Limited Company Business Loans
A limited company loan provides fast and flexible funding for small to medium-sized businesses that are registered with Companies House. If your business needs finance, a Ltd company loan could be the ideal solution.
- Compare a wide range of lenders and rates
- Check your eligibility in minutes
- Find out how much you could borrow
It's fast, free and won't affect your credit score
- What is a limited company loan?
- How can I get a limited company loan?
- What is a limited business?
- How do limited company loans work?
- What are the different types of limited company loans?
- What can a limited company business loan be used for?
- How can I apply for a limited company loan?
- Do Ltd company loans require personal guarantees?
- How do I register as a limited company?
- I have bad credit, can I still apply for a limited company loan?
- Are business loans available for new limited companies?
- Why choose Capalona to arrange limited company funding?
Limited company loans help UK businesses cover overheads, manage periods of financial shortfalls and plan for future growth. According to Companies House, over 500,000 companies are incorporated each year, and there are over 4 million limited companies in total in the UK. With the number of registered businesses growing exponentially, more and more companies are turning to finance to help them compete in this busy marketplace.
If you’re exploring your funding options to help you stand out from the competition, learn more about how a limited company loan could help support your business growth, how you can spend it, and how to apply below.
What is a limited company loan?
A limited company loan is a type of finance designed specifically to help private limited companies grow. To be recognised as a limited company by lenders, you must be registered with Companies House.
There are many different types of limited company loans, so it’s important to do your research and understand the various Ltd company funding options before making a decision.
How can I get a limited company loan?
To be eligible for a limited company loan, you have to be registered with Companies House as a UK private limited company. This is a prerequisite for lenders to look at your application. After confirming that you’re trading as a limited company, lenders then ask for the borrower to be over the age of 18 and you must evidence that your business has been active for at least 3 months with no less than £10,000 annual turnover.
- Registered in England, Scotland or Wales as a limited company
- Director must be a UK resident
- Trading over 3 months
- Minimum £10,000 annual turnover
Lenders will look at your business finances, your circumstances and how much you want to borrow to determine whether you’re a high-risk borrower.
If your limited company is less than 3 months old, a startup business loan could be better suited to your business needs.
A limited company loan is not suitable if you’re self-employed or a sole trader. However, we work with specialist sole trader lenders who can help. Take a look at our self-employed loan or sole trader loan pages to read more about these types of finance.
What is a limited business?
A limited business, or limited company as it's more commonly referred to, is a public or private firm limited by shares or guarantees. Limited by shares typically means businesses that make a profit, whereas limited by guarantee are not for profit.
In the UK, limited companies must be incorporated with Companies House and registered for corporation tax purposes. On successful registration, limited companies receive a certificate of incorporation which is used as proof that the company legally exists.
How do limited company loans work?
Limited company loans operate similarly to other loan products. After being matched with a suitable lender, your business will be approved for a loan amount, which you then pay back to the lender with interest on a monthly basis.
Ltd company loans work to help SMEs easily access valuable finance for growth. The specifics of how they work will depend on the limited company business loan you choose.
What are the different types of limited company loans?
The good news is that as a limited company, you have lots of loan options available to you. Typically, limited companies are eligible for most types of alternative finance, so find out which one is best suited to your company’s needs.
Secured business loans
A secured loan is a loan secured by collateral. This means that should you default on your loan repayments the lender can seize the asset you put down as collateral. A secured loan can mean you can access high loan amounts and lower interest rates as it’s less risky for lenders.
Unsecured business loans
An unsecured loan is, you’ve guessed it — unsecured. Which means you don’t have to put any collateral down to secure the loan. This means you might have to sign a personal guarantee, making you personally liable should you default from repayments. Unsecured loans are quicker to access, but because of the risk to your lender, your interest rates are going to be much higher.
Merchant cash advance
A merchant cash advance, or a business cash advance isn’t like the other two loans, it’s loaned against your future credit or debit card sales. There are no fixed monthly payments to contend with, simply repay the loan amount automatically as you make sales. A percentage of your future sales will automatically go towards paying the loan off.
Invoice finance
Invoice financing allows you to unlock up to 95% of your unpaid invoice value. So if you’ve got a customer invoice outstanding for £50,000, you could release up to £47,500 immediately. When your customer pays the invoice, the lender will deduct fees from the outstanding amount and release the remainder back to you.
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding can be a great way to determine the level of interest in your product while raising much-needed funds. Users around the world can pay to back your product in return for a pat on the back or the finished product once it’s ready, all dependent on how much money they invest in your project. Many restaurants have started in this way, and in return for monetary backing, backers have received an invitation to a private launch party or a meal for four people.
Suggested reading: Should you crowdfund for your business?
What can a limited company business loan be used for?
A limited company business loan can help you stay in control of your business in the short-term. Sometimes unexpected expenditure makes its way into your business, and that’s just how business is — it’s unpredictable.
You can use your limited company loan to cover wages, bills, rent, buy new stock, invest in new markets, simply cover seasonality within your industry. Ultimately, you can use a ltd business loan for anything to do with your business.
Alternative business finance exists to help support your business as it grows, but sometimes you might just need to tread water for a little while, and that’s fine too. Use a limited company loan as you see fit!
How can I apply for a limited company loan?
Applying for a limited company loan is quick and straightforward. Simply fill in our short form with basic information about your company and we'll instantly match you to the right lenders on our panel. That's what's so great about a loan comparison service, it's free, and you barely have to lift a finger!
After you've seen your limited company loan options, you can request quotes from the lenders you choose. There’s zero obligation to accept any of the lender quotes. Take your time to compare quote offers before deciding what your next move is. Applying for business finance isn’t a decision you should take lightly.
If you do decide to proceed with one of our lenders, you’ll complete the final steps of the application with them directly.
Do ltd company loans require personal guarantees?
Good question! As a number of the limited company loan options are unsecured, more often than not you will be required to provide a guarantee. This is a legally binding agreement between you and your lender. It states that in the event your ltd company is not able to repay its loan debts, you as the company director agree to personally become liable.
Whilst personal guarantee can sound scary, if you’re confident in your business’s ability to borrow responsibly, there’s little need to worry.
How do I register as a limited company?
Firstly, congratulations, registering your company as limited is a big step. To set up as a limited company, you’ll need a company name and company address and a minimum of one director and one shareholder (this can be the same person). Follow the steps on the gov.uk site to set up your limited company easily. It costs just £12 to register your limited company online.
You’ll need to apply for corporation tax within 3 months to avoid penalties. Although there is no legal requirement to use an accountant, most companies do. It can help unburden you from the mountain of financial paperwork.
I have bad credit, can I still apply for a limited company loan?
Yes, you can. If you have a bad credit rating, be advised that not all lenders will offer you a limited company loan.
However, while some providers aren’t willing to lend money to a limited company with bad credit, we work with a variety of UK lenders, so we’re confident that we can find you a ltd loan product that’s perfect for you. After all, offering support and help for limited companies is what we do best.
Are business loans available for new limited companies?
Yes, there are loans for new limited companies available. If your business is registered as a new limited company but is not yet trading, you may be able to qualify for a start up loan. However, if you are trading, there are plenty of funding options available for ltd companies.
Why choose Capalona to arrange limited company funding?
We’ve set up a business finance matching service to help UK SMEs, just like you, find and compare the best alternative funding solutions on our panel. We work alongside trusted UK lenders to ensure you’re getting the best finance to help your business grow.
Sifting through lender websites trying to find a financial product that suits your business needs is tiring and unnecessary. We’re an online broker, which means our service is 100% free for you to use. Really, what have you got to lose? Maybe five minutes of your time?
See your ltd company loan options today.
About the author
Adrian T
5/5
Amazingly fast, efficient service, minimal paperwork. So much faster than my business bank of twelve years.
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