The Ultimate Business Loan Guide 2019

Reasons for this trend include:

• The reluctance of high street banks to offer lending options to SMEs, caused by government regulatory pressure in the wake of the global financial crisis.
• The perceived risk from businesses in taking on debt during the current economic climate. (Half of SMEs, 53 per cent, are being cautious because the future feels ‘uncertain’, says the independent SME Finance Monitor from BVA BDRC)
• A lack of knowledge surrounding available finance options and a constantly changing business loans landscape.

Despite a move away from traditional business borrowing, we’re seeing a revolution take place with the growing popularity of ‘challenger’ banks, digital lending and alternative finance options. These options have helped many small businesses secure funding away from the traditional players, contributing to the very way they operate and thrive today.

For those who still see value in borrowing to support long-term growth, we’re here to help. With a range of templates and downloadable resources; advice from leading finance providers and unique NerdWallet data insights, we’ve compiled our ultimate guide for businesses looking to take out a business loan.

How has the lending market changed?

Lenders such as iwoca are now able to offer prospective customers a business loan decision within four minutes, while most traditional banks don’t even have an online user journey for this type of finance. Easy-to-use online accounts and automation have also helped to retain customers, further improving the popularity of these providers.

This has been partly thanks to the UK government’s progressive regulations, designed to promote market competition and fill the estimated £2.2bn funding gap. Namely, several schemes have been set up to encourage SMEs to use new-style lenders as an alternative to traditional high street banks and brokers.

One such example is the Government’s alternative remedies package, designed to improve the capability of eligible lenders to compete with RBS in the provision of banking services to SMEs. Also, Open Banking, which forces the UK’s biggest banks to share their data securely with approved third parties, is giving new lenders the ability to compete more effectively.

Next, we might see the Bank of England roll out a new data platform that will store financial information from SMEs and help them access funding. This would combine the Open Banking scheme with company data so that more lenders can feel confident about providing finance to smaller enterprises.

Despite these developments, the concept of a business loan, or business finance, is still unchanged at the core. Providing you can meet a lender’s eligibility criteria, you can potentially secure access to varying amounts of capital to support the running and growth of your enterprise.

So while the packaging might look very different today, the impact business funding can have for organisations is still significant. And with SMEs forming 98 per cent of private sector businesses and employing over 16 million people across the country, we’re likely to see an increase in the use of external finance yet again, as confidence grows in these new channels.

Today, a collection of challenger banks and alternative finance providers offer businesses of all shapes and sizes access to new funding options. As well as better approval chances, we’re seeing customer borrowing experiences enhanced through the use of innovative online technology and streamlined borrowing processes.

What is a challenger bank?

First emerging when large financial institutions took a step back after the global financial crisis, these startups focused on offering typically lower fees, better user experiences and increased transparency, which has changed the way both commercial and personal finance works for its customers.

One of the strengths of these challenger banks is their ability to offer digital user experiences – both fast and intuitive by nature – in comparison to the lengthy banking processes offered by their predecessors.

Catering especially to demographics that were once short of viable banking options, they can offer competitive services and user experiences.

Challenger banks are companies that leverage online technology and software to streamline retail banking. At NerdWallet, we’ve seen interest in these providers grow from 30 per cent in 2017 to 44 per cent in 2019.

NerdWallet growth data - a shift in borrower behaviour

To further demonstrate the rise of new-style lenders, our own data gathered at NerdWallet shows us there has been a considerable decline in the popularity of traditional banking options.

NEW STYLE LENDERS % OF BUSINESS LOAN CLICKS

In 2017, 85 per cent of our traffic went to business loan brokers & traditional direct lenders during a time when we didn’t host the same breadth of new style lending options that you can see on our comparison tables today.

Fast forward to 2019 and the popularity of P2P and new direct lenders on our platforms has increased.

NerdWallet’s traffic data also reflects the rise of new style lenders, such as peer to peer lenders Funding Circle and new style challenger Iwoca. This category of ‘new style lenders’ have risen from 15 per cent of total click share on our comparison site in 2017, to 33 per cent in 2019.

Moreover, a look at Google Trend Data for business loans over a 8 year period adds global context to this pattern, with the overall rise in interest for business loans coinciding with a growing popularity for lenders such as Funding Circle and Ratesetter – two of the largest new style lenders on the market today.

BUSINESS LOAN BRANDS - SEARCH VOLUME PER YEAR

To put this into focus, interest in traditional bank loans during this same period remains predominantly static, with new lending options gradually taking more and more of the traffic share for business loans over time.

This is a clear indication that businesses are now keen to explore what innovative finance options can do for them. While brokers and traditional loans still have a place today, it is clear that the market has opened up massively, with borrowers exploring the many new funding options available to them.

"If you are unsure of what products you need or what is available, use a reputable comparison site or financial broker. There are constantly new products coming to market so make sure you are getting the best finance for your specific circumstances." - Sharif Mohamed, Head of Affiliate Partnerships at iwoca.

Key Steps: How to take out a business loan

• Step 1: Determine how much money you need, and why
• Step 2: Decide on your preferred finance options and lender
• Step 3: Check your credit
• Step 4: Prepare your business for applications
• Step 5: Apply for your business loan
• Step 6: Successfully manage your business loan

Step 1: Determine how much money you need, and why

Before you’re able to search for business loans on the market and approach lenders, you’ll need to answer a few essential questions:

• How much money is necessary to create sustainable long-term growth?
• Where will this money be spent?
• How will this funding be managed and repaid?

One way to wrap all the answers into one package is to create a business plan. You may already have a number of documents that outline your business goals, but the task now is to accurately assess your current position as an enterprise, along with your targeted milestones over the next few years, factoring in the business finance you are hoping to secure.

This will also be a strong supporting document to your business loan application and may even be required by some lenders. We’ve developed a comprehensive downloadable business plan template you can fill in when you have time. However, for those in a hurry, here’s a quick glimpse of the kinds of things you should record.

Long-term business objectives

• Move to a larger office
• Expand the number of employees
• Increase annual profit by X amount

Short-term business objectives

• Increase monthly sales by X amount
• Increase customer base

Skills and experience

• Increase monthly sales by X amount
• Increase customer base

Investment in resources and equipment

• Build an internal content management system
• Purchase a subscription to PR outreach technology
• Annual software subscriptions

Major marketing goals that require additional budget

• Large PPC campaign to promote new service offerings
• New company branding and website renovation
• Signage and banner advertisements

Operational considerations

• Rental costs for the current office space will increase by 10 per cent yearly
• Increased staff numbers will require more office space

Peter Tuvey, CEO at Fleximize, said: "It’s important to look at the overall package you’re getting from your finance provider. Some alternative finance providers will offer no early repayment fees and flexible terms, but it’s also worth considering what wider business support they can offer to your growing SME. This can come in the form of discounted services and tools to help you manage your business, or even drop-in sessions to help you better understand what lenders look for when assessing an application."

Step 2: Decide on your preferred finance options and lender

Once you’ve accurately calculated the amount of funding you’ll need to support your various business goals, you can start to think about the best borrowing options. Naturally, if you only need a short-term boost of capital to purchase a one-off item of equipment or stock purchase, you’ll be in the market for a very different kind of finance compared to if you were preparing for a large merger or acquisition, for example.

Here's what the current landscape looks like for business finance options:

Jamie Stewart, Director at Think Business Loans, commeted: "The majority of businesses do not know what is available to them prior to applying and often take what is offered first. However, this might not be the right financial solution for them, despite getting an approval, so make sure you get the right advice before accepting."

Loans from banks

• Loan from challenger banks
• Peer-to-peer lending
• Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)
• Asset financing
• Property development loan
• Equity funding

Commercial mortgage

• Secured business loan
• Unsecured business loan
• Bridging loan
• Working capital
• Grants and government development loans
• Trade finance

Angel investors

• Invoice financing
• Business overdraft
• Credit line
• Tax loan
• Merchant cash advance loan
• Pension finance

As you can see, there’s a lot to choose from. And when it comes to comparing these options, obviously we recommend you use a clear and transparent comparison site like our own, to inform your research.

During this stage, also consider whether you’ll actually be eligible for your preferred loan types before you apply. If you can eliminate options that are simply unfeasible, a great deal of time can be saved when it comes to completing your business loan applications. This will also help you to protect a healthy credit score as the more checks that are done on your business; the lower your score will typically be (more on this later).

Whichever finance option you go for, ask yourself the following questions:

• What's the total cost of the loan? (Including accumulated interest)
• Are additional costs involved? (e.g. early repayment charges)
• What are the downsides of this loan?
• Will my information be secure and protected?
• Are there better alternative methods for securing this funding?

Once you’ve chosen your preferred finance option, explore the market for lenders and create a shortlist for comparison. Before you settle on anyone in particular, make sure you perform effective due diligence on each provider by delving into the lender’s reputation in the market by comparing user reviews and testimonials.

Brokers can sometimes help you here by digging a little deeper when it comes to understanding how your potential finance provider’s business is structured, where the funding comes from and what typically happens in the event that borrowers cannot pay back their loan.

We would also recommend asking your business network and approaching lenders directly, to get a full sense of the best deals on offer. Brokers can also play a part in this process if you are looking for some expert advice on how to navigate the terrain.

Where do brokers fit in?

Business loan brokers are professionals who help businesses find financing. They work by bringing your business loan application to different lenders and coming back to you with potential offers.

Good brokers can be a valuable resource – offering professional advice and information during the process. Loan brokers may charge you a percentage of your total loan amount after it’s secured, which can be as high as 15 percent in some cases or as low as 1 per cent in others.

Other brokers may be paid by the lender who might give them a lump sum fee for providing them with business. As such, it’s important to understand how your broker receives their slice and whether they have a vested interest in connecting you with certain lenders.

"If you are inexperienced in securing finance, have a poor financial history or your business is at a very early stage, it can be useful to get a commercial finance broker involved early,” said Bryan Charter, Director at Engineering Business Growth “They know how to talk to lenders, which ones are most likely to look at you and are experts in helping you to secure the right loan."

Step 3: Check your business credit profile

If you didn’t know already, your business credit score measures the creditworthiness of your company. It is based on your business's financial history, including loan applications, credit accounts, your loan repayment history and supplier payment times.

At this stage, it’s good to know whether your credit score could be an obstacle in your search for business finance before you invest any more time into the process. An accurate measure of your business credit profile will give you a better idea about whether lenders will accept your application.

A good credit score will make it easier for your business to secure business finance as well as better deals – meaning higher credit limits and lower interest rates.

A poor credit score achieved through missed payments or perceived poor financial health, will make your business less attractive to lenders and will almost certainly impact the quality of the deals available to you.

Essentially, the same rules apply to business loans as they do to personal loans. Banks and finance providers are primarily looking for security when it comes to who they lend to and the likelihood of finances being returned to them.

Also, paying attention to your business credit profile is generally good practice. Other companies, partners, investors or future clients may want to check your business credit profile before doing business with you – if it’s in good shape, this can inspire greater confidence in your enterprise.

Jamie Stewart, Director at Think Business Loans, said: "The best and most effective way to strengthen applications is to make sure that the last six months of your bank statements have no bounced payments!"

Nearly three in five (59 per cent) small firms have never checked their commercial credit score. Of those that have, over half (56 per cent) hadn’t checked within the previous six months before applying for finance, according to Experian.

Finding out your business credit score

Viewing and accessing your business's credit score will typically require a paid service from a business credit file company. Here are some common options:

Does my personal credit score matter?

While business will have their own credit profile, there’s nothing stopping lenders from checking up on the personal credit records of your business's partners and directors. Therefore, it’s worth assuming that your personal credit history is going to be evaluated as well as your business credit score – to cover all your bases.

If you find out you have a poor, or non-existent credit score, then you might have to build your profile before applying for a loan. Not doing so may harm your chances of success or getting a good business loan deal from lenders.

Here are a few things you can do if this is the case:

• Make sure your credit score is accurate and amend any mistakes
• Repay any outstanding debt
• Consolidate your existing debt
• Improve your personal credit score as well as your business score
• Gradually build up a healthy credit history with smaller loans

If you are in a rush to secure funding for your business, it may still be possible to borrow a startup business loan despite having a poor business credit history. Many alternative lenders will use ‘softer’ checks and may be less strict than high street banks when it comes to offering funding options. Again, explore your options thoroughly!

Sharif Mohamed, Head of Affiliate Partnerships at iwoca, added: "Poor credit can be an issue with many mainstream lenders such as banks; however, iwoca, as well as other lenders, will take many other factors into consideration, such as credit scores of the directors, business performance and overall affordability."

Step 4: Prepare for your business loan applications

While a business credit score is one measure of an enterprise’s strength as a commercial entity, there are many other factors that will impact the way lenders see you.

Businesses, especially online ones, can be complex beasts. Finding a tangible way to accurately value your enterprise, forecast future growth and prove your worth will help you secure favour with your chosen lenders.

To do this, here’s a list of things you might need to provide your lender during the application process.

Document type (Important components):

Business plan

• Financial forecasts for the next five years
• Long-term growth strategy

Business and personal credit score

• Business score and report provided by one of the providers above

Business valuation figure

• Calculated estimate of your business's market value
• Third-party valuation of your business by a broker (optional)

Business and personal bank statements

(over the last two years, if possible)

• Balance sheet
• Income statement
• Cash flow statement

Licences and registrations

• Important licences that prove your business is legitimate

Legal documents such as contracts

• Core company contracts and regulation documents
• Employment contracts of directors and partners

Business and personal tax returns

• Comprehensive list of tax returns over the last two years

List of assets and equipment (potential collateral)

• Equipment
• Buildings
• Vehicles
• Inventory
• Land

Do I need to borrow?

Before taking the plunge, it’s crucial to determine if your business really needs financing in the first place. Every small business could use more money, but financing and loans are not the same as generated funds. Whatever you borrow will have to be paid back – so make sure it’s worth it. Situations that might require funding are:

• Cash flow shortages
• Inability to invest in new purchases that could create growth
• Stagnant growth periods
• A need for additional staff to handle increased work capacity
• Emergencies

Step 5: Apply for your business loan

Once everything is in order and you think you’ve found the right lender, you'll be ready to complete the actual application process. Remember, every lender is different, but here are some basic examples of how the process might work:

"Borrowers are often not prepared for follow-up requests from lenders, such as additional documentation or up-to-date financials. If you are looking at finance, it is always useful to have this ready in advance," said Sharif Mohamed, Head of Affiliate Partnerships at iwoca.

Ultimately, you may be asked to provide a range of documents depending on the lender’s individual criteria. While some offer an incredibly streamlined process that can be completed in one sitting, others may require you to put more time and effort in, including a face-to-face meeting.

We’ve developed an example business loan application template to help you gather all the things you need in advance, but make sure you tweak it to cater to the requirements of your specific lender. Also, we recommend developing a strong business loan request letter, which will function as a cover letter for your application and help to create a strong first impression.

Finally, once you’ve submitted your application, use this opportunity to start building your relationship with your lender. Make sure you stay in touch and offer help in making the process go as smoothly as possible.

Whether it’s delivering missing documents promptly or clarifying information in your application, a strong foundation of communication and cooperation here will make managing your repayments easier in the future.

Jamie Stewart, Director at Think Business Loans, said: "It is very important to build a relationship with your lender once the loan begins; it’s an excellent way to prove to the lender that your business is growing, that you are trustworthy, and ultimately the lender will be happier to support all your financial needs in the future."

Interested in peer-to-peer (P2P) borrowing?

Peer-to-peer lending (P2P) is a type of business loan where multiple private investors lend to a business, typically through an online platform. While this method will function similarly to standard business loans, in that borrowers still apply through a financial services provider, you won’t technically be borrowing the money from them. These platforms facilitate the process by pooling funds from different investors, offering an alternative to banks.

Step 6: Successfully manage your business loan

If successful (congratulations!), don’t forget why you embarked on the whole process in the first place.

As well as putting into action the business plan you have created for your business, aimed at achieving sustainable growth, you’ll also want to make sure you can effectively repay your loan and keep your credit score in good health – you may need to access funding in the future, after all.

With the right management of your loan, you might even be able to pay off your debt sooner, especially if you can pay down larger amounts when times are good. To finish, we’ve listed NerdWallet’s top five tips for managing your business loan.

"One thing to remember is that having a flexible contract and being able to pay back as much as you want, when you want, will ultimately put you in charge of how much interest you pay,” commented Jamie Stewart, Director at Think Business Loans. “Businesses often make the mistake of taking a loan where you cannot pay back in chunks, as these options often come with a cheaper APR. By opting for flexible loans, clients are able to save hundreds on interest if repaid early or, if they need, can ultimately change the facility easily, if the liquidity of the business changes."

1. Keep track of your business credit profile

A higher credit rating means you could work out a better deal in the future that allows you to pay off the loan faster, or reduce your minimum repayments. Things you should pay attention to are:

• Business loan payment history
• The amount you borrow compared to the amount of available credit (having available credit that is unused is a good thing)
• The length of credit history
• The number of applications for credit you have made (more results in a lower credit score due to the hard checks performed on your businesses)
• The types of debt you have

2. Avoid additional debt

If you find yourself running into trouble with repayments, don’t rush to take out a new business loan. Your first priority should be to cut back on costs or find ways to increase revenue. You can also consider consolidating your loans by transferring multiple loans into a low-interest account. Paying off your first business loan before you take out another one is advised.

3. Pay more when you can

If you have a busy period where sales are up, you could pay down your debt with more than the minimum repayments. This will reduce the amount of interest you pay overall and could give you breathing space in the future if times are tough and you need to negotiate an extension with your loan provider.

4. Communicate with your lender

Don’t underestimate the importance of having a good relationship with your lender. If you forecast financial hardship, or things take a sudden turn for the worse, it’s important to open up lines of communication with your finance provider before you miss a payment.

Lenders will often consider your circumstances and tailor a solution to your situation, which could mean:

• An extension of the loan term
• A short-term repayment reduction below the current minimum
• A temporary interest rate reduction
• A short-term delay of payments
• A debt settlement

5. Consider upgrading

Finally, it’s also a good idea to consider upgrading to a loan that has better terms when times are good. You can do this if you’ve maintained a good credit score and have met your previous loan obligations. Either your current lender or a new provider might offer you a loan at a more competitive interest rate, giving your company more flexibility to reach its growth potential.

Resources:

• Business plan template
• Business loan application template
• Business loan cover letter

"It is important to build a relationship with your lender, said Bryan Charter, Director at Engineering Business Growth. “This will help you to understand their requirements in the first place, giving you the best chance of securing the loan. In addition, different types and sizes of organisations give different allowances to their account managers, who can make a case on your behalf if you get to know them."

Nic Redfern, Finance Director at NerdWallet, concluded: "It's encouraging to see new challenger banks and fintech products are giving small businesses more options than ever on how to fund their business growth. Capitalising on these opportunities is going to be key to fueling the UK economy through the current uncertainty."