Featured in Forbes: Rethinking Business Loans in the UK for SMEs
Katherine Chan, CEO of Juice, shared her perspective with Forbes on why many SMEs struggle with traditional finance:
“Banks are still set up to lend to businesses that look the same as they did twenty years ago. Many profitable digital businesses simply don’t fit those models.”
Katherine Chan, CEO of Juice, via Forbes
Juice was featured in Forbes in an article exploring why traditional banks are no longer the best fit for many UK small businesses.
The piece focuses on a growing shift in SME finance. Founders are moving away from rigid bank loans and towards more flexible, data-led forms of business funding that support sustainable growth.
1. Why traditional small business loans often fall short
For many SMEs, access to small business loans remains frustrating.
Banks still rely on legacy models. These models work poorly for digital-first and ecommerce businesses.
Common challenges include:
- Long approval timelines
- Fixed loan structures that ignore cash flow cycles
- Limited understanding of online revenue models
- Conservative criteria that exclude profitable businesses
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As Forbes highlights, many founders are not rejected because their businesses are weak. They are rejected because they do not fit outdated frameworks.
2. How flexible funding changes the picture for SMEs
The Forbes article points to a clear alternative. Funding models that adapt to how businesses actually operate.
This is where revolving credit facilities come into play.
Instead of locking businesses into fixed debt, these facilities provide access to capital when it is needed.
This approach supports:
- Better working capital management
- Smarter timing of investment
- Reduced pressure during slower trading periods
For ecommerce businesses, flexibility matters. Revenue is seasonal. Inventory cycles fluctuate. Fixed loans often create unnecessary strain.
3. Clear product positioning for ecommerce financing
Juice provides ecommerce financing through a revolving credit facility built for UK digital businesses.
Key specifics:
- Credit limits up to £1m
- Standard 24-month facility term
- Transparent monthly pricing agreed upfront
- Funds drawn only when required
- Use for inventory, marketing or working capital
- Early repayments allowed
- Interest applies only to the amount drawn
This structure allows founders to stay in control. Capital supports growth without undermining profitability.
It is a practical alternative to traditional debt financing, especially for businesses focused on long-term resilience.
What this means for business loans in the UK?
The Forbes feature reflects a wider shift in SME finance.
Founders are no longer chasing the biggest loan. They are choosing funding that fits how their business operates.
Key takeaways:
- Flexibility now matters more than scale
- Profitability is back at the centre of funding decisions
- Revolving credit supports smarter working capital use
- Ecommerce businesses need funding that adapts to real trading
Building a sustainable business requires capital that works with you, not against you.
If you want to explore business loans in the UK that prioritise clarity, flexibility and long-term growth, you can explore Juice here.