Last updated: 23 Jul 2026

free business loan eligibility check

Check your business loan eligibility

Business loan eligibility depends on how long your business has been trading, its turnover, your credit profile and whether you can comfortably afford the repayments, and the exact requirements differ from lender to lender. We match your business against a panel of 130+ UK lenders to show you what you could be eligible to borrow.

  • Eligibility checked against 130+ UK lenders in one place

  • No impact on your credit score

  • Free support from a dedicated funding specialist

Business loan calculator

Use our business loan calculator to see how much your could borrow and the cost of the loan. Understand what your monthly repayments are likely to look like, as well as the total cost including interest. Get the funding you need to power your business.

What do you need the funding for?

Funding for covering costs e.g. tax or payroll. These are typically unsecured loans.

How long do you want to pay back your loan for?

How much do you want to borrow?

£25,000

Interest rate

Typical business loans to cover costs range from 7% - 16% APR depending on the duration, amount and lender.

Loan amount

£ -

Total interest amount

£ -

11% APR over 3 years.

Total repayment amount

£ -

Total monthly repayment

£ - / month

Not sure what you can afford?

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What determines your business loan eligibility?

Your business loan eligibility is worked out by lenders using a combination of factors, rather than any single number. The main things lenders look at are:

  • How long your business has been trading

  • Your annual turnover and how much cash moves through the business

  • Your business and personal credit history

  • Whether your business structure is a sole trader, partnership or limited company

  • What you plan to use the loan for

  • Whether your cash flow can comfortably cover the repayments, usually at least double the monthly cost

No single factor rules you out on its own. Lenders weigh them together, which is why a business that falls short on one measure can still be eligible with a lender who places more weight on another. For a closer look at how each factor is assessed, see our full business loan eligibility criteria guide.

How much can my business borrow?

Most lenders will let your business borrow up to around 25% of your last annual turnover, provided your cash flow can cover the repayments comfortably. As a guide, if your business took a £120,000 loan over 2 years, it would need to repay around £5,000 plus interest every month, so lenders want to see your business generating significantly more than that in free cash flow each month. This repayment capacity is calculated from the profit or free cash flow left in your business after other costs are deducted, including any existing loan repayments, dividends or other regular outgoings.

Annual turnover

Typical borrowing range

Under £50,000

£1,000 to £25,000

£50,000 to £150,000

£10,000 to £75,000

£150,000 to £500,000

£25,000 to £250,000

£500,000 and above

£100,000 to £5 million and above

These ranges are a general guide only.

Do I need a good credit score to be eligible for a business loan?

A good credit score can improve your business loan eligibility and open up better rates, but it isn't the only route to funding. Many lenders on our panel will consider your business even with a limited credit history, provided your turnover and cash flow support the repayments. Your eligibility is typically assessed using a mix of your filed accounts, business profit and turnover, plus your business and personal credit history. If your credit history is holding you back, our guide to bad credit business loans explains the options available.

Can I get a business loan if my business is new?

Yes, new businesses can be eligible for a business loan, although the options available typically depend on how long you have been trading and what financial history you can show. Businesses under 12 months old are often best suited to start up loans or unsecured products designed for early stage trading, while lenders may ask for

What documents will I need to check my eligibility?

Having a few key documents ready makes the eligibility check quicker and gives you a more accurate result. Most lenders will want to see some or all of the following:

  • Recent business bank statements, usually 3 to 6 months

  • Filed accounts or management accounts

  • Proof of identity, such as a passport or driving licence

  • Details of any existing business finance or debt

  • An explanation of what the funding is for

If you would rather not put up personal assets as security, take a look at our no personal guarantee business loan options, which keep your borrowing separate from your personal finances.

Which lenders should I apply to?

The right lender for your business depends on the type of funding you need, how long you have been trading, and your credit profile. Rather than applying to lenders one by one, we match your business against our full panel of lenders, from high street banks to specialist alternative finance providers, so you only need to complete one eligibility check. Your eligibility is typically assessed based on your filed accounts, business profit and turnover, alongside your business and personal credit history. Lenders use this to build a picture of your business's financial health and the level of risk involved, then decide which products and rates they can offer.

How does the business loan eligibility checker work?

Our eligibility checker works by matching a few details about your business and funding need against live lending criteria from our panel of 130+ lenders. Within minutes, you will see which business loans your business could be eligible for, along with estimated monthly repayments and any additional costs.

We build your results by matching your Experian business credit profile with publicly available data from Companies House, so the check reflects your real business position rather than a generic estimate. This means you can see exactly what funding your business can access before you commit to a full application. Read our guide on Experian business credit scores to understand what lenders can see about your business.

How do I apply for funding?

Once you have checked your eligibility, applying for funding with Capitalise takes just a few more steps.

  • Sign up for a free account and complete your eligibility check

  • Review the loans and lenders you are matched with, along with estimated costs

  • Speak to a dedicated funding specialist, who will talk you through your options

  • Submit your application to the lenders most likely to approve you

We work with banks, specialist lenders and alternative finance providers, so we can offer a wide range of funding solutions beyond business loans too, including asset finance and business credit cards, if either turns out to be a better fit for your business.

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Frequently asked questions