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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Business loan broker vs direct lender: the honest answer
A broker earns their fee on complex, large or declined cases. Going direct is better when the loan is small and simple. Here is the honest split.
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Hire purchase vs leasing: choosing asset finance in 2026
Hire purchase vs leasing decides who owns the kit, who gets the tax relief and when the VAT falls due. The 2026 rule changes moved the goalposts.
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Invoice finance vs factoring: which one fits your business?
Invoice finance vs factoring comes down to who chases your invoices and who knows about it. Five differences decide which one fits your business.
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What is the UK equivalent of an SBA loan?
The UK equivalent of an SBA loan is not one scheme but two: the Growth Guarantee Scheme and Start Up Loans. How they map, and where the map breaks down.
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Funding a buy-and-build: how roll-up acquisitions get financed
How a buy-and-build strategy is financed: the platform acquisition stack, a revolver for the bolt-ons, and what lenders want to see before deal two.
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Can you buy a business with no money down in the UK?
Can you buy a business with no money down in the UK? Usually no, occasionally yes. The three mechanisms that are real, and what they cost you instead of cash.
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Management buy-in finance: funding the business you'll run next
Management buy-in finance funds an outside operator buying a business to run. How lenders price first-time buyers, and a worked £225k unsecured example.
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How to fund a management buyout
How to fund a management buyout: cashflow-led debt, seller deferral, and the team's own stake. A worked £670k example, and the route for deals under £3m.
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Getting a loan to buy into a partnership (or out of one)
How a loan to buy into a partnership works, and how partner and shareholder buy-outs get funded. What lenders look for, and the structures that fit.
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How much deposit do you need to buy a business?
How much deposit do you need to buy a business in the UK? Most buyers put in 10% to 30% of the price. What counts, and how vendor finance shrinks it.
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The autumn 2026 working capital plan for property trades
UK asking prices fell 2% in August, and there are more homes for sale than at any August in 12 years. Here is what that means for the businesses that service property, and how to fund the work.
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How much does it cost to open a restaurant in the UK in 2026?
How much does it cost to open a restaurant in the UK? A realistic £25,000 breakdown, from kitchen kit to licences, based on a founder who did it.
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