Business Loan Guides
Compare business loans by cost, eligibility, repayment, and speed — plain-English guides to help you choose the right lender and apply with confidence.
Business loans explained
Use these guides to compare business loan options by cost, eligibility, repayment structure, speed, and lender fit before you apply — so you walk into a funding decision already knowing the answers.
What to compare before you borrow
Total cost of borrowing
Look past the headline rate at the APR, arrangement fees, and the total amount repayable over the full term.
Repayment structure
Fixed monthly payments, a share of card takings, or a flexible facility — match it to how your revenue actually arrives.
Eligibility & trading history
Most lenders weigh time trading, turnover, and credit profile. Knowing yours up front avoids wasted applications.
Speed to funding
Some lenders pay out in 24–48 hours, others take weeks. If timing matters, prioritise lenders built for speed.
Security & guarantees
Check whether the loan is secured against assets or needs a personal guarantee before you commit.
Early repayment terms
If you might clear the balance early, confirm whether there are exit fees or interest savings.
Latest guides
HMRC Time to Pay: How It Works and When a Business Loan Fits Better
An HMRC Time to Pay arrangement lets a business or individual spread a tax bill into instalments, typically over up to 12 months, instead of paying it all at once. HMRC agrees to it case by case, based on whether the business is genuinely viable but short on cash right now, and interest keeps accruing on the unpaid balance the whole time.
How Much Business Loan Can I Get? How UK Lenders Size Your Loan Amount
How much business loan can I get depends on four things: your turnover, your profit, your ability to cover the monthly repayment (affordability), and whether you offer security. Unsecured loans in the UK typically top out well below secured loans, and many lenders benchmark unsecured lending at roughly a fifth to a quarter of annual turnover.
Business Loan With a CCJ: What UK Lenders Check and How to Improve Your Chances
Yes, you can get a business loan with a CCJ in the UK, but mainstream banks usually decline once a County Court Judgment shows up on a credit check. Specialist and alternative lenders look past the judgment itself and weigh its age, size, and whether it's satisfied or unsatisfied, alongside your current trading performance.
Limited Company Loan: Eligibility, Director Guarantees and Lender Checks
A limited company loan is business finance lent directly to the company, not to the director as an individual. Lenders check the company's Companies House filing history, trading accounts, and credit profile, and many still ask the director to sign a personal guarantee, especially for younger or thinly capitalised companies.
Business Loans for Women UK: Lenders, Schemes and Grants for Female Founders
Business loans for women in the UK are not a separate product category. Lenders assess every application on trading performance, credit history and affordability, regardless of the applicant's gender.
Pub Finance UK: Loans for Pubs, Bars, Restaurants and Cafés
Compare pub finance options in the UK — unsecured loans, merchant cash advances and refit funding for pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés. [Check eligibility now](/business-loans?utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=pub-and-restaurant-finance-uk-loans-for-pubs-bars-restaurants-and-caf-s).
Revolving Credit Facility: How It Works for UK Businesses
UK businesses pulled back from overdrafts through late 2025 while revolving credit use expanded sharply, and that shift has carried into 2026.
What Is a Debenture? How Lenders Secure Business Loans With Fixed and Floating Charges
A debenture is a legal document a limited company signs to give a lender security over its assets when it borrows money. It usually combines a fixed charge over specific assets (like property or equipment) with a floating charge over everything else the business owns, such as stock and cash.
Short-Term Business Loans UK: Terms, Costs and When They Fit
Short term business loans in the UK typically run for 3 to 18 months, with amounts from around £1,000 up to £1 million, priced either as a fixed interest rate or a flat fee rather than a conventional APR. They suit a defined, short cash-flow gap, stock, VAT, a time-limited opportunity, not a purchase that needs years to pay for itself.
Business Loans questions
The important details before you check eligibility.
What should a business compare before choosing a loan?
Compare total repayment cost, repayment frequency, eligibility criteria, security requirements, application speed, and whether the loan fits the way the business earns revenue.
How much can a business typically borrow?
Loan sizes vary widely by lender and depend on turnover, trading history, and affordability. Facilities commonly range from a few thousand to several hundred thousand pounds, with larger amounts available to established businesses.
Do I need to be a homeowner to get a business loan?
Not always. Some lenders ask for a personal guarantee that can take homeownership into account, but many business loans don't require you to own property.
Will checking my options affect my credit score?
An initial eligibility check is often a soft search that doesn't affect your score. A full application may involve a hard credit check, so confirm with the lender before you proceed.
How quickly can the money arrive?
It depends on the lender and how ready your paperwork is. Some online lenders approve and fund within a day or two, while traditional lenders can take longer.
Are business loan requirements the same in every market?
No. Eligibility, terminology, credit checks, and lender expectations vary by market, so each Funding Fred guide is written for the relevant country.
Ready when you are
Explore business funding options
Start a short eligibility check and compare selected business funding options. It only takes about 2 minutes, with no hard credit check to start.