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Open nowRegional grantVerified 31 Oct 2026

Start Up Loan (British Business Bank)

British Business Bank / Start Up Loans

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Worth

£500 to £25,000

Loan (repayable)

Deadline

Rolling - no fixed deadline

Type of funding

Loan (repayable)

Where

UK-wide

What it is

Government-backed personal loan of £500–£25,000 at 7.5% fixed for people starting a business or running one that has been fully trading for less than 5 years, plus 12 months' free mentoring.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 on GOV.UK: open for applications. It is an unsecured personal loan of £500 to £25,000 at a fixed 7.5% a year, for UK residents aged 18 or over who are starting a business or have one that has been fully trading for less than 5 years.

Official source

Who can apply

A summary of the main rules, not the full list. British Business Bank / Start Up Loans decides who is eligible, so read their guidance before you apply. The free scan checks these against your own business.

  • Pre-start, just started, or fully trading for less than 5 years
Read the full rules at the official source

How to apply, in brief

You register on the Start Up Loans portal (apply.startuploans.co.uk), then complete your application in your online customer account. You are matched with a Business Support Partner (a regional Delivery Partner that runs the scheme on behalf of the British Business Bank). That partner's business adviser helps you prepare your documents and is the body that assesses the application and makes the lending decision — there is no single "submit" online form that decides automatically.

  1. 1Check you are eligible
  2. 2Read how the scheme works and the loan terms
  3. 3Register / create your account on the official portal
  4. 4Get matched with a Business Support Partner
  5. 5Prepare your supporting documents (use the free templates)
  6. 6Complete and submit your application in the portal
  7. 7Pass the personal credit check and affordability check
  8. 8Assessment and lending decision by the Business Support Partner

How long a decision takes: No fixed SLA. After you submit your completed application you are contacted within 2 working days. Well-prepared applicants can complete the whole journey in roughly 2-3 weeks; those needing more help with documents typically take 2-3 months. A passed personal credit check is valid for 90 days, and you have 90 days to complete the application once started.

The full guide, with what to do at each step, the official link for it and a draft to work from, is part of the £19.95 report.

Common questions

Is Start Up Loan (British Business Bank) open for applications?
Yes. It is open for applications, with no fixed deadline.
How much is Start Up Loan (British Business Bank) worth?
£500 to £25,000. It is a loan (repayable), and the funder decides what each applicant receives.
Who runs Start Up Loan (British Business Bank), and where is it available?
British Business Bank / Start Up Loans runs it. It is available across the UK.
How do I apply for Start Up Loan (British Business Bank)?
You register on the Start Up Loans portal (apply.startuploans.co.uk), then complete your application in your online customer account. You are matched with a Business Support Partner (a regional Delivery Partner that runs the scheme on behalf of the British Business Bank). That partner's business adviser helps you prepare your documents and is the body that assesses the application and makes the lending decision — there is no single "submit" online form that decides automatically.

Does your business qualify?

Eligibility rules are where schemes get fiddly. Gov Owed checks your business against Start Up Loan (British Business Bank) — and every other UK scheme we track — in about two minutes, free. The £19.95 report then explains exactly why you qualify, drafts your answers and walks you through the real application step by step.

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Information, not financial advice; eligibility is decided by the funder. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Schemes change — confirm details on the official page before applying.