Bridgement

If you are a B2B business in South Africa, you know the pain: You deliver the work today, but your client only pays in 60 days. In the meantime, you have staff to pay and new stock to buy.

Enter Bridgement.

While other lenders look at your credit score, Bridgement looks at your invoices. They are the leaders in “Invoice Financing” for the modern South African SME. In this 2026 review, we dive deep into how they work, their hidden “BridgePay” feature, and whether they are the right funding partner for you.

The “30-Second” Verdict

Bridgement is the best option in South Africa for businesses that use accounting software (Xero/Sage) and suffer from slow-paying clients.

• Best For: B2B Service Providers, Agencies, wholesalers, and Manufacturers.

• Key Advantage: They connect directly to your accounting software for approval in under 3 hours.

• The “Secret Weapon”: They offer an early settlement discount. If you pay back early, they waive the future fees. Most other lenders do not do this.

How Bridgement Works (The 3 Core Products)

Unlike traditional banks that offer a generic “Overdraft,” Bridgement offers three specific tools designed for different cash flow problems.

1. Invoice Finance (The Flagship)

This is what put them on the map.

• The Problem: You have an unpaid invoice for R100,000 from a client who pays slowly.

• The Solution: Bridgement advances you up to 100% of that invoice value today.

• The Cost: You pay a small fee per week/month until your client settles.

• Privacy: It is usually undisclosed. Your client doesn’t know you borrowed against the invoice. You still collect the money and pay Bridgement back.

2. The Business Line of Credit

Think of this as a “Revolving Facility” or a standby overdraft.

• How it works: You get approved for a limit (e.g., R500,000). You can withdraw R50,000 today, pay it back next week, and withdraw R100,000 next month.

• Why it’s great: You only pay fees on the amount you use, not the total limit.

3. BridgePay (The “Buy Now, Pay Later” for Stock)

This is a newer feature for 2026 that is a game-changer for retailers.

• How it works: You need to buy stock from a supplier. You upload the supplier’s invoice to Bridgement.

• The Action: Bridgement pays your supplier immediately.

• The Repayment: You pay Bridgement back over 12 weeks.

• The Benefit: You get the stock on your shelves and sell it before you have to pay for it.

The 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Bridgement is strict on “trading history” but lenient on “paperwork.”

Requirement

• Turnover R500,000+ per year (approx. R42k/month).

• Trading History: Must have been trading for at least 6 months.

• Company Type Pty Ltd or CC (Sole Proprietors are often rejected).

• Accounting Highly Recommended: Use Xero, Sage, or QuickBooks.

• Paperwork None (if you link your accounting software).

💡 Insider Tip: If you use Xero, your approval chance is significantly higher. Bridgement was voted “Xero App of the Year” multiple times. Their system “reads” your Xero data to verify your income instantly, skipping the need for PDF bank statements.

The Costs: Is it Expensive?

Bridgement uses a Simple Fee model, not an Annual Interest Rate (APR) model, which makes it easier to understand but harder to compare with banks.

• Starting Rate: From 1.7% per month.

• The “Early Bird” Discount: This is their biggest selling point.

  • Example: You take a loan for 3 months. You have a good sales week and pay it back in 1 month. Bridgement waives the fees for months 2 and 3.

  • Competitor Comparison: Many other lenders charge you the full 3 months’ interest regardless of when you pay.

Bridgement vs. The Rest

Bridgement vs. Lulalend

• Choose Bridgement if: You want to fund specific unpaid invoices or buy stock using BridgePay. Their integration with Xero is slightly deeper.

• Choose Lulalend if: You want a larger lump sum (up to R5m) for general expansion and you prefer a “capital advance” structure over invoice financing.

Bridgement vs. Banks (FNB/Standard Bank)

• Speed: Bridgement takes hours; Banks take weeks.

• Collateral: Bridgement is unsecured (no need to bond your house); Banks usually require security.

• Cost: Banks are cheaper (Prime + 3%), but you pay for it with time and paperwork.

Final Insight: Who Should Apply?

Bridging is not for the business that is “drowning” in debt. It is for the business that is waiting.

If you are waiting for stock to arrive or waiting for a client to pay, Bridgement bridges that gap (hence the name). If you are a Xero or Sage user, this is a “no-brainer” facility to keep open in your back pocket for emergencies.

Ready to unlock your cash flow?

Check your eligibility with Bridgement (No paperwork required)