If your business needs money to cover a shortfall, or to grab an opportunity before it sails past, a working capital loan could be for you. After all, all kinds of things get in the way of your healthy business’s cash flow. Like seasonal business, unpaid invoices, repairs or an unexpected bill. Even a full order book can swallow up your cash flow as you race to buy stock and get your staff working overtime. That’s why many UK businesses turn to a working capital loan to bridge the gap, giving them the finance they need to expand or cover their expenses.
Working capital is the money your business has left after everything it owes is taken out.
You can figure out your working capital as an amount, and as a ratio. But you’ll get a better idea of your business’s health by looking at the ratio. If you want to do the sums, divide your assets by your liabilities. Here’s an example comparing two different businesses:
Business A has £1,000,000 in current assets and £750,000 in current liabilities. This gives them working capital of £250,000 and a working capital ratio of 1.33 (i.e Current Assets/Current Liabilities).
Business B has £100,000 in current assets and £40,000 in current liabilities. This gives them only £60,000 of working capital, but a better working capital ratio of 2.5. So, this business is in the better shape for growth.
If your cash flow is tied up while you wait for customers to pay and funds to clear, you could cover the gap with short-term finance. Lenders make working capital loans for businesses that have cash on the way but who also have a temporary shortfall. For example, if you have a seasonal business, you’ve likely noticed that you get most of your income at certain times of the year.
Without working capital your business might be unable to:
You might even find yourself unable to ship and deliver the orders you need to get paid. That’s where a working capital loan comes in. You can plan your finances and smooth out highs and lows in your income.
As with any finance, there are advantages and disadvantages when borrowing to increase your working capital cash flow. LoanTube works with lenders from across the UK market to give you the widest choice of loans and repayment options.
Pros of working capital loans
Cons of working capital loans
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When it comes to financing your business with a working capital loan, LoanTube gives you plenty of choices. We work with many lenders to give you the best loans and the lowest interest rates. If you aren’t sure where to start, or you need your loan in a hurry today, chat now with LoanTube’s friendly credit experts.
If you need to borrow to increase your working capital, you could use one of these options:
Overdrafts : If your business already has an overdraft facility, you can dip into your bank account’s credit to cover your outgoings. If you don’t have an overdraft already, it can take a while to set this up, so it may not be suited to you if you need your money fast. Also, overdrafts can come with fees and penalties.
Business credit lines : These work in the same way as bank overdrafts. You agree on a borrowing limit with your lender and use as much or as little as you want. You only pay interest on what you borrow. Credit lines can be a good option if you aren’t sure how much you will need.
Invoice financing : Do you have invoices that haven’t been paid yet? It would be great if everyone paid right away, but sometimes you have to wait a while for your clients to settle. If this is the case, you could borrow against the unpaid funds through invoice finance.
Business credit cards : A credit card can be a good way of managing your monthly cash flow and giving you access to extra cash when you need it. Beware that interest payments on credit cards can be higher than on other working capital and short-term loans.
Secured and unsecured short-term loans : Designed for SMEs that need credit for a fixed period, these working capital loans give you a lump sum, fixed repayments and a final repayment date. You may have to pay closing fees if you settle the loan early.
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It depends on the lender and your business situation. Some working capital finance is unsecured, meaning the lender won’t ask you to commit any of your assets to receive a loan. However, some lenders will require collateral. If you’re taking out short-term finance secured by your own assets, you must make sure the repayments are affordable and you can pay the loan off in time.
An overdraft you can dip into when you need sounds like the perfect cash flow solution. However, bank accounts with overdraft options sometimes have real downsides. First, United Kingdom lenders can charge high penalties if you go outside your agreed limit, which is often quite low. Second, overdraft charges can be higher than getting a working capital loan with fixed repayments and interest rates.
It can be tough to get any type of loan if you have bad credit or you have been refused finance in the past. However, LoanTube works with a big panel of lenders to cover a range of customer circumstances and loan requirements. Our lenders know that success doesn’t always arrive on the first try. That’s why some lenders offer loans if you have bad credit from the past or previous businesses. Contact us and our loan-broker experts will explain your options.
Usually, you borrow for the short term. This may be a duration of just a few months, to up to 12 months. However, some lenders offer loans you can repay for up to 7 years. Working capital loans are usually suited for businesses that need access to funds for a shorter duration. For example, if you have a restaurant and make most of your profit in the summer months, a working capital loan will tide you through the quieter winter. If you need affordable finance for more than a year, you may be better off looking at longer-term, secured borrowing for growth.
The amount you can borrow depends on your business health, history, the lender and the repayments you can afford. Sometimes, businesses will take out loans of just £5,000, up to £500,000. Depending on the loan type and lender you select, you may be able to add borrowing to your loan without going through a new application.
Borrowing flexibility depends on the loan and the lender. Some lenders give you a choice of fixed or a variable monthly repayment. Some lenders allow you rent free payment holidays, and some grace days. Furthermore, you may be able to pay off your loan early with no closure charges. So, if things go better than expected, you can clear your borrowing before the end of the term.
As part of their business checks, our UK lenders may prefer you to have a year or more trading history. As well as that, you will get a better choice of loans and repayment rates if your business is in good health. LoanTube works with a wide range of lenders, so drop our loan-broker experts a line today and let us look for the right loan for you.
LoanTube helps UK firms access business finance through multiple direct lenders. We are an introducer and do not provide loans ourselves.
Think carefully before securing debts against your home or your assets. Your home and assets may be repossessed if you fail to keep up with repayments on debts secured against it.
All loan approvals & quotes are subject to credit checks and affordability requirements by lenders. If your business meet the lender’s criterion, you can borrow the money. We as a broker make an attempt to process your application with the most suitable lenders in our panel.
LoanTube is a credit broker and not a lender.
Warning: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For more information, go to MONEYADVICESERVICE.ORG.UK
The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances.
Representative APR Example: Amount of credit: £50,000 for 24 months at £2,339.38 per month. Total amount repayable of £57,348.69 Interest: £7,348.69 Interest rate: 14.4% pa (fixed).
14.4% APR Representative. Loan term lengths between 3 and 60 months.