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A £500,000 loan could fuel your business growth by allowing you to enhance your product line, hire additional staff, or invest in a robust marketing campaign to boost your market presence. Here’s our breakdown of what you might pay monthly for a £500k business loan.
Compare £500,000 business loans
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Read the full methodologyWhat are your borrowing options?
When it comes to borrowing a lump sum upfront for your business, options include (but aren’t limited to):
- A Start Up loan. If your business has been trading for less than 2 years, up to four partners can each apply for a loan of up to £25,000 – meaning a potential maximum of £100,000 per business. Start Up loans are unsecured and the interest rate is fixed at 6%.
- A standard business loan. Straightforward, traditional business loans are available form both high street banks and online specialist lenders alike. You’ll have a lump sum transferred into your bank account and make monthly repayments on the balance. The interest rate will usually be fixed (meaning a fixed monthly repayment amount and a set loan term) but can be variable (in which case it’s likely to rise or fall in line with the Bank of England base rate).
- Asset finance. With asset finance, you can spread the cost of assets for your business over a longer period. It’s more expensive than paying outright, but it could be a good way of accessing the latest equipment without a huge initial outlay. The assets can be repossessed if you stop making repayments.
- A business cash advance. Not sure when you’ll be able to pay back your loan because of fluctuating sales? A business cash advance could be a solution. With this form of business credit, you’ll agree to a fixed fee upon taking out the loan. Then, you’ll pay back a fixed percentage of every transaction until your debt is cleared. If business is booming, you’ll clear your debt faster, and if business is slow, it’ll take longer. Either way, it’ll cost the same amount.
- A business line of credit. If you’re looking for ongoing, flexible access to business credit, you could consider a business line of credit. These work in a similar way to a credit card or overdraft. You’ll only pay interest on the amount you need, when you need it, and the facility remains “open” even after you’ve cleared your outstanding balance. But the credit limits are typically higher. Your credit limit will be determined by the lender’s assessment of your situation – including a credit search.
- Business credit cards With a business credit cards, you can borrow what you want (subject to a credit limit), when you want, so you’ll only pay interest for the days on which you borrow. Subject to a monthly minimum repayment, you can also pay back funds on terms that suit you. Unlike a fixed-term loan, which closes when all the money has been repaid, a credit card is a “revolving line of credit”, which means that the facility is effectively always open (which can be a mixed blessing).
Typical eligibility criteria for a business loan?
Each lender will have its own eligibility criteria. Some common things that are usually on the list include:
- Years trading. For a small business loan, a lender will typically want to see at least 6 months trading history to assess financial stability and creditworthiness.
- Where your business is based. Typically lenders like your business to be UK-based, though some might be more specific.
- Annual turnover. Ensures that your company can generate revenue, manage cash flow and meet financial obligations, lowering the risk of loan default.
- Company structure. Some lenders might be hesitate to lend to specific business structures, such as limited companies or sole traders, due to their limited turnover or trading history.
- Credit history. Both personal and business credit scores are crucial for loan eligibility and getting favourable terms. Improving both scores enhances the chance of getting better financing.
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