Cash Converters UK
Cash Converters UK is the UK's largest second-hand high street retailer, operating 190+ stores (58 corporate, 135 franchised) that sell new and pre-owned goods alongside FCA-regulated pawnbroking, buyback, and brokered logbook loan services to mass-market UK consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersPreston Brook
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cash Converters UK does
Cash Converters UK is the UK's largest second-hand high street retailer, operating 190+ stores through a hybrid of 58 corporate locations and 135 franchised units. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in High Wycombe with operations in Runcorn/Preston Brook, the company is owned by Cash Converters (UK) Holdings Limited and employs 403 permanent staff. It serves UK consumers through a combined retail and consumer-credit proposition spanning second-hand goods, pawnbroking, and short-term secured lending, with the credit activity conducted under FCA authorisation (FRN: 656489 and FRN: 674581).
The core offering combines the retail sale of new and second-hand goods with pawnbroking services, a buyback service, and a broker arrangement with Logbook Money Limited on which it earns a 10% commission on logbook loan originations. Goods are supported by a 12-month warranty and electronics testing protocols including PAT and serial number verification. Customers can transact across physical stores and an e-commerce platform, with payment options spanning Clearpay, PayPal Pay in 3, and layby to support affordability on higher-ticket items. The franchise network operates under licence to the corporate parent, which centralises brand, compliance, and supplier standards.
Revenue is generated across five streams: (1) retail markup on new and second-hand goods sold through corporate stores, (2) interest and fees from FCA-regulated pawnbroking and short-term secured lending, (3) buyback service margins, (4) commission income from logbook loans brokered through Logbook Money Limited, and (5) franchise fees and royalties from the 135 franchised stores. Customer segments include budget retail shoppers, short-term credit users, and value-oriented buyers of second-hand electronics and household goods, with minimal SMB activity. The model deliberately combines high-street retail footfall with regulated credit yield, distinguishing it from pure-play second-hand or pure-play pawnbroking competitors.
Cash Converters UK firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cash Converters UK
- Legal name
- Cash Converters (UK) Limited and Cash Converters (UK) Stores Limited
- Website
- https://cashconverters.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Cash Converters UK is the UK's largest second-hand high street retailer, operating 190+ stores (58 corporate, 135 franchised) that sell new and pre-owned goods alongside FCA-regulated pawnbroking, buyback, and brokered logbook loan services to mass-market UK consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cash Converters UK industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Second-hand Retail and Pawnbroking
- NAICS
- Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222), Electronics and Appliance Retailers (44921)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electronics & Tools Collateral Loans (FSAKALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cash Advance (Online & Storefront) (FSAKAMAC), E-commerce & Digital Checkout Installment Financing (FSAKAFAC)
Keywords
Where Cash Converters UK is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Preston Brook
Offices4 records
Markets served
Cash Converters UK business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail of New and Second-hand Goods: Revenue from retailing of new and second-hand goods both in-store and online across corporate-operated stores. Products include electronics, jewellery, musical instruments, handbags, and broad range of consumer goods.
- Pawnbroking: Short-term secured loans against valuable items held as collateral. Revenue derived from interest charged on loans.
- Buyback Service: Customers sell items with the option to buy them back within a set timeframe. Revenue from fees when customers do not exercise their buyback option.
- Logbook Loans Commission: Cash Converters (UK) Limited acts as a credit broker on behalf of Logbook Money Limited, receiving 10% of loan value as commission for successfully funded loan applications.
- Franchise Fees: Franchisees pay for licensing the Cash Converters trademark and operating under franchise agreements. Cash Converters (UK) Limited is the franchisor of 135 franchised stores.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Clearpay - Pay in 4 instalments over 6 weeks |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | PayPal Pay in 3 - 3 interest-free monthly payments |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Layby - In-store installment plan with no interest or fees |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Logbook Loans - £1,000 to £10,000+ for car owners |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cash Converters UK product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cash Converters UK operates the UK's largest second-hand high-street retail network with over 190 stores and an online eshop, buying and selling used goods across electronics, jewellery, gaming, music, collectables, outdoor/sports, tools, and household categories. In parallel, the company provides short-term secured financial services including pawnbroking (collateral-backed loans), Buyback (sell-with-option-to-repurchase), Layby (interest-free in-store instalments), and acts as a credit broker for vehicle-secured Logbook Money loans. All second-hand electronics are subjected to PAT testing, police-database serial verification, and functional testing, and are backed by a 12-month warranty.
Product overview
Cash Converters UK operates a multi-service retail platform combining physical stores (over 190 UK locations) with an online eCommerce presence. The core offering includes buying and selling second-hand goods across 8 major categories (Jewellery & Fashion, Phones/Cameras/Computers, Gaming, Music/TV/Video, Collectables/Hobbies/Toys, Outdoor/Sports, Tools/Motor/Hardware, Household/Business). Complementary financial services include Pawnbroking (secured short-term loans), Buyback (sell with buyback option), Logbook Money (vehicle-secured loans via broker partnership), and Layby (in-store payment instalments). Payment options include PayPal Pay in 3 and Clearpay for BNPL flexibility. A 12-month warranty backs all second-hand purchases. The business operates both corporate stores (58) and franchise stores (135), with eCommerce acting as the platform connecting buyers to individual store inventories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Layby: In-store installment payment service allowing customers to secure items with a deposit and pay over time without interest or credit checks
- Logbook Money
- Buyback
Quantifiable outcome
- 12-month warranty backed by Consumer Rights Act 2015 compliance
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Cash Converters UK
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Cash Converters UK technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature3 records
Cash Converters UK partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered community/social impact, payment infrastructure, compliance/ethical operations and quality assurance.
- The Genie's Wishcommunity/social impactCash Converters has partnered with The Genie's Wish, a UK charity granting magical experiences and life-enhancing opportunities to children and young adults (aged 0-40) facing critical, life-limiting illnesses and supporting young carers. Ten Cash Converters team members will trek 78km across the Arctic Circle in January 2026 to raise £200,000 for the charity.
- Clearpaypayment infrastructureClearpay provides Buy Now Pay Later functionality integrated at checkout, allowing customers to split purchases into 4 interest-free instalments over 6 weeks. Order values 4p-£1,200. Cash Converters acts as merchant. Clearpay is provided by Clearpay Finance Ltd, FCA authorised.
- PayPalpayment infrastructurePayPal Pay in 3 integration enables customers to split purchases into 3 interest-free monthly payments (£30-£2,000 qualifying amount). PayPal UK Ltd (Whittaker House, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey TW9 1EH) provides the credit service.
- Police and Law Enforcementcompliance/ethical operationsCash Converters maintains relationships with local police authorities and uses national/regional databases to check serial numbers against police-reported stolen item records. Ensures no facilitation of stolen goods sales, building customer confidence.
- Approved Third-Party Repairersquality assuranceApproved third-party vendors authorised by Cash Converters conduct warranty repairs. Used for bringing devices up to quality standards when items are close to spec but not quite there.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cash Converters UK competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cash Converters UK social profiles
Digital presenceCash Converters UK compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Cash Converters UK financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cash Converters UK leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cash Converters UK subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Cash Converters UK funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cash Converters UK M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cash Converters UK
What does Cash Converters UK do?
Cash Converters UK operates the UK's largest second-hand high-street retail network with over 190 stores and an online eshop, buying and selling used goods across electronics, jewellery, gaming, music, collectables, outdoor/sports, tools, and household categories. In parallel, the company provides short-term secured financial services including pawnbroking (collateral-backed loans), Buyback (sell-with-option-to-repurchase), Layby (interest-free in-store instalments), and acts as a credit broker for vehicle-secured Logbook Money loans. All second-hand electronics are subjected to PAT testing, police-database serial verification, and functional testing, and are backed by a 12-month warranty.
Is Cash Converters UK a public or private company?
Cash Converters UK is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Cash Converters UK founded?
Cash Converters UK was founded in 1984. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Cash Converters UK based?
Cash Converters UK is headquartered in Preston Brook.
How does Cash Converters UK make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Retail of New and Second-hand Goods are the primary driver. The others are pawnbroking, buyback Service, logbook Loans Commission and franchise Fees.
Does Cash Converters UK have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cash Converters UK.
What industry is Cash Converters UK in?
Cash Converters UK's product category is Second-hand Retail and Pawnbroking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKALAD, Electronics & Tools Collateral Loans, with a secondary code of FSAKAMAC, Cash Advance (Online & Storefront). Its NAICS code is 5222 and its SIC code is 6159.