Question 1

Who is Capitalise and how can you help me secure funding?

Accepted Answer

Capitalise is an FCA-regulated platform built to support UK businesses in taking control of their financial health. We make it easy for business owners to access funding by connecting them with over 130 trusted UK lenders. Our intelligent platform matches you with lenders based on your business needs and ranks options based on past success rates - helping you make confident, informed decisions. When you apply through Capitalise, you're not alone. Every application is supported by a dedicated funding specialist who will: Guide you through your funding options Help prepare and package your application Explain the terms of any offers you receive With Capitalise, you can compare offers side by side and secure the best funding solution for your business with expert support at every step.

Question 2

Can I get a business loan if my business is new?

Accepted Answer

Yes, even if you're a UK start-up or recently registered business, you can still qualify for a business loan. However, because your credit profile and trading history are limited, lenders may offer smaller loan amounts, higher interest rates, or shorter repayment terms to manage risk. Business credit cards can be especially useful for start-ups. They offer flexible, short-term access to funds, help manage everyday expenses, and can build your business credit profile over time, all without needing a long trading history.

Question 3

What is a business loan calculator?

Accepted Answer

The Business Loan Calculator is a useful tool that allows you to estimate how much your business can borrow to get the funding you need. By adding in the loan amount, selecting your term length and interest rate, we’ll calculate your monthly repayments, the total internist amount and the total amount repayable, so you can see how much could be affordable for your business to borrow.

Question 4

Is a business loan calculator accurate?

Accepted Answer

Our Business Loan Calculator gives estimated costs and repayment ranges for three types of business finance. While it provides a helpful guide, the figures are only indicative. To get a more accurate estimate of how much you could borrow, you can check your eligibility with Capitalise. We use your business credit score, information from Companies House, and your funding requirements to match you with suitable lenders. Lenders rely heavily on your business credit score to assess how financially stable your business is and determine the amount, terms, and rates they’re willing to offer. Want to improve your chances of approval? Read our tips on how to improve your business credit score .

Question 5

How is the business loan calculator different for each type of business loan?

Accepted Answer

The Business Loan Calculator adjusts based on the type of funding you're exploring. Here's how it works for different products: Term loans A term loan helps you cover costs in your business by accessing a loan payment and repaying it month by month until it's fully repaid. This is similar to a personal loan in how it's calculated. Typically repayable within 1 - 5 years Usually for businesses who have 18 months trading history Interest rates depending on the financial strength of your company. Commercial mortgages For a buy-to-let or commercial mortgage the term is usually longer than 10 years and the calculation depends on the income expected from your tenants. Typical term length of 10 years or more Interest rates depending on the bank rates and strength of the tenancies Available for companies younger than 2 years old as an investment vehicle Asset finance Asset finance can be used to purchase an asset such as a car, technology or equipment. It can be an easier way to get finance since lenders will look at the quality of the asset being purchased. Typical term length of 5 - 10 years Loan size amount available depends on the cash flow of your company Available for recently registered companies

Question 6

Which lenders should I apply to for a business loan?

Accepted Answer

The right lenders for your business loan depend on how much you need, how long you’ve been trading, your turnover and your business credit score. No single lender is best for every business, so it usually makes sense to compare offers from several lenders rather than applying to them one at a time. High street banks tend to suit established businesses with strong accounts and a good credit history. Alternative and specialist lenders are often more flexible on trading history and credit, can make decisions faster, and some focus on particular sectors or types of finance. Applying to more than one lender also improves your chances of getting funded. Between J anuary 2024 and June 2026 , 26.5% of funding searches through Capitalise were declined by at least one lender. Of those, 35.7% went on to get an offer from another lender. That’s why we match your business with suitable lenders from our panel of 130+, using your Experian business credit profile and the details you share with us. You fill in one application, compare the business loan offers you receive and choose the one that works best for you.

Question 7

Can I get a business loan with bad credit?

Accepted Answer

A poor business credit score can make it harder to access funding, but it doesn't mean it's impossible. At Capitalise, we work with a network of over 130 lenders, increasing your chances of finding a finance option that fits your business needs. With your Capitalise account, you can also check your business credit score at any time. You’ll see what’s impacting it and get clear insight on how to improve it, so you can boost your credit health and unlock more funding opportunities in the future.

Question 8

Can my business afford a loan?

Accepted Answer

Our business loan calculator tells you what the repayments for a loan would be. The next question is whether your business can comfortably cover them. A simple way to check is to look at your average monthly revenue, subtract your regular outgoings (wages, rent, supplier costs, existing debt repayments), and see what's left. A sensible rule of thumb is that your loan repayment shouldn't account for more than 20–25% of that figure, so you retain a buffer for quieter months or unexpected costs. Here's a quick affordability test: Work out your average monthly revenue over the last 6 months Subtract all fixed and variable outgoings, including any existing loan repayments The remaining figure is your free cash flow Divide your estimated monthly loan repayment by that figure, if it's above 25%, the term may be too short or the amount too high If the repayment looks tight, try extending the term in the calculator to see if a lower monthly payment makes the loan more manageable. You can also apply for funding with Capitalise and we'll let you know exactly how much you could borrow.

Question 9

What is APR and how does it affect my repayments?

Accepted Answer

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. It's the total yearly cost of borrowing expressed as a percentage, and it includes both the interest rate and any mandatory fees, which makes it the most useful number to compare when you're looking at loans from different lenders. The interest rate on its own only tells you part of the story. A lender with a lower headline rate but a high arrangement fee can end up costing you more than a lender with a slightly higher rate and no fees. APR accounts for all of that, so comparing by APR gives you a like-for-like view of the true cost. When you use our business loan calculator, the APR field is where you model this full cost. If you've been quoted a rate by a lender, enter that rate, if you're exploring, you can select any rate from 0.1% up to 99%.

Term (£50,000 at 8%)	Monthly repayment	Total interest	Total repayment
1 year	£4,349.42	£2,193.06	£52,193.06
2 years	£2,261.36	£4,272.75	£54,272.75
3 years	£1,566.82	£6,405.46	£56,405.46
5 years	£1,013.82	£10,829.18	£60,829.18

Business loan calculator