This tool gives general pointers based on common lending patterns — it isn't financial advice and isn't a substitute for speaking to a broker or lender directly about your actual circumstances. Every lender sets its own criteria, and factors this tool doesn't ask about (like existing debt, sector, or a personal guarantee) can significantly change what you're realistically offered.
Working out what business loan you could realistically get usually means guessing between Start Up Loans, unsecured lending, invoice financing, and merchant cash advances without any clear sense of which one actually fits your situation. This quick-check asks a handful of questions about your trading history, the amount you need, your credit position, and any security you have available, then points you toward the finance categories genuinely worth researching for your circumstances — not a random list of every option that exists.
It's a starting point for research, not a lending decision — an actual application with a real lender or broker is the only way to get a genuine offer.
No — this tool doesn't run any credit check or share your answers with a lender. It's a self-assessment questionnaire only. A real credit check only happens once you formally apply somewhere.
A previous refusal from one lender doesn't mean every lender will say no — criteria vary significantly between them. A broker can be particularly useful here, since they check multiple lenders against your situation in one application rather than you approaching each one individually.
Typically yes for the business — brokers are usually paid by the lender once a loan completes, not by the applicant. Always confirm this directly with any broker before proceeding, since fee structures can vary.