PayPoint and Handepay have officially surpassed £100million in total funding delivered to UK merchants and retailers. The achievement follows a record year for business lending, as independent businesses increasingly turn to flexible finance solutions to fuel growth and manage daily trading.
During the 2025/26 financial year alone, total funding reached £33million. This represents a significant 39 per cent year-on-year increase from the £23million delivered in the previous financial year.
Flexible finance over traditional lending
The funding solution is delivered in partnership with YouLend. It provides both PayPoint and Handepay customers with seamless access to cash advances, enabling them to act quickly on business opportunities without the delays or rigidity often associated with traditional lending channels.
According to the firms, demand has been strongest across the hospitality, grocery and convenience, and health and beauty sectors—industries where speed, flexibility, and cashflow are particularly critical. Businesses are utilizing the funding to invest in new stock, upgrade equipment, refresh their physical premises, and maintain resilience through both seasonal peaks and quieter trading periods.
Unlike traditional finance models, repayments for these cash advances are automatically aligned to the merchant’s daily card takings. This structure is designed to give business owners greater confidence and control over their cashflow as they scale their operations.
A core proposition for independent businesses
Since its initial launch in 2020, the lending service has evolved into a core component of both Handepay and PayPoint’s broader business proposition.
Mark Latham, managing director of merchant services at PayPoint, commented on the significance of the £100million milestone.
“Surpassing £100million in funding is a significant milestone and reflects the real, everyday impact this support is having on independent businesses across the UK,” Latham stated. “The strong growth we’ve seen over the past year shows just how important it is for our customers to have access to fast, flexible funding they can rely on.”
He added: “At Handepay and PayPoint, our role goes far beyond payments. We’re focused on being a genuine partner to our customers – providing not only the tools to take payments, but the financial support and flexibility they need to grow, adapt and succeed.”
Established in 2006 and later acquired by PayPoint plc in 2021, Handepay currently supports over 21,000 SME merchants, processing over £4.6 billion in card transactions through its acquiring relationships with EVO, Lloyds, and Worldpay.