E-commerce Businesses
Buying an online business?
The storefront is digital. The finance is very real.
An established e-commerce business earns from repeat customers, recurring orders and trading records that can be checked line by line. Specialist lenders look past the lack of bricks and mortar to the quality of that income, the strength of the brand and the stock behind it. Generalist lenders often don't.
What lenders look at
Lenders focus on revenue history and consistency, gross margins after fulfilment and advertising costs, how much income comes from repeat customers, and how dependent the business is on one marketplace, platform or supplier. Clean data from the sales platform, payment processors and accounts gives them confidence.
Your background matters too. Experience in retail, digital marketing or running a business shows a lender you can keep growth going after the handover, and it can improve the terms offered.
How we help
We are brokers, not lenders. We present the business's online trading data in the way lenders need to see it, package the application and manage the process through to completion.
Where a deal suits it, we can look at government-backed lending schemes, which can support businesses with limited security.
Tell us about the business you've found.
01 — Who we help
Buyers of established online businesses
First-time buyers
taking over a proven online brand rather than starting from scratch.
Existing operators
adding a complementary brand or product range.
Retailers going online
buying an e-commerce business to add to physical shops.
Investors
acquiring an established online business with a management team in place.
02 — The opportunity
What kind of online business?
We arrange finance for established e-commerce businesses with a clear trading history, from single-brand stores to multi-channel retailers.
Own-brand online stores
a business selling its own products through its own website, with customer data and repeat buyers, is among the most financeable online acquisitions.
Multi-channel retailers
selling through a website and marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay spreads risk across several income streams, which lenders view positively.
Subscription businesses
recurring monthly orders give predictable income that lenders can assess with confidence.
Online stores with warehousing
where the business owns stock, equipment or premises, those assets can support the borrowing.
Freehold premises
if the business owns its warehouse or unit, a commercial mortgage can fund the property alongside the business purchase.
Marketplace-led businesses
businesses that rely mainly on one marketplace need careful presentation. We know which lenders will consider them.
03 — The transaction
What can be funded?
Business purchase and goodwill
Freehold premises
Leasehold warehouse or unit
Stock, equipment and systems
Working capital
Not every element can be funded on every deal. We give you an honest view of what is achievable before you commit.
04 — The lender's view
What does a lender need to see?
Lenders need a professional application that shows the business is viable, the borrowing is affordable and the repayments are secure — backed by verifiable trading data, not screenshots.
We build it around the iLendi Six™.
Read more05 — The funding
How much can you borrow?
The amount depends on the purchase price, the business's profits, your deposit, any assets or property included, and your experience.
For online businesses, lenders look closely at net profit after advertising spend, customer acquisition costs, repeat purchase rates and stock levels.
We match the structure to the deal, not the other way round.
06 — The completion
Quietly arranged
Three chapters between you and the keys.
01
The Discovery
you tell us about the business; we tell you honestly what's fundable.
02
The Finance
we package the application and find the right lender.
03
The Completion
we stay with you through legal work to completion.
Common questions
Questions buyers ask us
Can you fund a business with no physical premises?+
Yes. Lenders can fund online businesses based on trading history and profits. Without property to secure against, the deal relies more on cash flow, the buyer's experience and, in some cases, a personal guarantee. We know which lenders are comfortable with this.
How much deposit is typical?+
It depends on how much of the price is goodwill and how much is stock, equipment or property. Online businesses are often mostly goodwill, so deposits can be higher than for asset-backed purchases. We'll give you an honest figure at the first conversation.
Can goodwill be borrowed against?+
Yes, where the business has a strong, verifiable trading record. Lenders want to see that the income will continue after the sale, including a handover from the seller.
How long does arranging finance take?+
Indicative terms can often follow within days of a complete application. Completion usually takes several weeks, depending on due diligence and legal work.
Are you a lender?+
No. iLendi Capital is a commercial finance broker. We arrange finance with lenders and don't lend ourselves.
Keep exploring
Related businesses we fund
Related businesses we fund.
Found your online business?
Let's find the finance.
Begin your funding process
Start with a conversation.
Tell us what you want to buy and an experienced funding specialist will call you back same day to discuss how we can help.
Other ways to contact us
Send an email:enquiries@ilendicapital.co.ukCall us: +44 (0)20 3488 8126We'll open WhatsApp with: "Hello iLendi Capital — I'm looking at buying a business and would like to talk."