Planet, a global provider of payments and software for retail and hospitality, has partnered with embedded financing platform YouLend to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe access working capital when they need it most.
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Launching first in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Denmark, the partnership will make YouLend’s digital funding service available to Planet’s existing merchants through its established payments and property management software relationships.
Traditional lending can take weeks or months, and application success rates may not reflect seasonal trading patterns or the circumstances of companies with limited credit histories. Embedded finance offers a more responsive approach, using current business performance data to help SMEs access funding when they need it most.
YouLend manages underwriting, funding and servicing, while Planet connects eligible merchants to the service through the channels they already use. The digital application and assessment process can deliver a decision within minutes or hours, with funding typically available within 24 to 48 hours. Repayments are linked to a merchant’s sales, and the total cost is agreed and disclosed in advance, allowing hospitality, travel and retail companies to manage seasonal fluctuations without the cost increasing when revenue slows.
Since launching in 2017, YouLend has provided funding to over 400,000 businesses across 10 markets. Its data-led model can widen access to finance for smaller operators that conventional credit models may overlook, as well as for established SMEs.
“Businesses need quick, straightforward access to funding so they can act when opportunities arise,” said Planet’s Chief Commercial Officer Colin Close. “By bringing YouLend’s flexible finance into Planet’s existing services, we can help customers invest in their businesses, manage seasonal pressures and grow with greater confidence.”
The agreement brings business finance alongside the payments and operational software Planet already provides to hospitality, retail and travel merchants. It gives merchants a clearer route to support within an existing relationship.
“Partnering with Planet allows us to bring flexible funding to more merchants through the platforms and services they already use,” said YouLend’s Head of Strategic Partnerships Luuk Visschedijk. “By combining Planet’s established customer relationships and sector expertise with our data-led approach to funding, we can make access to working capital simpler and more convenient. It’s a great example of how embedded finance can help SMEs access the financial tools they need, when they need them.”
The move reflects a wider shift in financial services, as payments companies and software platforms bring funding closer to the merchants they already support. Planet and YouLend plan to widen access through Planet’s customer channels, giving more SMEs across other European markets a route to funding when they are ready to invest, adapt or grow.
YouLend retains responsibility for all funding decisions, pricing and terms, and Planet does not provide financial advice.