does my personal credit score affect a business application?
For sole traders and smaller businesses, personal credit can be considered alongside business credit. For limited companies, the business credit history is the primary focus.
What if my bank turned me down because of credit?
Bank rejections based on credit are very common and they do not prevent you from qualifying with us. The assessment criteria are different because the product is fundamentally different.
How much can I borrow with bad credit?
The amount available is based on your monthly revenue rather than your credit score. If you are generating €15,000 or more per month, you could be eligible for an advance of €50,000 to €500,000.
Conclusion
Revenue based lending is one of the most accessible forms of business finance for Irish SMEs with imperfect credit histories. If your business is generating consistent revenue, a difficult past does not have to prevent you from accessing funding today.
At Simpli Finance, we take every application seriously and we review each one on its own merits. We are happy to have an honest conversation before you apply.
Get in touch with the team today and we will tell you clearly where you stand.