Business Finance Guides
Plain-English guides to UK business loans, asset finance, invoice financing, and business credit cards. Compare lenders, check what you'll qualify for, and walk into a funding decision already knowing the answers.
Business Loans
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Business Loan Repayment Examples: Real Payment Scenarios for UK SMEs
Business loan repayments typically range from £200 to £5,000 monthly for loans between £10k-£1m, depending on loan amount, term length, and interest rates. Most UK SMEs pay 6-25% annually with terms from 6 months to 7 years, with unsecured loans averaging 12-18% and merchant cash advances offering daily repayments based on card sales.
Short-Term vs Long-Term Business Loans: Which Funding Option Fits Your Business
Short-term business loans offer faster funding (often within 24 hours) with repayment periods up to 18-24 months, while long-term loans provide larger amounts over 5-25 years but take weeks to approve.
Alternative Business Funding Options UK: Beyond Bank Loans
UK businesses can fund growth outside a standard bank loan through unsecured loans, invoice finance, asset finance, merchant cash advances, revenue-based finance, crowdfunding, community lenders and equity investment. Each route assesses and charges differently.
Business Loan Eligibility Criteria UK: Complete Guide for 2026
Business loan eligibility criteria UK requirements vary by lender, but most require your business to be UK-registered, trading for at least 6-12 months with minimum annual turnover of £50,000-£100,000, and demonstrate ability to repay.
Business Overdraft vs Line of Credit vs Loan: Which Funding Option Fits Your Business?
Business overdrafts provide immediate short-term cash when your account runs low, lines of credit offer flexible revolving funds up to a set limit, and traditional loans deliver lump sums for specific projects.
How Do Merchant Cash Advances Work: The Complete UK Guide for 2026
A merchant cash advance (MCA) gives your business a lump sum of capital upfront, which you repay through a fixed percentage of your daily or weekly card sales — not through fixed monthly instalments. There's no interest rate in the traditional sense; instead, a "factor rate" determines the total repayment amount from the start.
Green Business Loans: Sustainable Funding 2026
Green business loans are financing products designed specifically for businesses investing in environmentally sustainable projects, from solar panels and energy-efficient equipment to electric vehicle fleets and eco-friendly premises.
Same Day Business Funding: How to Get Capital Fast in 2026
Same day business funding means receiving capital into your business account within hours of approval, often on the day you apply. In the UK, alternative lenders using Smart Tech and Open Banking can approve and transfer funds far faster than traditional banks, sometimes in as little as a few hours.
How Do Business Loans Work? A UK Guide for Business Owners
A business loan provides a lump sum or agreed credit facility that the business repays under a contract, usually with interest and sometimes fees. The lender assesses the business, its owners, cash flow, purpose and any proposed security before deciding whether to offer finance.
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