Quick summary
This guide sets out practical steps to help you identify, compare and qualify for business finance in the UK. It is general information, not financial advice.
1. Be Clear About What the Money Is For
Lenders expect a concrete business purpose before they lend. Whether you are smoothing a cash-flow gap, buying stock, or financing equipment, say exactly how the funds will be used and how they will pay for themselves. A specific purpose with a simple return calculation reads far better than a generic request for working capital.
2. Have Recent, Clean Business Bank Statements Ready
Many lenders now assess performance through a read-only Open Banking connection rather than uploaded PDFs. Either way, they look for steady monthly income, a healthy number of transactions, and few returned direct debits or days over your overdraft limit. Tidy up your business account before you apply, and keep personal spending out of it.
3. Keep Companies House and HMRC Up to Date
Lenders check your company at Companies House: who the directors are, your registered office, and whether accounts and confirmation statements have been filed on time. They may also ask about your VAT and PAYE position with HMRC. Overdue filings are one of the most common reasons an application stalls, so put them right before you apply. Sole traders and partnerships should have their self assessment returns current.
4. Understand Your Own Affordability
Lenders judge affordability by comparing your regular income with the commitments already coming out of the account. Before you apply, build a simple monthly view of revenue against existing loan, lease and card repayments. If a new repayment only works in your best month, the lender will see that too.
How we work
- No credit check is run to show you indicative options.
- Rates and terms are set by the lender, not by Bizzloans.
- We are a commercial finance broker, not a lender.
- Your information is handled under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
