Commercial Funding for UK Businesses

Explore commercial loans and other business funding options to support working capital, planned investment and business growth.

Whether you’re preparing for a new contract, expanding your operation or managing a seasonal funding requirement, Ethos can help you explore options through our panel of lenders.

We start with how much you need, what the funding will support and how repayments would fit your business.

Discuss your business funding requirements
Asset Sheet

What Could Commercial Funding Support?

Businesses consider funding for different reasons. A clear purpose helps establish the amount required, the timescale and the type of facility to explore.

Working Capital

Support the timing of everyday business expenditure, such as stock, materials and operating costs, where payments fall due before customer income arrives.

Business Expansion

Fund planned investment in additional capacity, recruitment, marketing or improvements to your premises as your business develops.

New Contracts and Seasonal Requirements

Prepare for the upfront costs of delivering new work or building stock ahead of a busy period, taking expected income and quieter months into account.

The purposes a lender will accept depend on the facility and your business circumstances. Funding creates a repayment commitment, so the proposal needs to be supported by a realistic repayment plan.

Secured and Unsecured Commercial Loans

A business loan provides an agreed amount of funding that is repaid over a set term, with interest and any applicable fees. Commercial loans may be secured or unsecured, with different requirements for security, guarantees and eligibility.

Secured Business Loans

A secured loan uses agreed assets, such as business property or equipment, as security for the borrowing.

The lender will assess the security alongside the business’s financial position. Assets used as security may be repossessed if repayments are not maintained. Additional guarantees may also be required.

Unsecured Business Loans

An unsecured loan does not normally require a specific business asset to be pledged as security. The lender instead assesses factors such as trading performance, credit history and repayment capacity.

A personal guarantee may still be required. This can make the guarantor personally responsible for repayment if the business cannot pay.

The amount, interest rate, term and security requirements depend on the lender’s assessment. Neither option is automatically the better choice for every business.


Compare the Full Funding Commitment

Before proceeding, look beyond the amount offered or the regular repayment.

Total cost
Check the interest, fees and total amount repayable, including whether the interest rate is fixed or variable.

Repayment schedule
Consider how payments fit alongside wages, supplier bills and existing borrowing, including during quieter trading periods.

Security and guarantees
Understand which assets or individuals support the borrowing and what could happen if the business cannot meet its obligations.

Early repayment and other conditions
Check whether charges apply if you repay early and whether the agreement includes conditions your business must continue to meet.

We’ll explain the features, costs and conditions of any offer. Where security or a personal guarantee is involved, consider independent legal advice before signing.


How Ethos Helps You Explore Commercial Funding

Our team takes time to understand your business and funding requirement before approaching lenders. We provide clear information about the available options so you can decide whether to proceed.

1. Discuss Your Requirements

Tell us how much funding you need, what it will support and when it is required. We’ll also discuss your trading history and existing commitments.

2. Prepare the Proposal

We’ll explain the information required to approach lenders. This may include accounts, business bank statements, forecasts and details of any proposed security.

3. Review Any Offer

If funding is offered, we’ll explain the amount, repayments, costs and conditions. If you choose to proceed, we’ll help coordinate the application through any remaining lender requirements.


What to Have Ready

  • The amount you want to raise and its intended purpose.
  • Your preferred timescale.
  • An overview of your business and how long it has been trading.
  • Details of existing loans and other finance commitments.
  • Recent financial information, where available.

You don’t need a complete application pack before contacting us. Share what you have, and we’ll explain what else may be needed.



Other Funding Routes to Explore

Depending on what you need the money for, a facility linked to a purchase, existing assets or unpaid invoices may also be relevant.

Purchasing Vehicles or Equipment?

Asset finance can help spread the cost of acquiring eligible vehicles, machinery and equipment over an agreed term.

Raising Funds Against Existing Assets?

Asset refinancing may allow your business to raise funds against eligible vehicles or equipment while continuing to use them.

Waiting for Business Customers to Pay?

Invoice factoring can provide access to a proportion of the value of eligible unpaid invoices, with the provider also managing collections.

Explore invoice factoring


Commercial Funding FAQs

No. Business funding may be available to smaller businesses as well as larger organisations. Eligibility depends on factors such as business structure, trading history, financial performance and the lender’s criteria.

The amount depends on your funding requirement and the lender’s assessment of your business, repayment capacity and any available security. Tell us the amount you have in mind and how you intend to use it.

Existing borrowing does not automatically rule out further funding. Lenders will consider your current repayments, overall commitments and ability to manage additional debt.

Some lenders consider newer businesses, although options may be more limited without an established trading record. A business plan, forecasts and other supporting information may be required.

Timescales vary according to the lender, funding structure and information required. Tell us about any deadline at the outset so we can discuss the process and any factors that could affect timing.


A diverse team of call centre agents working together in an office setting

Discuss Your Next Business Move

Planning an investment, preparing for new work or looking to support working capital? Tell us how much funding you need, what it will be used for and when you need it.

Our team will discuss your requirements and explain the next steps.

Call 01423 608666 or send us an enquiry.

Discuss your business funding requirements

Why Businesses Choose Ethos

Ethos is an independently owned Asset Finance company which operates across the UK.

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Ethos Asset Finance Ltd are authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for Full Permission Credit broking under FRN 723779.

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Ethos Asset Finance Ltd are a credit broker and not a lender. We can introduce you to a carefully selected number of lenders and their finance products which may have different interest rates and charges. We are not an independent financial advisor. We do not charge you a fee for our services. We will provide you with information about the products we offer, including their key features and costs, to help you make your own decision. We do not provide advice or make recommendations. You may wish to consider any alternative options that maybe available to you. Whichever lender we introduce you to, we will typically receive commission from them (either a fixed fee or a fixed percentage of the amount you borrow). You accept and agree we will receive a commission payment from the lender on completion of the finance arrangement. The lenders we work with could pay commission at different rates. The commission we receive is included in the amount you pay to the lender over the term of your finance agreement.

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