CHILDCARE BUSINESS FUNDING
From new settings to equipment upgrades, our funding advances of £2k–£300k give childcare businesses the capital to grow, improve, and provide the best possible care.
Reviews from Businesses like Yours
The UK childcare sector employs more than 340,000 people across over 70,000 registered settings, according to Ofsted. For nurseries and childcare providers, income is structurally uneven — government funding entitlements arrive in arrears, parent fees can be slow to collect, and Ofsted registration and compliance costs fall regardless of occupancy. A business funding advance gives childcare businesses fast access to working capital, without a personal guarantee.
Childcare Services Business Funding Advance
Got Capital provides unsecured business funding advances from £2,000 to £300,000 for nurseries, childminding businesses, after-school clubs, and private childcare providers across the UK. A funding decision is made in as little as one hour, and the advance can be in your account within 24 hours — without requiring a personal guarantee.
Why Childcare Businesses Need Funding
Childcare is a sector where costs are fixed and high, but income is both regulated and unpredictable. Staff ratios set by the Early Years Foundation Stage framework mean that personnel costs cannot be reduced below certain thresholds regardless of occupancy levels. Qualified staff — particularly those holding Level 3 childcare qualifications or above — command higher salaries in an increasingly competitive labour market.
Government funding entitlements for the 15 and 30 free hours schemes are paid to providers in arrears, typically on a termly basis. This means that childcare businesses routinely deliver weeks of funded care before receiving any payment for it. The gap between service delivery and income receipt is a structural feature of the sector, not an anomaly.
The extension of government-funded childcare to cover working parents of children from nine months to school age — introduced from April 2024 — has increased both demand and the complexity of funding administration. Settings taking on more funded places are simultaneously taking on more operational cost before the income for those places arrives.
For growing childcare businesses, additional costs compound the challenge. Ofsted inspections, safeguarding training, continuous professional development, and paediatric first aid must all be maintained and funded without interruption. EYFS regulations require at least one paediatric first aid-qualified member of staff on the premises whenever children are present — a non-negotiable cost regardless of setting size.
£2,000 – £300,000
Available Funding
1-Hour Decision
Once All Documents Received
Funds in 24 Hours
Once Approved
No Personal Guarantee
Never Required
Common Uses for Childcare Business Funding Advances
A Got Capital advance gives nurseries and childcare providers the working capital to cover operating costs and invest in quality:
- Staffing costs — including qualified practitioners, room leaders, and SENCO support
- Bridging cash flow gaps while waiting for government funding entitlement payments to arrive
- Ofsted inspection preparation — resources, documentation, and staff training
- Outdoor play equipment, learning resources, and classroom furniture
- Building maintenance, safety upgrades, and accessibility improvements
- Marketing and website investment to increase occupancy and attract new families
- Deposits or fit-out costs for expanding into additional rooms or a new setting
- Staff training — Level 3 qualifications, safeguarding updates, and paediatric first aid
Fund Your Business in 3 Easy Steps
Fund Your Business in 3 Easy Steps
1
Submit your funding application below
2
Agree on an offer for business funding
3
Receive funds fast into your bank account
Working Capital Up To £300K
We work alongside all of our clients to ensure funding is deployed fast and when it is needed, helping to supporting long-term operational health and sustainable business growth.
No Personal Guarantees Required
You are not required to provide a personal guarantees to qualify for a business funding advance, so there is no need to risk your personal property when you are looking to grow your business.
Apply with Any Credit Score
We determine your eligibility for funding based on intelligent models developed by Got Capital; your credit score alone should never be a barrier to receiving the money that your business needs.
Custom Payoff Plans Available
Should you no longer need funding, you may be eligible to return the remaining balance at a discounted rate, dependent on the condition of your account and repayments performance.
Am I Eligible?
✓ UK-registered business
✓ Minimum 3 months’ trading history
✓ Minimum £5,000 monthly revenue
✓ No personal guarantee required
✓ All credit histories considered — decisions based on business health
✓ Available to sole practitioners, small firms, and mid-sized practices
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Yes — Got Capital provides business funding advances suited to nurseries, childminding businesses, after-school clubs, and private childcare providers. To qualify, your business needs to be UK-registered, have been trading for at least 3 months, and generate a minimum of £5,000 in monthly revenue. Decisions are based on your business health rather than your personal credit score, and no personal guarantee is required. Advances range from £2,000 to £300,000, with funds reaching your account within 24 hours.
Got Capital can issue a funding decision in as little as one hour. Once approved, funds are typically deposited into your business account within 24 hours. For childcare providers managing cash flow gaps created by termly government funding cycles, this speed makes a genuine difference to day-to-day operations. The entire application is completed online with no business plan or personal guarantee required.
Yes — both are among the most common uses of a Got Capital advance for childcare businesses. Funded hours under the 15 and 30-hour entitlement schemes are paid in arrears on a termly basis, creating a consistent gap between delivering care and receiving payment. An advance gives you the working capital to cover staffing and operational costs during that period. Capital investment in your setting — outdoor play areas, learning resources, furniture, safety upgrades, and room expansions — can also be funded, improving Ofsted outcomes and increasing occupancy. There are no restrictions on how the funds are deployed within your childcare business.
A traditional bank loan is a credit agreement. Interest accrues over the loan term, and fixed monthly instalments are due on a set schedule regardless of your occupancy or income. Got Capital’s advance works differently: a single, fixed factor fee is agreed upfront, so you know the total cost before you commit. There is no interest that accrues over time and no variable rate. You settle the advance as a proportion of your future revenue. No personal guarantee is required to secure the funding advance.
No. Got Capital does not require a personal guarantee from any business that takes an advance. A personal guarantee would make you personally liable if your business could not settle — potentially putting your home and personal savings at risk. Got Capital’s advances are unsecured: your personal financial position is not used as security, and no personal assets are put at risk in order to secure the funding advance.
Yes — a Got Capital advance is specifically designed to work with businesses that have uneven income. Settlement is structured as a proportion of your future revenue. This makes a Got Capital advance well suited to childcare settings where income varies between term-time and holiday periods.
Yes. Many of the childcare providers funded by Got Capital have previously been declined by a high street bank. Banks assess applications primarily on credit scores, security, and rigid eligibility criteria that often disadvantage early years businesses. Got Capital assesses the health of your setting — your revenue, trading history, and operations. If your childcare business is UK-registered, generates at least £5,000 per month, and has been trading for at least 3 months, your application will be reviewed on its own merits. Previous bank declines are not a barrier.
Apply for Business Funding Today
Apply for Business Funding Today