Business Finance Guides
Plain-English guides to UK business finance — rates, options, costs, and what to do if you think you're paying too much.
All guides
What Rate Should I Be Paying on a Business Loan in 2026?
Market rate benchmarks for every type of UK business finance — from unsecured term loans and asset finance to merchant cash advances. Updated quarterly with Bank of England data.
Can You Refinance a Bounce Back Loan? Your Options Explained
Whether Pay As You Grow is right for you, whether you can refinance to a different lender, and how the Growth Guarantee Scheme fits in.
Business Loan Early Repayment Penalties Explained
What early repayment charges (ERCs) are, how lenders calculate them, and how to work out whether paying them to switch to a cheaper rate is worth it.
The True Cost of a Merchant Cash Advance
Factor rates, holdback percentages, and why MCAs are often much more expensive than they appear. How to calculate the effective APR on your MCA.
Should You Consolidate Your Business Debt?
When consolidating multiple business loans makes sense, when it doesn't, and what to watch out for.
Asset Finance Explained: HP, Finance Lease, and Operating Lease
The difference between hire purchase, finance lease, and operating lease — and which is right for different types of business assets.
CBILS Refinancing Options: Can You Get a Better Rate Now?
Whether your Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan is still competitive, how to calculate the cost of switching, and what the Growth Guarantee Scheme offers.