Who Can Apply?
We serve South African businesses exclusively – if you’re an entrepreneur or SME operating anywhere from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban to Bloemfontein (and everywhere in between), you’re welcome here. To qualify for our financing, you should generally meet these basic criteria:
Registered Business
You must be a registered entity in South Africa (PTY Ltd, CC, or sole proprietor with valid business registration). We’ll ask for your registration number or business details.
Active Trading History
Ideally, you have been in operation for at least 6–12 months. If you’re a startup with a shorter history, you should have a confirmed purchase order or contract in hand – we do fund startups that have solid deals, especially under Purchase Order Funding.
Revenue Activity
Your business should be generating revenue or have a clear path to revenue (like a contract). While we have no strict minimum turnover for all products (because even a new venture with a single big contract can qualify), our Bridging Finance typically suits companies with an annual turnover above R500,000. For Purchase Order Funding and Invoice Discounting, even smaller or newer firms can apply if the transaction is sound.
South African Clients or Contracts
Our funding revolves around South African transactions – e.g., your customers, contracts, or purchase orders are largely with reputable South African companies or government entities. (If you have an international client, we might still assist on a case-by-case basis, but local is our sweet spot due to jurisdiction and ease of verification.)
Reasonable Credit Standing
We don’t require perfect credit. In fact, we won’t perform traditional credit scoring for many deals, especially if they’re secured by specific transactions. However, if you or your directors have a history of unpaid loans or major judgments, it’s best to be upfront so we can find a way forward. We focus more on the future than the past, but we also must exercise prudent risk management.
If you’re unsure whether you qualify, apply anyway. We assess each application on its own merits and will consider exceptions if the opportunity looks promising. Remember, 80% of our clients were initially unsure if they’d qualify – and they did.
What You’ll Need to Apply
To keep things moving quickly, try to have the following on hand when you fill out our application or speak with our team:
Basic Business Info
Company registration number, VAT number (if registered), physical address, and contact details.
Director/Owner Info
We’ll need ID numbers and contact info for the primary owners or directors for our compliance (Know Your Customer) checks
Recent Bank Statements
6 months of business bank statements (PDFs from your internet banking are perfect). This helps us understand your cash flow patterns. Don’t worry – your data is kept confidential and used only for assessment.
Financials (if available):
If you have annual financial statements or management accounts, you can provide them, but if not, it’s okay. For many transaction-based fundings (like invoice or PO funding), we place more weight on the transaction itself.
The Purchase Order / Invoice or Contract
Depending on the service you need, having a copy of the relevant document is crucial. If you’re seeking Purchase Order Funding, attach the PO or tender award letter. For Invoice Discounting, have the unpaid invoice (and any proof of delivery/service completion). For Bridging, explain the event you’re bridging (e.g., “I’m bridging until X payment on Y date” and provide any supporting proof like a signed agreement or sale document if applicable).
FICA Documents
As a regulated financial provider, we’ll need standard FICA/KYC docs such as copies of directors’ IDs, proof of business address, and company incorporation documents. You don’t need all of these to start the application, but we will request them before finalizing any funding. Gathering them in advance can speed up the payout. (We’ll give you a checklist, it’s typically the same docs you’d need to open a bank account.)