Cash advances for UK pharmacies.
For dispensing pharmacies, independent health shops, and OTC retail specialists. Funded against your card takings. Built for operators growing the private side of the counter.
What MCA means for a pharmacy or health shop.
Independent pharmacy card takings come from OTC retail, prescription private services, vaccination and clinic services, and health products. NHS dispensing revenue settles through PPA and doesn't flow through your card acquirer, so it doesn't drive MCA capacity directly, only your retail and private service card takings do. Health shops (supplements, specialist nutrition, natural products) run on pure retail card flow. Common uses: stock refresh, consultation room build-out for private services (vaccinations, travel clinics, diagnostic services), EPOS upgrade with prescription tracking, refrigeration for specialist product lines, private clinic service expansion.
Sound familiar?
Private services opportunity, travel clinic, vaccination, diagnostic, needs setup capital.
Consultation room build-out, equipment, staff training, marketing, £8k to £30k to launch a private services arm.
MCA funds the launch. Private services are high-margin and paid by card directly, so takings feed MCA repayment. Strong economics when set up well.
Stock refresh ahead of cold and flu season.
OTC ranges, winter specifics, antibiotic-alternative products, £8k to £25k of stock for October-March peak demand.
MCA covers the pre-season buy. Winter retail peak drives strong card takings; repayment clears quickly.
Second site acquisition or pharmacy takeover.
Goodwill, stock transfer, refit, system migration, £50k to £150k of acquisition cost on top of any purchase price.
MCA can contribute to working capital but not the premium. For material acquisition, a term loan via Funding Flow fits better, we'll compare both.
Here's what it actually costs.
An independent pharmacy borrows £20,000 for private clinic build-out and winter stock. Monthly retail and private card takings: £35,000 (NHS dispensing settled separately and not included). £20,000. Average monthly card takings £35,000. Fixed cost 1.24. 11% daily repayment % on card sales, total cost £4,800.
These figures are illustrative. If a term loan or asset finance fits your situation better, we'll tell you.
Open the fixed cost calculator →Work out the real cost.
New businesses typically start at a higher daily % and a shorter term.
Illustrative only, not a quote.
- Advance£20,000
- vs card takings57%
- Fixed cost1.24
- Daily repayment£127
- Avg monthly£3,850
- Est. term6.4 months
Illustrative. The fixed cost is set on day one; daily repayment varies with takings. Term capped at 18 months.
Illustrative only, not a quote. Every figure here is subject to the funder. Funders advance anywhere from 100% up to 150% of monthly card takings, so 150% is not guaranteed, and the fixed cost is not guaranteed either. Your actual advance, fixed cost and terms depend on the funder and your business profile.
Works with Dojo · Square · Zettle · SumUp · Stripe Terminal · PDQ · Yeti Pay · Teya · Barclaycard
*** THANK YOU ***
Apply with these numbersOperators we've helped.
£18,000 funded a travel clinic and vaccination service build, repaid through first autumn-winter trading.
Illustrative composite. Single-site community pharmacy, £40k/mo retail and private card takings. MCA at 1.22 factor, 10% daily repayment. Consultation room fitted August, travel clinic live September, flu season drove vaccination bookings, advance repaid by March of the following year.
Illustrative composite scenarioPharmacies & health shops, quick answers.
No, NHS UDAs are settled by NHSBSA into your bank account, not through your card acquirer. MCA is based only on private card takings. Practices with mostly-NHS revenue have limited MCA capacity.
Ready when you are
Ready to apply?
60 seconds to apply. 1 working day to a decision. No obligation, no credit footprint for the initial check.
Up to 90% approval for qualifying businesses