By Vicky Sidler | Published 13 June 2025 at 16:00 GMT

If you've ever tried to grow your business on a tight budget, it’s a bit like trying to run a bakery with one spoon, no oven, and a stack of unpaid invoices. Ambition is high. Inventory? Not so much.

That’s where embedded financing is changing the game.

According to new data from YouLend, small businesses that accessed funding through platforms they already use—like payment processors or e-commerce tools—grew sales by up to 50% within six months. That’s not a rounding error. That’s serious growth.

And it’s happening because capital is no longer locked behind paperwork and banker meetings—it’s showing up where business is already happening.

What Is Embedded Financing?

Embedded financing means you can access funding within the platforms you already use—whether that’s Shopify, a POS system, or your payment processor. It’s quick, flexible, and often based on real-time transaction data, so approvals and offers are faster than traditional loans.

Think:

• Same-day offers

• Flexible repayments (like a % of daily sales)

• No hunting down paperwork or printing out your 2018 tax return

What the Data Shows:

YouLend has funded over 300,000 businesses globally, and the results are impressive:

• Businesses using this financing saw 25–50% growth in sales

• 85% of them came back for more

• One new job is created for every business funded

• 2x more female-owned businesses applied than the industry average

That’s not just a win for individual founders—it’s a boost for local economies.

How Are Businesses Using the Funds?

YouLend’s data shows five key areas where business owners are putting their new capital to work:

• 31% – Supporting cash flow

• 25% – Purchasing inventory

• 23% – Upgrading premises

• 11% – Covering staff wages

• 10% – Marketing

And that last one? That’s where I come in.

Because fast money without a clear plan is like putting petrol in a car without a steering wheel. You’ll move, but it might not be in the right direction.

What You Should Actually Do:

As a Duct Tape Marketing Strategist and StoryBrand Certified Guide, I believe access to funding is only half the story. The other half is what you do with it.

If growth funding is an option, here’s how to make sure it delivers actual growth:

1. Don’t just spend—invest in scalable systems:

Buying inventory is great. But what happens when it sells out? Use some of your funding to build a system—marketing automation, clear messaging, and a content engine—that continues to attract and convert leads on autopilot.

2. Make marketing measurable:

That 10% marketing spend? Don’t waste it on “spray and pray” social posts. Focus on campaigns that build trust, attract the right audience, and guide them through a clear funnel.

3. Fix the bottlenecks before you pour fuel:

If your website’s slow, your message is unclear, or your sales process is clunky, more traffic won’t help. It’ll just expose the cracks faster.