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Business loans

Bad credit business loans: options when your credit history is weak

Declined because of past credit problems? See how lenders view CCJs, defaults and arrears, which finance is more accessible, and how to build a stronger case.

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Amount
From £10,000 to £20 millionLarger amounts through secured, property and asset-based finance
Security
Secured or unsecuredOptions compared for your case
Suitable businesses
Sole traders to limited companiesPartnerships and LLPs too
Lender panel
300+ lendersWhole-of-market search

In short

What you need to know.

Often, yes.

Past defaults, CCJs or arrears do not rule out business finance, but they narrow the choice of lender and usually mean higher pricing, a smaller amount or a shorter term. What counts most is how the business is trading now, how the bank account is run, whether the credit problems are old and settled, and whether there is security such as card takings, invoices, equipment or property.

A transaction we arranged

£50,000

Historic loss. Improving numbers. £50K secured for dental growth.

Several lenders focused on the previous year's numbers. We focused on what had changed.

Read the transaction
Sector
Dental laboratory
Structure
Business loan
Outcome
Funded despite a historic loss

About bad credit business loans

Specialist knowledge. Better outcomes.

Bad credit business loans are finance from lenders willing to consider a business, or its directors.

Bad credit business loans are finance from lenders willing to consider a business, or its directors, with adverse credit such as missed payments, defaults, County Court Judgments (CCJs) or a past insolvency. They are for businesses that are trading steadily now but have been declined, or expect to be, because of their credit history. These lenders put more weight on current trading, bank statements and security than on past problems.

Smart Funding Solutions is a broker, not a lender. We know which lenders on our panel of 300+ consider adverse credit and what each looks for, so your application goes only where it has a realistic chance. Approval always depends on the lender's own checks. For other routes, see our business finance overview.

If the issue is losses in your accounts rather than your credit history, see finance for a loss-making business. Turned down already? Read what to do after a business loan is declined.

Explore funding options
  • Access to 300+ lendersWhole-of-market search across our lender panel.
  • Independent brokerSmart Funding Solutions is an independent broker, not a lender.
  • Tailored to your caseYour case presented to lenders suited to it.
  • Support from start to finishOur experts handle the process from start to finish.
Explore this section

In this section

More detail on specific needs within this topic.

Applying and credit

How to get a business loan with a CCJ

A CCJ does not automatically rule out a business loan. The judgment matters less once it is satisfied, older and followed by clean payments, and…

How do I get a business loan with bad credit in the UK?

To get a business loan with bad credit in the UK, check your credit files, explain what went wrong, show current trading through bank statements, and apply to lenders that accept adverse credit, ideally with security such as invoices, equipment or property. Smart Funding Solutions, a whole-of-market commercial finance broker, approaches the lenders on its panel that consider defaults, CCJs and past arrears.

01

Step by step

  1. Check your files: personal and business credit files, so you know exactly what a lender will see. See what a CCJ means.
  2. Write a short explanation: what happened, when, and why it will not happen again. Settled and older problems count for far less.
  3. Show current trading: recent business bank statements without returned payments or unarranged overdraft use matter most.
  4. Offer security where you can: invoice finance, bad credit asset finance, merchant cash advance or a secured loan rely less on your credit score.
  5. Apply to the right lenders once: avoid several applications that add hard searches. A broker can approach lenders that accept adverse credit with one prepared case.
02

Community and government-backed options

Community development finance institutions lend to viable businesses that banks have declined, as the British Business Bank explains in how CDFIs could support your business. See our reviews of BCRS Business Loans, Finance For Enterprise and Business Enterprise Fund. New businesses can also look at Start Up Loans.

03

What to watch

Expect higher pricing, a smaller amount or a shorter term, and usually a personal guarantee. Be wary of anyone asking for a fee before an offer: the FCA warns about loan fee fraud. To see which lenders might consider your case, use Instant Quotes with no credit check.

Finance options for businesses with adverse credit

01

Merchant cash advance

If you take card payments, a merchant cash advance is repaid as an agreed share of future card sales. Because repayments follow your takings, lenders focus heavily on card turnover, which can make it accessible with weaker credit. It is usually one of the more expensive options.

02

Secured loans

A secured business loan uses property or other assets as security. Security reduces the lender's risk, which can open up larger amounts or better terms, but the asset is at risk if you don't keep up repayments.

03

Asset finance and refinancing

The equipment or vehicle itself secures the finance, so lenders may be more flexible on credit history. Asset refinancing can also release cash from equipment you already own.

04

Invoice finance

If you invoice other businesses, invoice finance advances money against unpaid invoices. Lenders focus mainly on the quality of your customers, which can make it an option where your own credit is weaker.

05

Unsecured and revenue-based loans

Some lenders provide unsecured loans to businesses with adverse credit where recent trading is strong. Revenue-based lending links repayments to turnover. Costs are typically higher and a personal guarantee is usually required.

If you need a van, vehicle or machine rather than cash, asset finance with bad credit is often easier to arrange, because the asset secures the agreement.

Who qualifies for a bad credit business loan?

Businesses that are trading steadily now can often qualify despite past credit problems, depending on the type and age of the credit issues and the current strength of your business. Lenders that consider adverse credit typically look at:

  • Current trading: turnover, profitability and whether income is steady or growing.
  • Bank statements: how the account is run, including returned payments and overdraft use.
  • Affordability: whether repayments fit comfortably within cash flow.
  • The credit issues themselves: what happened, how much, how long ago and whether it's been resolved.
  • Security: assets, card takings or invoices that reduce the lender's risk.
  • Personal credit: directors' personal credit files and existing personal debts.

To understand what lenders see about your business, read what goes into a company credit report.

What it costs

Lenders price for risk, so bad credit finance usually costs more than mainstream lending, and you may be offered a lower amount or shorter term. Compare the total amount repayable, including fees, and make sure repayments are affordable. Borrowing and repaying on time can help rebuild your credit profile, which may let you refinance on better terms later.

Security and personal guarantees with adverse credit

With adverse credit, lenders lean more heavily on security and guarantees to offset the risk. A personal guarantee from the directors is close to universal, and some lenders want it supported by a charge over the guarantor's home, so take independent legal advice before signing. Limited companies may be asked for a debenture giving the lender a floating charge over the business's assets. Asset finance is secured on the item itself, invoice finance on the debtor book and a merchant cash advance on future card takings, which is why those products can work where an unsecured loan is declined. Offering property as security can widen the choice of lenders, but the property is at risk if repayments are missed. Our guide to personal guarantees explains what you would be signing.

How long does a bad credit business loan take?

A bad credit business loan typically takes from a few days to around three weeks, and adverse credit usually adds some time compared with a clean application. Underwriters read bank statements line by line, may ask for evidence that CCJs or defaults are settled, and often want a written explanation of what went wrong before they decide. Merchant cash advances and unsecured loans based on recent trading tend to be the quickest. Asset finance depends on the supplier and, for used equipment, on an inspection or valuation. Secured loans take longest, commonly several weeks, because of the property valuation and legal work. Having the explanation, settlement letters and statements ready at the start is the easiest way to avoid delay.

Alternatives to borrowing with bad credit

If new borrowing would be expensive or hard to get, several alternatives can ease cash flow without another loan. Where HMRC arrears are the pressure point, a Time to Pay arrangement may spread the bill; our comparison of Time to Pay and a tax loan sets out the trade-offs. Where several costly debts are the problem, debt consolidation may reduce monthly outgoings, provided the total cost is not higher. Tighter credit control can release cash already owed to you; see our guide to chasing late payments. And sometimes waiting six to twelve months, keeping accounts up to date and statements clean, opens up cheaper lenders than borrowing today.

Underwriting

How lenders assess adverse credit: CCJs, defaults, missed payments and IVAs

Lenders on our panel fall into two groups. Some products refuse any adverse credit: several high street and challenger bank products, including NatWest's and Allica Bank's, and some tax loans, are in this group. Others look at each case, and put more weight on how the business trades now.

01

County Court Judgments

lenders check how many, how much, how recent, and whether each is satisfied. A judgment paid within a month can be removed from the register; otherwise it stays for six years, according to GOV.UK: County Court Judgments for debt.

02

Defaults

the value, the age and whether the account has been settled. A settled default with an explanation reads better than an open one.

03

Missed payments

recent missed payments rule out the lenders whose products refuse adverse credit, leaving those that look at each case. That is how our Instant Quotes tool treats them too.

04

IVAs and bankruptcy

lenders look at whether the arrangement is complete, how long ago it ended and the director's record since. See our guide to business finance when a director is in an IVA.

05

HMRC arrears

most lenders want tax up to date. A smaller group on our panel will look at HMRC arrears; these are marked in the table below.

Before you apply

How to improve your chances

  • Check your credit files: Correct errors and make sure satisfied CCJs are marked as satisfied.
  • Explain the history: A short, honest explanation of what happened and what has changed helps underwriters.
  • Keep bank statements clean: Avoid returned payments and unarranged overdrafts in the months before applying.
  • Ask for what you need: A smaller, clearly justified amount is easier to approve.
  • Offer security if you can: Assets or a personal guarantee can reduce the lender's risk.
  • Avoid repeated applications: Multiple declines and searches can make things worse; target suitable lenders instead.

Our guide to improving your business credit score has more practical steps.

Checklist

Documents lenders usually ask for

  • The last three to six months of business bank statements
  • Filed accounts or management accounts, if available
  • Details of existing borrowing and any payment arrangements
  • A short written explanation of the credit issues and how they were resolved
  • Evidence that CCJs or defaults have been settled, where they have
  • ID and address for directors
Side by side

Compare your options

How the main business finance structures work. Lenders set their own terms, so treat this as a guide to the questions to ask.

OptionHow you repaySecurityOften used for
Unsecured business loan Fixed instalments, usually monthlyNo charge over assets; a personal guarantee is usually requiredGrowth, stock, tax bills and cash flow
Secured business loan Fixed instalments, often over a longer termA charge over property or other assetsLarger sums, property and refinancing
Revolving credit facility Interest on what you draw; repay and redrawVaries by lender and caseRecurring or uneven cash flow gaps
Merchant cash advance A share of future card takingsNo charge over assetsCard-taking businesses with uneven months
Asset finance Regular payments over the life of the assetThe asset being financedEquipment, vehicles and machinery
Invoice finance Settled as customers pay their invoicesYour unpaid invoicesBusinesses waiting on customer payment

General information only. Every lender has its own criteria, and all finance is subject to status.

How lenders view different credit problems

IssueWhat usually matters to lenders
Late or missed paymentsHow recent, how frequent, and whether accounts are now up to date
DefaultsValue, age and whether they have been settled
CCJsNumber, value, age and whether they are marked as satisfied
HMRC arrearsWhether a Time to Pay arrangement is in place and being kept to
Previous insolvency of a directorHow long ago, the circumstances and the director's record since

A single, older, satisfied CCJ with a clear explanation is viewed very differently from several recent unpaid ones. Our guide to getting a business loan with a CCJ goes into more detail.

Personal insolvency is treated differently again. If a director is in, or has recently completed, an individual voluntary arrangement, our guide to business finance when a director is in an IVA explains which routes stay open and when waiting is the better option.

How to get a business loan with bad credit

To get a business loan with bad credit, find out exactly what is on your files, choose finance that relies on something other than your credit history, and send a well-explained application only to lenders that consider adverse credit. In practice that usually means five steps.

  1. Pull your credit files. Check the business file and each director's personal file, so you know what a lender will see before it sees it.
  2. Settle or regularise what you can. A CCJ paid in full within a month can be removed, and otherwise the record stays for six years, according to GOV.UK. A satisfied judgment or a kept payment plan reads far better than an open one.
  3. Pick the product, then the lender. Card takings, invoices, equipment or property give a lender something to rely on besides your history.
  4. Write the explanation. One page on what went wrong, what changed and why it will not recur.
  5. Apply selectively. Each full application can leave a search, so a short, targeted list beats applying everywhere.

Which finance fits which situation

Your situationFinance lenders may consider
Steady card sales but a CCJ or defaultsMerchant cash advance, repaid from card takings
You invoice other businessesInvoice finance, assessed mainly on your customers
Buying a van, machine or equipmentAsset finance, secured on the item itself
You own property with equitySecured or second charge loan
Strong recent trading, older settled problemsSome unsecured and revenue-based lenders, with a personal guarantee

Start-up business loans with bad credit

A new business has no trading record, so lenders rely almost entirely on the founder's personal credit, experience and plan. That makes poor personal credit a bigger obstacle for start-ups than for established firms. Asset finance, a co-applicant or a personal contribution can help, and our page on start-up business loans sets out the routes open to new businesses.

No credit check and guaranteed business loans

Regulated, reputable lenders check credit before lending, and no lender can guarantee approval. Be wary of anyone offering either, especially if they ask for an upfront fee. What does exist is lending that puts more weight on current trading and security than on your score, and that is where we focus when we approach lenders on our panel.

Bad credit business lenders on our panel

These lenders on our panel consider businesses with adverse credit case by case on the products shown: short-term lenders our panel lists as looking at adverse credit, plus card and revenue-based advances. Approval is never guaranteed, and the lender always decides.

Lender and financeAmountTermIndicative priceMain conditions
365 Finance
Merchant cash advance
£10k to £500k1 to 12 monthsFactor rate 1.22 to 1.35
plus an arrangement fee of 3.5% to 8%
6 months trading; personal guarantee
Bizcap
Merchant cash advance, Credit line
£10k to £500k1 to 12 months27% to 49% a year
Factor rate 1.15 to 1.3
plus an arrangement fee of 5% to 7%
4 months trading; turnover from £144k a year; personal guarantee; will look at HMRC arrears
Capify
Merchant cash advance, Revenue-based advance
£10k to £500k1 to 18 monthsFactor rate 1.2 to 1.455
plus an arrangement fee of 5% to 10%
12 months trading; turnover from £120k a year; limited companies; no personal guarantee on the rate card; will look at HMRC arrears
Cubefunder
Unsecured loan
£10k to £50k3 to 24 months2.5% to 4% a month
plus an arrangement fee of 1% to 8%
3 months trading; turnover from £48k a year; limited companies; personal guarantee; will look at HMRC arrears
Elect Capital
Merchant cash advance
£10k to £750k6 monthsFactor rate 1.3 to 1.5
plus an arrangement fee of 6% to 8%
12 months trading; turnover from £300k a year; personal guarantee
Fleximize
Unsecured loan
£10k to £1m3 to 60 months0.9% to 3.9% a month
plus an arrangement fee of 2% to 5%
6 months trading; turnover from £60k a year; homeowner directors; personal guarantee; will look at HMRC arrears
Funding Alternative Group
Merchant cash advance, Revenue-based advance
£10k to £250k1 to 12 monthsFactor rate 1.2 to 1.6
plus an arrangement fee of 4% to 13%
6 months trading; turnover from £25k a year
Iwoca
Unsecured loan
£10k to £1m1 to 60 months1.5% to 5.7% a month
plus an arrangement fee of up to 6%
12 months trading; personal guarantee; will look at HMRC arrears
MyCashline
Credit line
£10k to £250k1 to 24 months33% to 48% a year
plus an arrangement fee of up to 7%
12 months trading; turnover from £180k a year; personal guarantee; will look at HMRC arrears
Nucleus Commercial Finance
Unsecured loan
£10k to £500k3 to 60 months1.17% to 3.89% a month
plus an arrangement fee of 3.5% to 14%
12 months trading; homeowner directors; personal guarantee; will look at HMRC arrears
SAPI
Merchant cash advance
£10k to £500k1 to 12 monthsFactor rate 1.15 to 1.512 months trading; turnover from £12k a year; personal guarantee
Sigma Lending
Unsecured loan
£10k to £100k12 months33% to 67% a year18 months trading; turnover from £150k a year; limited companies; personal guarantee; will look at HMRC arrears
Simply Funded
Unsecured loan
£10k to £500k6 monthsFactor rate 1.4 to 1.56 months trading; turnover from £60k a year; limited companies; homeowner directors; personal guarantee; will look at HMRC arrears
YouLend
Revenue-based advance
£10k to £2m6 to 18 monthsFactor rate 1.03 to 1.33 months trading; personal guarantee; will look at HMRC arrears

Indicative ranges from lenders on our panel, checked October 2026; your rate depends on your circumstances. Figures come from the rate cards these lenders give us as a broker, with amounts shown within the £10,000 to £20 million range we arrange. Lenders set their own criteria and pricing, approval is always the lender's decision, and this is not a quote.

Realistic expectations with bad credit

  • Higher prices: monthly rates of several per cent, or factor rates of up to 1.6, plus arrangement fees, on the products in the table.
  • Shorter terms: most of these products run for 12 months or less, though a few go up to 60 months.
  • Smaller amounts: short-term lenders usually lend up to about one month's turnover.
  • Guarantees: a personal guarantee on almost every product, and some lenders want homeowner directors.
  • Trading history: from 3 to 18 months' trading, depending on the lender.

What it could cost: a worked example

A business with two settled defaults needs £20,000. These figures are illustrative assumptions within the ranges on our panel (October 2026), not quotes.

OptionAssumptionTotal cost
Merchant cash advanceFactor rate 1.3, plus a 5% arrangement fee£7,000 (£26,000 repaid plus a £1,000 fee)
Unsecured loan3% a month over 12 monthsAbout £4,111 in interest; about £2,009 a month

Compare the total repayable, not just the monthly figure, using the business loan calculator or the merchant cash advance calculator. To see which lenders would consider your business, get instant quotes: it asks about credit issues and involves no credit search.

How we approach an adverse credit case

  1. We ask about the credit history upfront, so nothing surprises a lender later.
  2. We review your bank statements and trading to see which products and lenders fit.
  3. We present the case to lenders that consider your type of issue, with the explanation included.
  4. We go through any offer with you, including total cost and guarantee terms, so you can judge affordability.
  5. The lender underwrites and decides. If it approves, it issues an offer with conditions; funds are released once the guarantee and any security documents are signed and those conditions are met.

It is free to enquire; any broker fee is disclosed separately before you proceed. When you are ready, explore funding options. If borrowing isn't right for you now, free, impartial advice is available from Business Debtline.

FAQs

Questions clients ask

Will applying for a bad credit business loan affect my credit score?

A full application normally leaves a hard search on your credit file, and several in a short period can make lenders more cautious. Targeting lenders that are likely to consider your circumstances, rather than applying widely, limits the impact. Keeping up repayments on new borrowing can then help rebuild your credit profile over time.

Can I get a business loan if I have had an IVA or been bankrupt?

A business loan after an IVA or bankruptcy is possible but harder, and lenders will look closely at how long ago it happened and your record since. A completed or discharged arrangement with a clean history afterwards is viewed far better than a current one. Strong current trading, security and a clear explanation all help. Our guide to business finance when a director has an IVA covers this in more detail.

Can a sole trader with bad credit get a business loan?

Yes, some lenders will consider a sole trader with bad credit, but they rely heavily on personal credit because the business and the owner are legally the same. Steady recent income in the bank, settled problems and a clear explanation all help. Finance of £25,000 or less to sole traders can be regulated consumer credit, which some lenders do not provide, so the choice of lenders can be narrower.

Can I get an unsecured business loan with bad credit?

An unsecured business loan with bad credit is possible from some lenders, but it is the hardest product to obtain with adverse history because there is no asset behind it. Lenders will focus on recent bank statements, affordability and how old and serious the credit problems are. A director's personal guarantee is almost always required, and the cost is usually higher than for a clean case. Offering security or card takings can widen the options.

How long do CCJs and defaults affect a business loan application?

CCJs and defaults stay on credit files for a set period, and their effect on a business loan fades as they get older and once they are settled. Lenders care most about recent, unpaid problems, so marking a CCJ as satisfied and keeping accounts up to date helps. GOV.UK explains how county court judgments for debts are recorded and removed.

Are there business loans with no credit check in the UK?

Not from reputable lenders. Lenders authorised and regulated in the UK run credit and identity checks before making an offer, although some use a soft search first, which other lenders cannot see. Products such as merchant cash advances and invoice finance put more weight on card takings or customer quality than on your score, which is why they can work with bad credit. Treat any promise of no checks, or guaranteed approval, with caution.

Can I get a business loan with a CCJ?

Often, yes. Lenders that consider adverse credit look at how many CCJs there are, their value, how old they are and whether they are satisfied. A single older, satisfied judgment with a clear explanation is viewed very differently from several recent unpaid ones. Card-based, invoice-based, asset-backed or property-secured finance tends to be easier to arrange than an unsecured loan when there is a CCJ on file.

Does a director's bad personal credit affect a limited company loan?

Usually, yes. Even though a limited company is a separate legal entity, most lenders check the directors' personal credit files, particularly for smaller companies and wherever a personal guarantee is needed. Recent defaults or CCJs in a director's name can narrow the choice of lender or raise the cost. Strong company trading, clean business bank statements and security can offset some of that concern.

What does CCJ mean?

A CCJ is a County Court Judgment, a court order in England and Wales to repay a debt. It stays on the public register for six years unless it is paid in full within one month and removed. Our glossary explains what a CCJ means for borrowing.

Which lenders offer bad credit business loans?

On our panel, the lenders that consider adverse credit case by case are mainly short-term online lenders and merchant cash advance and revenue-based providers. The table on this page lists them with their amounts, terms and prices, checked October 2026. Several bank and tax loan products on our panel refuse adverse credit.

Can I get a business loan with HMRC arrears?

Some lenders will look at HMRC arrears, especially where a Time to Pay arrangement is in place and being kept to. On our panel they are a smaller group, marked in the table on this page. See our comparison of Time to Pay and a tax loan.

How much can I borrow with bad credit?

Usually less than with a clean record. Short-term lenders usually lend up to about one month's turnover, and the amount also depends on your bank statements and existing repayments. Security, such as property or equipment, can open up larger amounts.

How do I get a business loan with bad credit in the UK?

Check your credit files, explain past problems, show clean recent bank statements, offer security such as invoices, equipment or property where possible, and apply once to lenders that accept adverse credit. Smart Funding Solutions approaches lenders on its panel of 300+ that consider defaults and CCJs. Get Instant Quotes.

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