smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

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Refinancing, if successful, can transform a company, not only by providing the funds it needs on terms which are not going to choke it, but also by opening a relationship with sources of support, expertise and useful contacts.

Banking on a loan

If you’re looking to fund rapid growth, your bank will probably be the first port of call. SmallBusiness.co.uk finds out what traditional lenders can offer, and how to make sure you’re getting the best deal

How to get a business loan

Take a very close look at the amount of money you think you will need. Know exactly how much money you need to raise, as you have to be able to justify every penny to a lender. Approaching a bank with the attitude of ‘how much can you give me?’ will not inspire confidence.

Don't Miss

Loans scheme for start-ups falls flat

Last month the government launched a finance package to help struggling small businesses access bank loans, but SMEs say they aren’t seeing the benefits.

Is your current account as good as it should be?

In the UK, most people have a current account of some sort, and the reality is that most people don't spend a huge amount of time thinking about anything other than the balance in them. Usually, people stick with their current account provider for years and assuming mistakes aren't made, pay little attention to them beyond that.

SMEs remain unimpressed by budget proposals

Businesses say "no" to PBR

Slashing VAT and increasing National Insurance has left the nation's owner-managers decidely underwhelmed. Here SmallBusiness.co.uk gets their reaction to the pre-budget report:

Business Banking News

Banks boost small firm lending

High street banks increased their lending to small businesses by £287 million in April, the British Bankers' Association (BBA) reveals.

SMEs sceptical over 'green shoots'

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain cautious over claims that there are 'green shoots' of economic recovery.

Enterprise support announced in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has unveiled an £8 million package of initiatives to support start-ups and early-stage businesses.

FSB: Small firms see improved outlook

Small companies are experiencing a tentative recovery from the recession, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) suggests.

UK small firms 'have credit rating troubles'

The majority of the UK's small businesses have a credit rating which could damage their chances of obtaining finance, a new study claims.

Pessimism over UK economy

The UK economy will not return to growth next year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) claims.

Lending falls to nine-year low

Lending to businesses fell by the largest amount in nine years over May, says a report by the Bank of England.

Govt quizzes small firms on finance

Small companies are being asked to give evidence in a government review of access to finance.

London loan fund unveiled

The mayor of London has launched a new loan fund designed to support small and medium-sized businesses through the recession.

EEDA supporting small firm funding

Small companies in the east of England are to benefit from a new regional development agency scheme to help them find new funding.

CBI: Economy starting to stabilise

The UK economy has left behind the worst of the quarterly falls in gross domestic product (GDP), a new forecast claims.

Events Calendar

City University & Knowledge Connect: Free money from the LDA for your business

29th June, City University, Ground Floor, Room AG07

Business Startup

28th November, Olympia, London

Protecting Your Business

6th September, Best Western Country Hotel, Caerphilly

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.

What Investment

What Investment is the leading and longest-established investment magazine in the UK.

Regular Small Business newsletters
Access to all our experts in the Q & A forum
Post comments on articles

Upgrade business equipment, Reduce energy costs, with a 0% loan

Improve your bottom line by upgrading old equipment. It could save your business £1000s. And the Carbon Trust is offering a 0% loan to help. Apply for your 0% loan now

Payment Gateways from £5 a month

Easy, secure & fully featured Payment Gateway solutions. Whether you are a start-up, SME or mobile business, accept credit & debit card payments with PayPoint.net. Find out more

Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance

Invoice finance enables a business to release cash against their business to business invoices without having to wait weeks or months for payment. It improves cash flow and saves time by eliminating internal invoice ledger management. Get an online quote now.

Bank loans Resource Centre

Loans that change lives

Kiva lets you lend a loan to a specific entrepeneur in the developing world - empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty. Change a life today.

Business loans and mortgages from evo finance

Evo finance offer business loans or commercial mortgages for a wide range of small, medium and startup business needs.

Business loans from Bank of Scotland

Need a flexible business loans ranging between £5000 to £250 000, visit the Bank of Scotland website.

Get a small business loan to kick start your small business

Visit Teneric to see their guide to your small business loan, written by business planning professionals.

Fixed rate business loans from NatWest

Make plans for your business with the certainty that interest rate rises won't affect your loan. Available now from NatWest.

Start up finance from Alliance & Leicester

Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank has a range of business bank accounts, products and services for your small business.

The Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme

The Small Firms Loan Guarantee (SFLG) provides lenders with a government guarantee against default on loan repayments in certain circumstances.

Find the right funding for your business

At some point almost all businesses need a business loan. Decision Finance has helped thousands of businesses find the right finance solution for them.

More Bank loans Resources

Other Business Banking Resources

Polls

Video

BT Tradespace

Hear more about BT Tradespace, an online platform for small businesses provided by BT.

Easy and effective email marketing

Parker Trewin, Director of Marketing and Communications at Genius.com, demonstrates how Genius Pro can help you manage your email marketing campaigns more effectively.

Marketing an SME online

No matter what kind of business you are in, an online presence has become a vital tool for promoting your company and selling your products and services.

Competitive advantages from home working

Research shows that 69% of UK employees would like to work from home, with a further 20% saying they would take a pay cut for this type of flexibility.

Blogs

Will Alan Sugar sweeten business prospects?

Marc Barber 10/06/2009

While any help singled out for small businesses should be welcomed, the appointment of Sir Alan Sugar as ‘Enterprise Tsar’ smacks of gimmicky desperation. Have your say »

Inflation is King

Penny Proffit 19/06/2008

A look at inflation and why Mervyn King has had to put pen to paper... Have your say »

Basic building block of any Internet marketing campaign

Guest Blogger 07/07/2008

For almost all sectors of commerce today, the Internet, or more specifically the World Wide Web, is now a key tool for business. In the field of marketing in particular it has become crucial.

(1 comments) Have your say »

Q&A

Register or login to ask a question to our panel of experts...

Tax and VAT expert

Clive Lewis, ICAEW

9 posts

Latest questions answered

Q: Business bank account Q: Personal family loan Q: Why use business banking? Q: Bad banking practice Q: Acquiring a small business loan Q: Securing a business loan whilst managing debt Q: Opening a business bank account with bad credit

Prize Draw

Enter our Small Business competition and win a laptop!

Are you an entrepreneurial legend in your local community? Has your business savvy seen you blossom during the boom times and bootstrap during the bad? If the answer is "yes", then you'll be intrigued to hear that Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with Insurantz.com to discover 30 of the UK's best run small businesses. Click here to enter

Flexible funding solutions whatever the forecast

It can be difficult to know what lies ahead for business in a changing economic climate. We can help.

Bibby Financial Services is an independent specialist provider of business finance solutions, releasing cash tied up in your outstanding invoices while dealing with late paying customers. Call 0800 91 95 92.

Flexible health cover for your business

Every year sickness absence costs the UK economy around £13 billion. Want to know how much sickness absence could be damaging the health of your business? Click here to find out and receive a personalised quote.