Eligibility isn’t about hurdles. It’s about pointing you towards the right loan for your stage of business.

• Start Up Loans – For founders starting out or trading under 3 years. Borrow up to £25,000 as a government-backed personal loan for business use, with free mentoring included.
• Small Business Loans – For businesses trading 3 years or more. Borrow £25,000–£250,000 with trading history and accounts to support your application.
• Refinance Loans – For businesses weighed down by costly short-term borrowing. We can consolidate this into a longer-term loan with fair, manageable monthly repayments.

At a glance, you’ll need:

• A UK-based business
• A clear plan for how you’ll use the loan
• A realistic ability to repay
• A personal or business credit history we can review
• For larger loans, recent accounts and trading history

We’re a not-for-profit lender. That means our criteria are designed to give you a fair shot at the finance you need, not to shut you out.

If you’d like to explore further, you can learn more about our products and services by using the navigation bar above.

We also offer a range of educational tools and resources to help you make informed financial decisions.

The British Business Bank’s Finance Finder and supporting guidance pages are intended to provide general information only. You should always seek independent professional advice before making any financial decisions.