When the bank says no, we take a closer look.
Funding options for UK businesses with adverse credit history, CCJs or prior declines. Assessment can consider current trading alongside the credit profile.
Quick estimate
See an indicative repayment
Indicative monthly repayment
£4,500 to £5,625
Illustration only, based on a range of typical total costs. Actual pricing depends on trading history, sector, term, amount and credit profile, and differs between providers.
A poor credit history is rarely the full picture. A short period of stretched trade, a historic CCJ, a director's personal credit event, none of these tell us how the business is performing this quarter.
Assessment can consider current cash flow, supplier payment history and the trading rhythm of the business through Open Banking, alongside credit history and existing commitments.
Best suited for
- Businesses declined by their bank
- Live or satisfied CCJs
- Director personal credit events
- Recovery from a difficult trading period
How it works
Initial enquiry
Share the basic business and funding details for an initial review.
Underwriter review
A real credit professional reads the file and quotes structured terms.
Written terms
Review the total cost, repayment schedule, conditions and any security before accepting.
Eligibility at a glance
A short list of the information commonly considered. Eligibility and available terms depend on the individual business and facility.
- UK-registered limited company or LLP
- Trading for at least 6 months
- Minimum £10,000 monthly turnover
- A UK business bank account
- Director ID and 3–6 months of bank statements
- No active formal insolvency proceedings
Careful with your data, clear about your terms.
Commercial lending sits outside the FCA perimeter, so the protections of a regulated agreement do not apply. We set out how we work so you can judge it for yourself.
Your data is used to assess your enquiry, never sold or passed on for third party marketing.
Every page and every submission is served over TLS.
Where used, access is read only through FCA authorised providers and can be revoked at any time.
Finance for UK registered businesses and business purposes, not consumer credit.
The initial form is an enquiry. If a credit search is needed later, its type and impact will be explained first.
Total repayable, term, fees and any security stated in writing before you sign.
'Bad credit' is a much broader label than most people realise
'Bad credit' covers a spectrum: a low personal credit score, a director CCJ that was later satisfied, a missed supplier payment that landed on the business file, a late set of accounts, or a 2020–2021 dip in trading that still shows on the bureau's rolling 6-year window.
None of those are automatic declines. A live CCJ under £5,000 that was satisfied within 30 days is a very different file from a stack of open judgments. Honest underwriting reads the pattern, not the label.
What we look at instead of (or alongside) the bureau
Three to six months of business bank statements via Open Banking, read for actual cash flow, not the historical bureau signal. Consistent daily inflows, no bounced direct debits and a healthy day-end balance often override a weak score.
Supplier payment behaviour on Experian Commercial or Creditsafe, a business that pays trade suppliers on 30-day terms while missing a personal credit card is a very different underwriting story from one that misses everywhere.
The 'forward book', signed contracts, backlog, recurring revenue commitments. Where forward revenue is verifiable it materially strengthens a thin file.
What a weaker file typically costs
Rates on adverse-credit business lending in the UK usually sit in the range of 18–34% APR, depending on how much the trading data offsets the bureau weakness. Where security can be offered, that range compresses meaningfully.
The alternative, no funding at all, usually costs more. Foregone stock cycles, missed VAT deadlines and lost supplier discounts add up faster than a 6-month bridge at 24% APR ever would.
Adverse-credit funding options in the UK
| Product | Credit weight | Amount | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad credit business loan | Trading > bureau | £5k – £500k | 3–24 months |
| Merchant cash advance | Card data > bureau | £5k – £300k | 4–12 months |
| Secured loan | Asset > bureau | £50k – £5M | 3–24 months |
| Invoice finance | Debtor book > bureau | £10k – £2M | Ongoing facility |
Explore by need
What do you need funding for?
Bridge a cash flow gap
Cover a quiet month or a slow paying customer.
See options →Pay a VAT or tax bill
Spread a large HMRC bill over a set term.
See options →Buy stock or equipment
Spread the cost of a known purchase.
See options →Card takings business
Repayments that follow your card sales.
See options →Grow online revenue
Funding linked to monthly revenue.
See options →Expand or hire
Fixed monthly repayments over a set term.
See options →Frequently asked
Can I get a business loan with bad credit in the UK?
Yes. A poor personal or business credit score is not an automatic decline. We weigh current trading cash flow, repayment history with suppliers and forward order book alongside the bureau view.
Do you run a hard credit check?
The initial form creates an enquiry. If a credit search is needed later, its type and potential impact will be explained before it takes place.
What if I have a CCJ?
Live CCJs are not necessarily a decline. We consider satisfied judgments, the age of the judgment and the wider trading position.
Will I pay a higher rate?
Pricing reflects risk. Where credit history is weaker, the rate may be higher, but it is fixed and shown clearly on the offer with no hidden fees.
Can I use the funds for anything?
Yes, any legitimate commercial purpose. Bridging HMRC, payroll, stock, equipment or supplier deposits are all common uses.
Related guides
Authoritative UK references
Independent sources cited on this page.
Ready to see what you qualify for?
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