Finance and Funding

Tips and advice on finding small business loans and other funding for your enterprise

Most businesses need a bit of help with finance at some stage – whether it's for startup or growth. You might need funding for a dip in revenue or cash flow, or for new equipment or recruitment. In this section we'll explain how to prepare for the process and look at the options from banks, investors, alternative lenders or business grants, and what the implications are for your business.

The (Not So) Silent Revolution...

The (Not So) Silent Revolution...

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The (Not So) Silent Revolution...

Entrepreneurs in the industry have taken lessons from Silicon Valley and are trying to disrupt a millennia old banking industry by focusing on customers.

5 Steps to Protecting Your Credit Rating

5 Steps to Protecting Your Credit Rating

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5 Steps to Protecting Your Credit Rating

Credit rating can have a huge effect on your ability to secure vital funding for your business. Here are five simple steps to improve your credit rating

How to Look After Your Credit Rating

How to Look After Your Credit Rating

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How to Look After Your Credit Rating

Your credit rating can be a major factor when it comes to getting business funding. We answer your questions on how a credit rating is looked at by lenders

Santander Business Loans

Santander Business Loans

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Santander Business Loans

Here's our guide to Santander's business loans. Learn about the Santander finance products available to you, plus the pros and cons of bank business loans

How to Forecast Your Annual Profits

How to Forecast Your Annual Profits

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How to Forecast Your Annual Profits

Knowing how to forecast your profits is essential to small business. We share the basics of putting together an annual forecast.

How to Find and Apply for a Government Grant

How to Find and Apply for a Government Grant

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How to Find and Apply for a Government Grant

Searching for government grants for small business is a lengthy process, but the government's search tool and advice is easy to access.

Finding Small Business Loans

Finding Small Business Loans

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Finding Small Business Loans

Getting a small business loan is a common way of funding a startup or growing your business. But you need to do the groundwork first.

Offering Finance to Customers

Offering Finance to Customers

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Offering Finance to Customers

How do I offer financing to my customers? If you're considering this question, its important to first understand a little about consumer credit practices

The Difference Between Public and Private Debt

The Difference Between Public and Private Debt

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The Difference Between Public and Private Debt

What's the difference between public and private debt? Emma Meakin defines each in simple, non-technical terms.

What is a Venture Capitalist?

What is a Venture Capitalist?

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What is a Venture Capitalist?

Spotify, Skype and Zoopla have benefited from venture capitalist funding. We tell you what VCs do and where you can find the right one for your business.

4 Steps to Debt Restructuring

4 Steps to Debt Restructuring

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4 Steps to Debt Restructuring

Most business owners have struggled at some point with finance, and debt restructuring can be an effective way to get your company in the black. Here's why.

Why Using a Loan to Hire Employees is Risky

Why Using a Loan to Hire Employees is Risky

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Why Using a Loan to Hire Employees is Risky

Taking out a loan to recruit new staff is okay if you're sure you can afford it. It's risky so consider these issues first.

Where Can I Find Start-up Funding?

Where Can I Find Start-up Funding?

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Where Can I Find Start-up Funding?

We take a look at how UK startups can access the business funding they need to grow and thrive

Where Can I Get Funding to Buy a Business?

Where Can I Get Funding to Buy a Business?

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Where Can I Get Funding to Buy a Business?

If you're looking to buy a business, there's a good chance you need access to funds. We share some of the options for sourcing business acquisition funding

How Brokers can Help Customers Find Financing

How Brokers can Help Customers Find Financing

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How Brokers can Help Customers Find Financing

Brokers can set up partnerships with a range of finance providers to give customers choice in products.

Handling New Customer Credit Applications

Handling New Customer Credit Applications

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Handling New Customer Credit Applications

Correctly handling new customer credit applications across departments will ensure that the process is smooth and efficient. We offer our advice to lenders

What's an Inventory Loan?

What's an Inventory Loan?

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What's an Inventory Loan?

Inventory loans are the ideal form of financing for retailers. Useful at peak times of commerce like Christmas, but make you need one first.