Which funding facility does my business need?
“How much can I borrow?” is the easy question. The one that actually saves you money is “which type of finance fits what I'm doing?” Pick the wrong facility and you'll overpay or get turned down; pick the right one and you'll get cheaper, faster, better-matched offers. Here's how the most common needs map to facilities.
Start with the job, not the loan
The best facility follows from what the money is for and what you can offer. A one-off asset purchase, a recurring cashflow gap, and a property deal are three different problems with three different best answers — even at the same amount.
That's why our application asks what you're funding before anything else: it lets us recommend a facility and explain why, rather than defaulting everyone to a term loan.
Secured or unsecured?
If you can secure borrowing against an asset — property, equipment, vehicles — you'll usually get a lower rate and access to larger amounts, at the cost of slower completion and the asset being at risk. Unsecured borrowing is faster and keeps your assets free, but rates are higher and a personal guarantee is common.
Match your need to a facility
Working capital
Revolving credit facility →Working capital needs flex week to week, so a revolving facility you draw and repay as needed usually fits better than a fixed lump sum.
Equipment
Asset finance — hire purchase →Funding a specific asset? Asset finance is usually cheaper than a general loan because it's secured on the asset itself.
A vehicle is a clear asset to secure against, so hire purchase typically beats a general loan on cost — and you own it at the end.
Interior fit-out
Unsecured term loan →A fit-out spans many costs rather than one asset, so a fixed-term loan spreads them with predictable repayments.
Business expansion
Unsecured term loan →A fixed-term loan gives you a lump sum to invest in growth now, repaid over an agreed term.
VAT bill
Unsecured term loan →A short fixed-term loan spreads a tax bill over a few months, easing the immediate cashflow hit.
Corporation tax bill
Unsecured term loan →As with VAT, a short term loan turns a lump-sum tax demand into manageable monthly payments.
Frequently asked questions
What if more than one facility could work?
Several often could. We lead with the best-fit facility for your stated need, show the alternatives, and let you change it — your terms aren't locked to the first suggestion.
Can I combine facilities?
Yes. A larger requirement is often best met by a mix — for example a term loan plus invoice finance — and our application supports multiple product lines from the start.
See what you qualify for
Start your application now — it's free, takes minutes, and there's no credit check to view your options.