Knowledge Box
Funding, explained without the jargon
Plain-English guides for UK limited companies and LLPs, written by the Lending Box team.
Browse the business finance glossary
- Borrowing basics
How much can my business borrow?
Rules of thumb UK lenders use to size a business loan: turnover, term, profitability, affordability and existing debt, explained in plain English.
1 October 2026 · 6 min read - Products explained
Unsecured business loans explained
What an unsecured business loan is, how personal guarantees fit in, typical terms, what lenders check and how to compare offers.
1 October 2026 · 6 min read - Products explained
Merchant cash advance and revenue-based finance: how repayments work
How merchant cash advances and revenue-based finance work in the UK, how repayments flex with card sales, costs to check and who they suit.
1 October 2026 · 6 min read - Products explained
Invoice finance vs invoice factoring vs selective invoice finance
The difference between invoice discounting, factoring and selective (single) invoice finance, how much you can release and which suits your business.
1 October 2026 · 6 min read - Products explained
Asset finance: hire purchase vs leasing
How hire purchase, finance leases and operating leases work for UK businesses, who owns the asset, VAT and tax points, and which suits you.
1 October 2026 · 6 min read - Borrowing basics
Refinancing and consolidating business debt: when it makes sense
When refinancing or consolidating business loans and advances can lower monthly repayments, the costs to check and how lenders assess it.
1 October 2026 · 6 min read - Cashflow and tax
Funding a VAT, PAYE or Corporation Tax bill
Your options when a VAT, PAYE or Corporation Tax bill is due: HMRC Time to Pay, tax loans and other finance, with due dates and what lenders check.
1 October 2026 · 6 min read - Applying for finance
What lenders look for in your bank statements
The things UK business lenders check in your bank statements: income, balances, overdraft use, returned payments, existing debt and gambling.
1 October 2026 · 6 min read - Borrowing basics
Personal guarantees explained
What a personal guarantee is, why lenders ask for one, how much you could be liable for, how to limit the risk and how PG insurance works.
1 October 2026 · 6 min read - Applying for finance
How to prepare management accounts for a lender
What management accounts are, what UK lenders want to see in them, how to prepare a profit and loss, balance sheet and debtor list, and common mistakes.
1 October 2026 · 6 min read - Borrowing basics
Secured vs unsecured business loans: which is right for your company?
The real differences between secured and unsecured business loans: security, cost, speed, amounts and when each option makes sense.
2 October 2026 · 7 min read - Borrowing basics
How business credit scores work in the UK
How business credit scores are built in the UK, what credit reference agencies look at, and practical steps to improve your score before applying.
2 October 2026 · 6 min read - Borrowing basics
CCJs and business finance: what lenders see and how to deal with them
How County Court Judgments affect UK business finance applications, how to satisfy or set one aside, and what to tell lenders.
2 October 2026 · 7 min read - Borrowing basics
Understanding APR, factor rates and the total cost of credit
How APR and factor rates work, why they are not directly comparable, and how to work out the true total cost of a business finance offer.
2 October 2026 · 6 min read - Products explained
How bridging loans work, and why your exit strategy matters more than the rate
How UK bridging finance works, typical terms and costs, and why lenders focus heavily on your exit strategy before approving a loan.
2 October 2026 · 7 min read - Products explained
Commercial mortgages for limited companies: how they work
How commercial mortgages work for UK limited companies buying trading premises or investment property, including rates, terms and what lenders check.
2 October 2026 · 7 min read - Products explained
Development finance basics: funding a property project
How development finance works for UK property projects, how drawdowns and gross development value are assessed, and what lenders need to see.
2 October 2026 · 7 min read - Products explained
Asset refinance: releasing equity from equipment you already own
How asset refinance lets UK businesses release cash from equipment, vehicles or machinery they already own, how valuations work and what to watch for.
2 October 2026 · 6 min read - Products explained
Stock and inventory finance: funding goods before they sell
How stock and inventory finance works for UK businesses, what makes stock fundable, and how it fits alongside invoice and asset finance.
2 October 2026 · 6 min read - Products explained
Trade finance and letters of credit: the basics for UK importers
How trade finance and letters of credit work for UK businesses importing or exporting goods, and when they are worth using.
2 October 2026 · 6 min read - Applying for finance
Funding a business acquisition or management buyout
How UK limited companies fund acquisitions and management buyouts, typical funding structures, and what lenders want to see.
2 October 2026 · 7 min read - Cashflow and tax
HMRC Time to Pay vs borrowing: which fits a tax bill?
How HMRC Time to Pay arrangements work compared with business borrowing for a VAT, PAYE or corporation tax bill, and how to decide between them.
2 October 2026 · 6 min read - Applying for finance
Business finance for new companies: what is realistically available
An honest look at what finance is realistically available to newly formed UK companies, minimum turnover expectations and how to strengthen an early application.
2 October 2026 · 6 min read - Applying for finance
How to read a business loan offer: fees, early repayment, security and covenants
A plain-English guide to reading a UK business loan offer: fees, early repayment terms, security, personal guarantees and covenants to check before signing.
2 October 2026 · 7 min read - Applying for finance
How open banking is used in business lending decisions
How UK lenders use open banking to assess business finance applications, what it checks, and why sharing it can speed up or improve your offer.
2 October 2026 · 6 min read - Cashflow and tax
Seasonal businesses and cashflow finance: smoothing the quiet months
How seasonal UK businesses can use revenue-based finance and other facilities to smooth cashflow between peak and quiet trading periods.
2 October 2026 · 6 min read - Products explained
Business credit cards vs overdrafts: which suits day-to-day costs?
How UK business credit cards and overdrafts compare for everyday spending, costs, flexibility and what lenders look at for each.
2 October 2026 · 6 min read - Borrowing basics
How a commercial finance broker works, and how we are paid
How a UK commercial finance broker like Lending Box works, how we are paid by lenders, and what that means for the service you receive.
2 October 2026 · 5 min read - Applying for finance
Preparing for a lender call: the questions to expect
How to prepare for a call with a UK business lender, the questions typically asked, and documents to have ready to speed up a decision.
2 October 2026 · 6 min read - Applying for finance
Improving your chances after a business finance decline
Practical, honest steps for UK businesses to take after a finance application is declined, and how to improve the chances of a better outcome.
2 October 2026 · 6 min read
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UK limited companies and LLPs. Indicative only. Subject to lender assessment and approval.