6 Ways to Raise Money - 3. Loans and Grants

Loans and grants


The traditional way of securing start-up cash is going to a bank; ideally your bank where you have some kind of relationship and where they know you. Bank loans are good - if you can get one. 

The UK Business Bankers Association estimates high-street banks reject loan applications from some 100,000 small business each year - representing a funding shortfall of £4billion.

Banks will and do lend huge sums every year - but in the post-financial crisis environment they are more risk averse and are therefore less likely to back more esoteric start-up propositions.


It is difficult for small businesses to secure a loan unless they have a substantial track record or hold valuable assets like property.

Individuals with a low personal credit score are also likely to be denied a business loan from the outset. Many banks will also be unwilling lend if the loan applicant has not injected their own personal funds into the venture.

They simply want to be assured that you'll be able to repay the money they lend to you. All banks have a similar approach to judging this.

Remember that commercial loan from a bank can be called in at anytime so make sure that you have a plan B even if you are successful in getting offered the loan.
The main thing banks look for when lending money is whether your business is able to repay the money they lend to it. All banks will have slightly different criteria they use to judge this. But there are common things you'll need to show them to prove you can repay the money.

Bank loans are usually individually priced and have negotiable terms and conditions. Things like a solid balance sheet and attractive future revenue forecasts are likely to generate a low rate of interest.

There are also a handful of business grants - although they are hard to come by. These include The Prince's Trust, which offers small low interest loans of up to £5,000 for young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 30  

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) also have a grant scheme for Scottish start-ups called The Edge Fund. (More info here:  https://scottishedge.com/)


In the grand scheme of things grants usually represent an incredible small amount of funding that business actually need to grow and prosper. People should use grants as leverage for something else.

Ray McLennan

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