The growth hub for small and independent businesses
As we approach 2021, it's worth reflecting on the highs and lows of 2020 so we can begin making plans to start the New Year with our best foot forward. It’s been a long year, so to make the planning process a little easier we've put together a list of financial resolutions to consider for 2021.
Dec 21, 2020
If you’re looking for a flexible type of finance, a revolving loan (or revolving credit facility) could be the right solution for you. This alternative type of business finance allows you to withdraw money as and when your business needs it. Revolving finance can help you to alleviate cash flow challenges and invest in its future.
Nov 13, 2020
Purchasing new equipment or machinery outright can pose a significant challenge for SMEs and can potentially cause cash flow issues. Often, businesses don’t have the working capital available to pay upfront for an asset. That’s where asset finance can come in handy.
Oct 30, 2020
Raising enough capital to purchase inventory and kickstart operations is one of the biggest challenges new business owners face. Established businesses can also face cash flow problems, for instance during seasonal dips or in times of economic uncertainty — such as the one we all find ourselves in today. Fortunately, there are a few business finance options out there that may be able to help.
Oct 22, 2020
Every company owner knows that working capital is the not-so-secret sauce of any successful business. Yet achieving a healthy flow of working capital isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds. In this guide to working capital, we’ll whizz through some of the key terms and teach you how to work out your own business’ working capital ratio.
Oct 16, 2020
Business credit cards are available for organisations of any shape or size—including new companies. If you’re a sole trader, run a small business or have recently set up a new one, you might be eligible for a business credit card.
Oct 8, 2020
If you’ve come to this blog post, it’s likely that your new business is ready to start taking payments from customers. Congratulations – you’re one step further on your journey to success. Choosing a business credit card processor can be a challenge, especially as many of them perform the same tasks. However, there are subtle differences in things like cost and features, so it helps to do your research before you make a decision.
Oct 2, 2020
Although bridging finance is commonly used for buying and renovating property, it can also be used by business owners for a range of other purposes. Bridging loans aren’t as niche as they used to be and business owners consider them when they require a quick cash injection. As with any loan, eligibility criteria applies and you’ll need to present a business plan and exit strategy when you apply for one.
Sep 24, 2020
If you require a short-term business loan to get your business from A to B, bridging finance might be just the thing you need. Use Funding Options’ bridging finance calculator to find out how much you may be able to borrow in the form of a bridging loan. We’ll ask for some basic information on how much you want to borrow, when you need the funds, what the finance is for (e.g. ‘property finance’) and your email address so we can provide you with your bridging loan quote.
Sep 23, 2020
Business and personal loan quotes allow you to compare loans from different lenders at a glance. Personal loan quotes for fixed and variable rate personal loans are available from a handful of comparison websites. You’ll be expected to provide some basic information in order to retrieve your quotes, such as the type of loan you require, how much you’d like to borrow and the duration of the loan, e.g. five years.
Sep 22, 2020
The number of female-owned businesses is on the rise. In fact, according to an analysis of 1.4 million small businesses, there was a 31 per cent surge in companies with women at the helm in 2019 (male-led companies rose by 21 per cent).
Aug 26, 2020
The solvency of your business, how up-to-date your business accounts are and how quickly you pay suppliers are all factors that can contribute towards your business credit score. Finance lenders check this information when you apply for a loan to understand the level of risk involved in lending to your business.
Aug 13, 2020
Short-term business loans can provide you with the finance your company needs. Perhaps you need a loan for cash flow purposes, or maybe you want to set your growth plans into action. Whatever the reason, this guide is designed to help you figure out whether a short-term business loan solution could benefit your SME.
Aug 13, 2020
Most of us are all too aware of the importance of good personal credit when it comes to obtaining finance for mortgages, contracts, and credit cards. For small business owners, establishing business credit can be just as crucial.
Jul 31, 2020
Healthy cash flow – the amount of cash and equivalents that flow in and out of a business – is the lifeblood of most SMEs. Yet dealing with cash flow issues as a startup or small business can be challenging and lack of cash is one of the top reasons companies fail.
Jul 23, 2020
In the world of business, things can move at lightning speed and there are times when you might need a bit of extra cash to keep things moving in the right direction. Perhaps you’ve been hit with an unforeseen expense to pay for or maybe you just want to grow your business.
Jul 17, 2020
If you need access to a car for business purposes and could do without the inconvenience of legally owning one, business contract hire — commonly referred to as BCH or business car leasing — could be the route to (eh hem) drive down.
Jul 15, 2020
Every business, however large or small, needs adequate cash flow to operate well. Business loans for small businesses can provide companies with the financial help they need in a flexible format. In this article, we take a look at the most common forms of small business loans and what they’re typically used for.
Jul 3, 2020
A limited company buy-to-let mortgage is where you purchase a buy-to-let property through a limited company or SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle). For a large percentage of property investors, the tax benefits of buying a property through a limited company can be considerable (particularly for higher or additional rate taxpayers).
Jun 29, 2020
The sharing economy is based on the idea that you don’t have to fully own something to benefit from it. Among other things, it’s changing how we think about ownership and having an impact on how we invest in property.
Jun 29, 2020
Business acquisitions can play a large role in the success and growth of companies. SMEs use acquisitions to bolster their market presence and acquisitions aren’t a rarity in the corporate world either. Alphabet – Google’s parent company – had reportedly acquired over 200 companies by 2016. But what is a business acquisition and how do they work?
Jun 25, 2020
The coronavirus Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) is designed to help businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak access finance faster.
Jun 10, 2020
Sometimes, waiting days or even weeks to secure a business loan isn’t a viable option. Every business experiences turbulent times, and having enough capital to keep afloat in the midst of a crisis is critical.
Jun 9, 2020
There comes a point in the entrepreneurial journey where your workload necessitates that you hire some in house staff. While remote working is becoming more popular and stands to grow in popularity even after lockdown is lifted, for many small businesses, having the core of your team working together in an office still has far more benefits than disadvantages
May 26, 2020
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the UK’s economy. You only have to peek at the figures to see why. There were 5.9 million SMEs (businesses with less than 250 employees) in the UK in 2019, accounting for over 99% of all businesses. What’s more, SMEs make up three-fifths of the employment and around half of the turnover in the UK private sector, according to the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills.
May 5, 2020
Rewind just a few short months ago and it would have been inconceivable that this mysterious coronavirus would impact the world so drastically. But here I am, working from my home office rather than at Funding Options’ London HQ. UK plc is experiencing an unprecedented time that will unquestionably go down in history. Companies, large and small, are navigating the choppiest of waters at present as a result of Covid-19.
Apr 29, 2020
A bridging loan is a type of short term business loan designed to ‘bridge a gap’ in a business’ finance. In other words, it helps you get from one point to the next until you can either secure longer term finance or clear the loan in full.
Apr 28, 2020
There are several key tax deadlines throughout the year to be aware of. In order to keep on top of your accounting duties and avoid any pesky penalties, be sure to put the following key dates in your diary. IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to coronavirus, you may be able to delay (defer) some tax payments without paying a penalty. For the latest information on this, visit gov.co.uk. (If in doubt, always ask a qualified accountant.)
Apr 14, 2020
With coronavirus causing disruption across a multitude of industries, businesses are looking for alternative ways to improve their cash flow. Innovative funding solutions like asset refinance, invoice finance and unsecured loans can provide small to medium-sized businesses with speedy financial support, including those who find it difficult to access more traditional finance types like bank loans. If you needed finance for your business in the past your options were fairly limited. You’d have to apply for funding from a traditional source, typically in the form of a secured loan from your local bank. Nowadays there are a number of flexible options and a variety of lenders, making it easier for you to find a finance option that’s right for you.
Apr 9, 2020
Having a business credit card can help you manage expenses and cash flow in a convenient and flexible way. It can be used by both you and your employees to make company purchases and can help you build up your business’ credit rating. Much like a personal credit card, you can choose to pay the balance in full or meet the minimum payment requirements. Your business is responsible for making the payments. Credit cards are a type of unsecured lending and the and limits can be quite strict. Of course, have to meet the lender’s criteria - they’ll want to look into your credit history, trading history, turnover and profit. Your credit limit - usually anywhere between £1,000 and £10,000 - will very much depend on your credit rating, as will your interest rate, interest-free period and rewards.
Mar 24, 2020
There are numerous benefits associated with registering your business as a limited company. For instance, incorporating can help you build brand credibility and protect your personal assets. The process isn’t as long as it used to be and can take just a few hours. When you’re ready to register your business as a limited company, you’ll have to submit an application form to Companies House via the HMRC website. You can also download the form in PDF format and submit it manually. Some people decide to use a third party (such as their accountant) to process the application. Either way is fine! The following checklist will help you prepare the information you need to complete the application process smoothly.
Mar 17, 2020
“Inclusivity” is a buzzword — one that means very little without action. That’s why we’ve chosen to make our commitment to achieving gender equality in our organisation public by signing the Women in Finance Charter. We’re part of a growing movement of forward thinking companies on a mission to create a more inclusive environment. Not just within our own company, but the sector as a whole.
Mar 9, 2020
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