QuickBooks is rolling out a Capital Marketplace in the UK that connects small business customers directly with financing partners from within the accounting software. YouLend is a launch partner, having completed a pilot in 2025. Funding ranges from £1,000 to £2 million, with eligibility starting at just three months of trading history.
Accounting software as a lending distribution channel
The marketplace structure suggests QuickBooks is likely partnering with multiple lenders, similar to what German accounting software Lexware has built (EFR). A single lending partner typically can't serve the full range of SMB risk profiles and funding needs, so a multi-provider approach broadens coverage.
Fast decisions, flexible repayments
By embedding capital offers within software where SMBs already manage cash flow, invoices, and expenses, QuickBooks can surface funding when it's relevant, with the data context to enable faster underwriting. Funding decisions typically arrive within 24 hours; repayments are linked to future sales rather than fixed monthly amounts; and pre-qualification checks don't affect credit scores. Micro-businesses, which Intuit (mother company of QuickBooks) research shows are 40-70% more likely to abandon traditional lending applications, are a clear target.
Capital access remains a barrier for UK SMBs
That same research found 40% of UK entrepreneurs cite capital access as a barrier to growth, while 71% rely on personal savings to fund operations. YouLend has funded over 370,000 businesses globally through platform partnerships, and the company claims SMBs see up to a 50% revenue uplift within six months of receiving funding.
