Business Finance Q&A
The questions UK business owners ask us most often, answered plainly and without jargon.
What types of business finance can C4B arrange?
Business loans (secured and unsecured), asset finance and invoice financing are our core products. We also arrange refinance of existing facilities where better terms are available.
How much can my business borrow?
Unsecured loans typically run from £10,000 to around £500,000, driven mainly by turnover and affordability. Secured and asset-backed facilities can go considerably higher.
How quickly can funds be released?
Straightforward unsecured facilities are often funded within 24 to 72 hours of a full application. Asset finance usually takes a few days, and larger secured facilities one to four weeks depending on complexity.
Do you work with start-ups?
Our strongest results come from businesses with at least 1 set of filed accounts at Companies House, but we do have lenders who consider newer companies, particularly where there are assets and director support.
Will applying affect my credit file?
Initial conversations and indicative terms are based on soft checks and information you give us. A hard credit search only happens once you decide to proceed with a specific lender.
What is asset finance and what can it cover?
Asset finance spreads the cost of equipment over its useful life through hire purchase or leasing. It covers vehicles, plant, machinery, IT and specialist equipment, and can also release cash from assets you already own.
How does invoice finance work?
A funder advances a percentage of each unpaid invoice, typically 80 to 90 percent, and releases the balance when your customer pays. It can be confidential or disclosed, and applied to your whole ledger or selected invoices.
Do I need to provide a personal guarantee?
Many business lenders ask directors for a personal guarantee, particularly on unsecured lending. We will always tell you up front where one is required and what it means.
What documents will you need?
Usually your latest set of accounts, sight of this years trading so far, three to six months of business bank statements, and details of any existing borrowing.
Which sectors do you support?
All of them. We regularly place facilities for manufacturing, construction, haulage, hospitality, retail, healthcare and professional services clients across the UK.