bizbritain guides
The guide library
Every article we’ve published, newest first. Filter by topic or search for the question in front of you. Cited, dated, and quietly updated when policy or rates change.
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Acquisition adviser fees: what you pay for and when you need an adviser
Acquisition adviser fees are usually a retainer, a success fee or a fixed fee. Who does what, when you need an adviser and what your lender still checks.
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How does stock finance work? What it pays for and when it beats an overdraft
How does stock finance work? A lender pays your supplier and you repay as the stock sells. Here is what it costs and when an overdraft fits better.
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Starting an online business with a Start Up Loan: what your plan needs to show
You can start an online business with a Start Up Loan. Here is what it typically pays for, and what your plan needs to show about margins and customers.
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Proof of funds when buying a business: what to show before the loan is agreed
Proof of funds when buying a business shows a seller you can pay. Here is what usually counts, and what an agreement in principle can show.
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Can co-founders both get a Start Up Loan? Yes, and each loan stays with the founder who took it
Can co-founders both get a Start Up Loan? Yes. Each of you applies for your own loan. What to agree first, and what happens if one of you leaves.
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A 13-week cash flow forecast: spotting the gap before you need to borrow
A 13-week cash flow forecast shows your money week by week, so you can spot your lowest week early. What to include, and when to talk to a lender.
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Buying assets from a liquidator: what you can buy and how to pay for it
Buying assets from a liquidator means buying equipment, stock or a brand, not the company or its debts. How the sales work, what to check and how to fund it.
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Buying the family business from your parents: gift, sale or family buyout?
How is a family buyout funded? Compare a gift, a sale and a mix, what a lender wants to see, and how a new company buys your parents' shares.
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Growth Guarantee Scheme lenders: what to do when your bank says no
Your bank said no? Other Growth Guarantee Scheme lenders decide for themselves. How to find one, what changes when you switch, and how to stay safe.
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How lenders decide how much your business can borrow
How much can my business borrow? It depends on what you can repay from profit. What lenders check, how the term changes the cost, and the typical £50,000 ask.
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How to buy a business that isn't for sale: finding and approaching the owner
You can buy a business that isn't for sale. Where off-market businesses come from, how to approach the owner and what to have ready before you talk price.
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Business buying programmes and acquisition mentors: what a lender still needs
A business buying programme can teach you the process. It cannot lend you the money. What these courses offer, and what a lender still needs from you.
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