Card Machine Loans
Card machine loans or PDQ loans provide quick access to finance with flexible repayments, based on your monthly card sales. Lending is secured via your PDQ terminal, for simple, manageable funding.
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Automatic repayments
No Late Fees
No Interest
Fast and Flexible
A card machine loan is a type of merchant cash advance (MCA) that many small businesses in the UK use to raise finance quickly, without the burden of fixed monthly payments. By securing funding against your future debit and credit card sales, your repayments automatically flex with your revenue.Â
Your cash flow is protected during seasonal slumps, and record-breaking months speed up repayments, without any further admin. Apply today, and you could have funds in your business bank account within 24 to 48 hours.
Card Machine Loan, PDQ Loan or Credit Card Processing Loan?
A card machine loan is an alternative business finance product that is also known as a PDQ loan, or credit card processing loan. It behaves like an advance on your projected card payment revenue.
You receive a lump sum upfront, and weâll automatically take a small, pre-agreed percentage of your daily card sales via your PDQ machine until the advance is settled.
- No APR interest rate or late fees
- No collateral required
- Automatic repayments
- Money in your account within 48 hours
How Does it Work?
A card machine loan is incredibly straightforward:
1. Apply online
Complete a short form in under 5 minutes.
2. Review
We review 3-6 months of your card sales history.3. Receive an offer
An Offer in Principle, including how much youâll repay in total.
4. Fast funding
Once approved, funds land in your account within 24-48 hours.
5. Automatic repayments
A percentage of daily card transactions.
Itâs as simple as that. You donât need to manage repayments, there isnât any interest, and youâll know everything up front.
Understanding the Factor Rate
Instead of APR, card machine loans use a “factor rate” to determine the total cost of your finance.
A factor rate is a simple decimal multiplier applied to the loan amount, ranging between 1.1 and 1.5. This means youâll know exactly what youâll need to repay before you sign, no matter how long it takes.
For example, if you borrow ÂŁ20,000 at a factor rate of 1.3, your total repayment will be ÂŁ26,000.
There is no accumulating interest or late fees, however long it takes to repay.
Weâll automatically receive a holdback percentage of your daily card sales through your card machine, usually between 10-20%.
If you take ÂŁ500/day by card transaction, 6 days/week, and our holdback rate is 11%, youâll pay off this example in around 18 months.
Is Your Business Eligible?
At AptPay, our eligibility criteria are simple and transparent.
To qualify, you must:
Be a UK-registered limited company
Take customer payments via a PDQ terminal card machine
Have been trading for at least 6 months
Process a minimum of around ÂŁ5,000 per month in card sales
Because this type of business loan is secured against your sales, card machine loans require no collateral, and we wonât rule you out for poor credit. We only perform a soft credit check, meaning your credit score will not be impacted.
How Much Can I Borrow?
You can typically borrow anywhere from ÂŁ5,000 up to ÂŁ500,000. We calculate your limit by advancing up to 100% – 150% of your average monthly card turnover.
Example: If your business processes ÂŁ20,000 a month in card payments, you could easily borrow up to ÂŁ30,000.
A Loan that Helps You Grow
You can use your advance for any legitimate business purpose you choose. Weâve helped SMEs and larger businesses fund a broad range of growth activities, including:
- Purchasing stock and inventory
- Premises refurbishments or renovations
- Hiring new staff
- Digital marketing or local advertising campaigns
- Upgrading equipment
- Bridging seasonal cash flow gaps
- Covering unexpected tax or energy bills
- Expanding into new locations
Whatever youâre hoping to achieve, talk to AptPay to find out how we can help you on the way.
Card Machine Loan vs. Traditional Bank Loan
| Feature | Card Machine/PDQ Loan | Bank Loan |
|---|---|---|
| Speed of Funding | 24 – 48 hours | Weeks or months |
| Repayment Structure | Flexible, % of daily card sales | Fixed monthly payments |
| Credit Check | Soft check, without ruling out low scores | Strict, hard credit check, affecting your score |
| Collateral | Unsecured (none required) | Often business assets or property |
| Cost Structure | Factor rate – fixed, upfront | Compounding APR or Interest |
Note: If you have excellent credit, a traditional bank loan may have a lower total cost.
However, a PDQ loan offers speed and cash flow flexibility that banks cannot match.
Types of Businesses We Fund with PDQ Loans
PDQ funding is perfect for businesses that process a high volume of card payments, but experience fluctuating or seasonal revenue.
This type of unsecured loan is popular among small businesses, such as retail shops, restaurants, cafés, takeaways, pubs, hotels, hair & beauty salons, nail bars, and even tradespeople.
It is also an excellent option for limited companies that have been turned down by traditional banks due to bad credit.
If youâre looking for a flexible cash advance, and regularly receive card payments, a card machine loan may be for you.
How to Apply for a Card Machine Loan
1. Contact us for a quote
Simply share your details, and weâll be in touch to discuss your options.
2. Submit documents
including 3â6 months of card processing statements, bank statements, and proof of ID.
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3. Receive a fast decision
within 24 hours, we’ll let you know our whether you’ve been approved.
4. Get funded
with money deposited directly into your business bank account.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Don’t let cash flow issues hold your business back. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how our cash flow loans can help your business.
FAQ
What does PDQ stand for in PDQ loan?
PDQ stands for âProcess Data Quicklyâ, referring to the way card payment terminals process payment data. A PDQ loan uses your PDQ terminal as the basis for lending and repayment. It is a type of merchant cash advance (MCA) which is also called a card machine loan or credit card processing loan.
How quickly can I get a card machine loan?
Most applicants receive a funding decision within 24 hours. Once approved, funds are typically deposited into your business bank account within 24 to 48 hours. The speed depends heavily on how quickly you supply your documents.
What is the holdback on a card machine loan?
Holdback describes a percentage of your revenue received from card payments that is not paid to your bank account. When you receive funds via your card machine, an agreed percentage is âheld backâ and routed to the lender as repayment for the loan. On our loans, the holdback is typically between 10% to 20%. You donât have to manually handle repayments, and they vary automatically depending on your business performance.
Do I need good credit to get a card machine loan?
No. Card machine/PDQ loans are primarily assessed on your monthly card sales volume, not your credit score. Most providers carry out a soft credit check only, which does not affect your credit rating. Businesses with bad credit or CCJs are often still eligible.
How are PDQ loan repayments made?
Repayments are taken automatically as a pre-agreed percentage (typically 10% to 20%) of each card transaction processed through your PDQ terminal. There are no fixed monthly payments: you simply repay more in busy months and less during slower periods.
What is a factor rate on a PDQ loan?
A factor rate replaces the traditional interest rate. It is a decimal multiplier applied to the amount you borrow to calculate your total repayment. For example, if you borrow ÂŁ10,000 at a factor rate of 1.3, you will repay ÂŁ13,000 in total. Typical factor rates range from 1.1 to 1.5.
Which card machines and payment processors are accepted?
Most major UK card processors are accepted, including Worldpay, Barclaycard, SumUp, Square, Dojo, Elavon, Stripe, Global Payments, Lloyds Cardnet, and First Data. E-commerce businesses using online payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify Payments) are also typically eligible.
Are PDQ loans regulated by the FCA?
PDQ loans are structured as merchant cash advances and are not currently regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). They are structured as a purchase of future receivables rather than a standard credit agreement.
While this means approval can be faster and eligibility more flexible, it is highly important to read your terms carefully to ensure you understand the total repayment amount before signing.
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Please note: AptPay exclusively provides unregulated finance solutions to limited companies incorporated in the UK