Funding guides
Business Funding Guides
Plain-English guides to getting, choosing and paying for business finance, written and reviewed by the Funding Plus team.
Getting a Business Loan
What lenders look for, what you'll need and how to give yourself the best chance.
How to get a business loan
The process from first enquiry to money in the bank.
Guide coming soonDocuments you need for a business loan
A checklist to have ready before you apply.
Guide coming soonHow lenders assess your business
Affordability, credit, security and trading history explained.
Guide coming soonHow long does a business loan take?
Typical timelines by type of funding.
Guide coming soonWhy business loans get declined
The common reasons, and what to do next.
Guide coming soonBusiness credit scores explained
How they work and how to improve yours.
Guide coming soonPersonal guarantees explained
What you're signing and how to limit the risk.
Guide coming soonHow much can I borrow?
How lenders set limits for different types of funding.
Guide coming soonWriting a business plan for lenders
What to include and what lenders skip to.
Guide coming soonSoft vs hard credit checks
Which one happens when, and what it means for your score.
Guide coming soonCosts and Terms
What business funding really costs, and how to compare offers fairly.
Business loan interest rates
What lenders charge and what moves your rate.
Guide coming soonAPR vs flat rate vs factor rate
Three ways of pricing funding, and how to compare them.
Guide coming soonArrangement and broker fees
The fees to ask about before you sign.
Guide coming soonEarly repayment charges
When paying early costs extra, and how to avoid it.
Guide coming soonSecured vs unsecured loan costs
Why security changes the price.
Guide coming soonHow the loan term changes the total cost
Lower monthly payments vs higher total interest.
Guide coming soonTax relief on business loan interest
What you can usually claim. Check with your accountant.
Guide coming soonThe real cost of a merchant cash advance
Turning a factor rate into a cost you can compare.
Guide coming soonChoosing the Right Funding
Side-by-side comparisons to help you pick.
Business loan vs overdraft
Which suits a one-off cost and which suits an ongoing gap.
Guide coming soonBusiness loan vs asset finance
When buying equipment, which works out better.
Guide coming soonHire purchase vs leasing
Ownership, tax treatment and monthly cost compared.
Guide coming soonMerchant cash advance vs business loan
Flexible repayments vs a lower total cost.
Guide coming soonLine of credit vs business loan
Ongoing access vs one lump sum.
Guide coming soonBridging loan vs commercial mortgage
Speed vs long-term cost.
Guide coming soonDebt vs equity funding
Borrowing compared with selling a share of the business.
Guide coming soonBusiness grants vs loans
Where free money exists and where it doesn't.
Guide coming soonAlternatives to bank loans
The options when your bank says no.
Guide coming soonWhich funding for which purpose?
A quick guide from goal to product.
Guide coming soonGovernment and Public Funding
Schemes backed by the government and public bodies.
The Growth Guarantee Scheme explained
How the government guarantee works and who qualifies.
Guide coming soonStart Up Loans explained
The government-backed loan for new businesses.
Guide coming soonBusiness grants in the UK
Where to find grants and how to apply.
Guide coming soonRegional investment funds
Funds for businesses in the North, Midlands and beyond.
Guide coming soonCommunity Development Finance Institutions
Lenders for businesses that banks often turn down.
Guide coming soonExport finance and UKEF
Support for UK businesses selling overseas.
Guide coming soonRunning the Finances
Keeping cash flowing and getting ready for funding.
How to create a cash flow forecast
A step-by-step guide with a template.
Guide coming soonManaging seasonal cash flow
Planning for quiet months before they arrive.
Guide coming soonCan't pay your VAT bill?
Your options, from HMRC Time to Pay to VAT loans.
Guide coming soonHMRC Time to Pay arrangements
How to agree a payment plan with HMRC.
Guide coming soonRefinancing business debt
When consolidating saves money and when it doesn't.
Guide coming soonPreparing your business for funding
What to sort out three months before you apply.
Guide coming soonNot sure which one you need?
Tell us what the money is for and we'll point you to the funding that fits, then compare quotes from lenders on our panel. It's free and there's no obligation.
Step 1 of 3 · Business funding
How much do you need?
Takes about a minute. No impact on your credit score.