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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Can I use a Start Up Loan for stock or equipment? The 2026 guide
Yes, you can use a Start Up Loan for stock or equipment. Here is what the money can go on, what it cannot, and when asset finance is the better route for a big purchase.
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Can I get a Start Up Loan on Universal Credit? The 2026 guide
Yes, you can apply for a Start Up Loan on Universal Credit. Here is what the scheme checks, how the 12-month start-up period works, and what to prepare.
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How long does a Start Up Loan last? One to five years, and how to choose
A Start Up Loan lasts one to five years. Here is how the term you pick changes the monthly cost, and why you can still clear it early at no extra cost.
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How to buy a business with no money down in the UK
How to buy a business with none of your own money, what the finance stack actually looks like, and why going in with nothing in reserve is a risk you have to plan for.
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How much can I borrow with a Start Up Loan in 2026?
How much can I borrow with a Start Up Loan? Between £500 and £25,000 as one person, and up to £100,000 where four business partners each apply.
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The £10m Hospitality Grant Scheme explained, and how to fund the rest
The £10m Hospitality Grant Scheme opens for applications at the end of September. Here is what it funds, who it is for, and how to pay for the rest.
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Can a sole trader get a business loan in 2026?
Many self-employed people assume business finance is only for limited companies. It is not. Here is what a lender actually looks at.
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Buying a business in 2026: what falling insolvencies mean for your timing
UK business insolvencies fell 19% in August. If you have been waiting for a weaker market to hand you a cheaper deal, the numbers have just moved the other way.
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What the Whitbread closures mean if you want to buy a pub
Whitbread closes 261 pub-restaurants this week. Less is settled about the buildings than the coverage suggests, and being ready matters more than watching listings.
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What JLR's £1.7bn cost cut means for the suppliers around it
Jaguar Land Rover is taking £1.7bn out of its cost base over two years. If one buyer is a large share of your sales, these are the checks to run this week.
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Six businesses to build around the UK electric car boom
Battery-electric cars were 29.8% of the UK new car market in August. That creates work for installers, garages and specialists, and here is how owners fund the kit.
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Funding growth in 2026 when most firms are holding back
Only 17% of UK firms plan to raise investment this year, the lowest share since the pandemic. Here is how to weigh funding a move while your competitors wait.
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