From the 6^th April 2026, the fixed interest rate for new applications for Start Up Loans is changing to 7.5%, and eligibility criteria is expanding to accommodate businesses that have been trading for up to 60 months

Laura Harrison founded This Is Mabel, a wearable wellness brand for women built on honesty and a lived experience. With a £15,000 Start Up Loan accessed through Let's Do Business Finance, the Seaford-based founder has been able to invest in growth, move into a dedicated studio, and build the financial foundations to take her brand further.

When applying for business finance in the UK, lenders don't base their decision on a single factor. This guide breaks down the key criteria they use, from credit history and cash flow to collateral and management experience, so you can understand what lenders really look for when financing a business, and arrive at your application fully prepared.

Let’s Do Business Finance has announced a significant increase in its maximum business loan size, boosting from £150,000 to now £250,000 available to growing businesses across the South,  London and East of England

The new UK Community Finance Partnership Taskforce will unlock an extra £1bn in funding available for small businesses across the UK, strengthening support for Responsible and Community focused Lenders like Let’s Do Business Finance.

Founded during the 2020 lockdowns in Hurstpierpoint, the business quickly grew from a takeaway operation into a multi-channel food brand spanning restaurant dining, events catering, stadium concessions and wholesale supply. With a business loan from Let’s Do Business Finance, Village Pizza Kitchen secured funding to open its first permanent restaurant, creating jobs and strengthening its presence across West Sussex and beyond.

Thinking about applying for a Start Up Loan? This practical guide helps you check whether you’re ready and what you’ll need before you apply. Learn about eligibility criteria, required personal documents, funding details, and essential business paperwork such as your business plan and cash flow forecast.

A practical step-by-step guide to creating a business cash flow forecast. Learn how to plan your income, manage VAT and HMRC payments, and strengthen funding applications.

The story of how Let’s Do Business Finance enabled Quality Bottles to move from a promising startup to a thriving, job-creating local business.

Discover the key things you need to know when applying for a business loan. Our CDFI team answers the most common SME questions about funding, eligibility, and what lenders look for.

Let’s Do Business Finance is celebrating being shortlisted for two prestigious categories at the 2025 NACFB Commercial Lender Awards: Community Lender of the Year and Industry Leader of the Year, for their Managing Director Sean Dennis. 

Discover how chef Jonas Lodge from Woking, Surrey, launched Clucking Crispy Chicken in Surrey with a Start Up Loan from Let’s Do Business Finance.

Tuscany and Taste began in 2020 as a bold venture to bring authentic Tuscan truffle excellence to London. In 2025, the founders achieved their long-held dream of opening their first truffle boutique and wine bar, Tartufo e Vino Toscana — a milestone made possible through £84,000 in growth finance from Let’s Do Business Finance.

With support from Let’s Do Business Finance through funding from the Growth Guarantee Scheme and the Community ENABLE Fund, Holly Foster, founder of Bare Beauty, has proudly opened the doors to her brand-new salon and academy on South Street, Eastbourne.

Applying for business finance can be a major step towards growth — whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale. But many business owners find that their application hits a dead end, not because their business isn’t viable, but because of avoidable mistakes made during the process. 

Running a business isn’t always smooth sailing, and sometimes loan repayments can become hard to manage. In this article, we explore what to do if you’re struggling to repay your business loan — from practical steps you can take right away to the support available from Let’s Do Business Finance and other trusted organisations.