Let’s be honest. Sometimes we stay in situations that aren’t good for us out of habit, or because we think it’s the only option. We do it in life, and we definitely do it in business. Your relationship with your business funder is one of the most important you have, but have you ever stopped to ask if it’s actually working for you?

A bad funding partner does more than just cost you money. They create stress, steal your time, and make you feel powerless. It’s a toxic relationship that holds your business back.

You deserve a partner, not a problem. See if you recognise your current lender in any of these five red flags.

Red Flag #1: The Ghost

Something’s gone wrong. You have an urgent question. You need help. You pick up the phone or type out an email, and what do you get? A chatbot. A generic email reply. A call centre agent reading from a script who has no power to help you.

If you can never get a real, empowered human on the phone who knows your name and understands your business, you’re dealing with a ghost. They have your money, but you don’t have their attention. A true partner picks up the phone.

Red Flag #2: The Gaslighter

You get your monthly statement and it’s… confusing. There are fees you don’t recognise and calculations that don’t seem to add up. When you ask for clarity, you get a flood of jargon and complex terms that make you feel like you’re the one who just doesn’t “get it.”

This isn’t an accident; it’s a strategy. Deliberately confusing fee structures are designed to hide the true cost of your funding. Here’s a simple rule: if your lender can’t explain your costs in one simple sentence, they’re gaslighting you. It’s not you, it’s them.

Red Flag #3: The Control Freak

Business is never a straight line. You have a great month, followed by a tough one. A good partner understands this rhythm. A toxic one doesn’t care.

Does your lender have rigid, unforgiving repayment terms? What happens if a big client pays late and you need a few extra days? A control freak hits you with penalties and threats, no questions asked. A partner has a conversation. They work with you because your success is their success. If your funder treats your business reality as an inconvenience, they’re a control freak.

Red Flag #4: The Gold Digger

You have a fantastic month and want to pay down a chunk of your facility early to save on interest. You make the payment, but your total cost doesn’t change one bit.

Welcome to the world of the gold digger. Many lenders use a “fixed fee” model, which means you pay the same total amount in fees whether you pay them back in two months or twelve. They are actively penalising you for being successful and efficient. Their goal is to keep you on the hook for the maximum amount of time to maximise their profit. A healthy relationship rewards good behaviour; it doesn’t punish it.

Red Flag #5: The Fair-Weather Friend

Remember when you first signed up? It was all smiles, fast responses, and big promises. They were your best friend, moving mountains to get the deal signed. And then, the moment the money was in your account, they vanished.

The fair-weather friend is brilliant at the chase but terrible at the relationship. They see you as a transaction, a number on a sales report. When you need ongoing support or want to discuss your next phase of growth, you’re met with silence. They were there for the signature, but they’re nowhere to be found for the journey.

Breaking Up is Easy to Do

If any of those red flags felt painfully familiar, the good news is you are not stuck. You have the power to choose a better partner.

A healthy funding relationship is built on a different foundation. Instead of a ghost, you get a dedicated human partner who knows your business. Instead of a gaslighter, you get radical transparency with simple, clear pricing. Instead of a control freak, you get flexible terms that work with your reality. You get rewarded for paying back early, not penalised. And you get a partner for the long haul, backed by the stability of Old Mutual.

It’s time to see what a healthy partnership looks like. Get a free, no-obligation comparative quote from Bizcash and discover the difference a true partner can make.

Connect with Bizcash to fund your next business funding requirement today.

• • Email: info@bizcash.co.za
  • Call: 0861 939393
  • Website: www.bizcash.co.za

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