Not necessarily. You need either filed accounts at Companies House, or up-to-date management accounts. Most lenders want to see both if you have them.
What lenders want to see
- Filed accounts: your last set of year-end accounts.
- Management accounts: recent figures, ideally no more than a few months old, showing how the business is trading now.
- Bank statements that back up the figures. See What documents do I need for a business growth loan?.
If your first accounts aren't filed yet
If you've been trading for at least 12 months but your first year-end accounts aren't due yet, up-to-date management accounts and your business bank statements can show lenders how you're performing.
Why up-to-date figures matter
Filed accounts can be well over a year old by the time you apply. Management accounts show the current picture, which is what a lender is really assessing: can the business repay from here?
Trading for less than 12 months?
Growth finance isn't available yet. See How long do I need to have been trading for a business growth loan?.
Last reviewed: 8 October 2026