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Business loans: Secure funding for your business

  • Check how much you can borrow, without affecting your credit score

  • Search from over 100 UK lenders

  • Business loans from £5,000 - £10m+

  • Get funds in as little as 48 hours

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TRUSTED BY 150,000+ UK BUSINESSES

  • £2bn in funding approved

  • Regulated by the FCA since 2015

  • Access 100+ UK business lenders

What is a business loan?

A business loan is a type of funding offered to businesses, as opposed to an individual. You should use them only for business purposes and not for personal needs.

Business loans can be helpful at many stages of a business. You can use them to grow, buy equipment, hire staff, or manage cash flow. Whether you're just starting or already running a business, a loan can give you the support you need to move forward.

What can you use a business loan for?

  • Fuel your growth and expansion

    Use capital to open new locations, launch new products, or scale your business operations

  • Smooth cash flow

    Maintain stability during seasonal dips or long invoice cycles without straining your cash reserves.

  • Purchase stock, equipment or inventory

    If you want to take advantage of supplier discounts, or prepare for a busy season, use finance to buy your goods early.

Can I get a business loan​?

Whether you can get a business loan depends on a few factors, such as the type of loan you want and the lender you apply to. If you're applying to a UK lender, your business must be based in the UK.

Lenders will check a few key things before offering a loan, as they want to make sure your business is able to repay it. Here’s what they often look for:

Each lender is different, so it’s a good idea to compare a few options.

Business loan calculator: calculate repayments

Use our free business loan calculator to see how much your business could borrow. See what your monthly repayments are likely to look like, as well as the total cost including interest.

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 a 3 years.

Total repayment amount

£ -

Total monthly repayment

£ - / month

Not sure what you can afford?

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How to get a business loan?

Here’s how to get the best business loan with Capitalise: 

  1. Start your online business loan application. You will need to answer a few questions, including how much you need to borrow and what your business’ annual turnover is. Our platform then matches you with the lenders best suited to your needs. 

  2. Get support from one of our dedicated funding specialists. They will tell you which documents you need to provide and put together your application 

  3. Provide your documents, generally you’ll need at least 6 months business bank statements and your last set of filed accounts. We offer the option to connect your business bank account securely to simplify the process 

  4. We will send your application to multiple lenders at once. 

  5. If successful, you’ll receive multiple offers.

What types of business loans are available?

There are various types of loans available for businesses. From traditional term loans, to specialised options like invoice financing, there’s something for every business need. Read through the common types below to find out the funding that fits your business now:

Type of business loan

How it works

Invoice finance

Get cash quickly by borrowing against the payments your customers owe you. This helps your business avoid waiting for invoices to clear.

Asset finance

Allows you to buy or lease equipment immediately without full upfront payment, helping you manage your cash flow better.

Merchant cash advance

Ideal for businesses with lots of card transactions, this gives your business cash upfront in return for a cut of your future sales.

Peer-to-peer loans

These loans connect you with individual investors through a lending platform. This often results in better interest rates and flexible terms.

Start up loans

Designed for new businesses, these loans provide the funds you need to get started and support initial growth.

Secured loans

These loans require collateral, such as a property or equipment, but you'll usually benefit from lower interest rates.

Unsecured loans

No collateral needed here, but expect higher interest rates since the lender is taking on more risk.

Short term loans

Great for quick financial needs like restocking inventory or covering a temporary cash shortfall, and typically paid back within a year.

Long term loans

These are for bigger investments and are paid back over several years.

Line of credit

This flexible financing option gives you access to a set limit of money. You can draw down as needed, so it's perfect for smoothing out cash flow or handling unexpected costs.

Are there government business loans?

During the pandemic, the government offered several loan schemes to help businesses, such as:

  • The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS),

  • The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

  • The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS).

On 1st July 2024, the Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS) came into effect and will be available until March 2026. This scheme provides access to 70% government backed finance for loan amounts up to £2 million. We work with several lenders approved for the scheme, allowing you to explore options for a government backed loan. Apply online.

Great company, would recommend 100%. Customer service is lovely.

Brigita

Business owner

I am extremely grateful for the outstanding assistance provided throughout the loan application process. Their expertise made a complex and often daunting process feel manageable and straightforward.

Alex

Business owner

Capitalise were outstanding from start to finish. Finding funding options was made easy and their customer care team is first class.

Geoff

Business owner

What interest rates and fees should you expect with a business loan?

When you apply for a small business loan, lenders will check the creditworthiness of your business. They will look at your business credit score, financial history, profitability, and any assets you own. This evaluation helps the lender see the risks of lending to your business. It also helps them decide what rates to offer.

Some business loans will also include an initial arrangement fee, or early repayment fees. The full loan agreement will always outline these fees if you receive an offer.

If you apply for a loan with Capitalise, you'll get support from our expert funding specialists. They will help you understand all the costs involved. This way, you will know what to expect, we’ll work with you to ensure there are no surprises.

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Frequently asked questions