YouLend, the global embedded financing platform, has partnered with Intuit to make working capital more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using QuickBooks across the UK.
As part of the collaboration, YouLend has been selected as a launch partner for Intuit UK’s newly introduced Capital Marketplace, a solution embedded directly within QuickBooks that connects business customers with financing partners offering loans, lines of credit and alternative funding options. The initiative enables SMEs to access capital directly through the accounting platform they already use, without the need for lengthy applications or separate lenders.
Embedded SME financing leverages existing business data held within platforms such as accounting, payments or ecommerce software. This approach removes friction from the funding process, allowing businesses to check eligibility quickly and access capital when it is most needed to support cash flow or growth.
The launch addresses a critical challenge for UK entrepreneurs. New research from Intuit shows that 40% of UK business owners cite access to capital as a barrier to growth. Many continue to rely on personal savings to fund their businesses (71%), while others remain concerned about rising borrowing costs (18%).
These challenges are particularly acute for micro-businesses, which are 40–70% more likely to abandon traditional lending applications due to complex and time-consuming processes. Through YouLend, funding decisions are typically delivered within 24 hours, with repayments flexibly linked to future sales, helping businesses manage cash flow and seasonal demand more effectively.
Following a successful pilot in 2025, the solution is now being rolled out nationally across the UK. During the pilot phase, QuickBooks customers were able to access funding ranging from £1,000 to £2 million, using the capital to support growth initiatives and day-to-day operational needs across multiple sectors.
Nick Bowes, owner of Bowes Logistics Training Ltd and a QuickBooks customer, said:
“The application process was simple and straightforward, and the funding has been a huge help in purchasing more equipment. It’s allowed the business to operate more smoothly and grow much faster.”
With eligibility available from just three months of trading, the programme offers one of the broadest access models currently available in embedded finance.
Dan Sinclair-Taylor, Strategic Partnerships Lead at YouLend, commented:
“YouLend exists to help software platforms support the small businesses that rely on them. By embedding our capital experience inside QuickBooks, we’re giving small businesses a clearer, faster route to check their eligibility and secure funding. The process has been designed to remove friction, so customers know where they stand before they even apply.”
Leigh Thomas, Vice President of EMEA at Intuit, added:
“Intuit offers an all-in-one expert platform for UK small and medium businesses to operate and grow. Embedding a Capital Marketplace directly into the Intuit platform removes friction for QuickBooks customers, offering them faster access to funding via key partners, without impacting credit scores. With personalised YouLend offers now available and supported by pre-qualification alerts, our customers are supported to get the financing they need, when they need it.”
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