Business Loans
Secured Business Loans

Compare Secured Business Loans

Secured business loans are available to a wide range of commercial borrowers
This type of loan is secured against an asset owned by the borrower's business
Below you can compare secured business loan offerings from some of the UK’s leading business finance providers

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Information written by Tim Leonard Last updated on 04 July 2022.

A secured business loan, often called secured small business loans, can be a suitable option if you have assets in your UK business and want to raise funds. Business loans secured against assets are often easier to obtain and have lower interest rates than an unsecured business loan because of the security the assets provide to lenders. It’s possible to get a business loan secured on property or other assets such as the equipment, machinery and vehicles used by your business. If this isn’t quite enough, many lenders will accept a personal guarantee allowing your own personal possessions to be included as collateral as well.

With a secured business loan, it’s vital to consider that your assets will be at risk if repayments aren’t met. It may also take a little longer to arrange a secured business loan than other loans where assets aren’t involved. However, a secured small business loan can be appealing if you need to borrow a larger amount or want a loan over a longer term. If your business has a short or problematic trading history, or a bad credit rating, these shouldn’t be a barrier to you getting a secured business loan either, making them an option for start-up businesses too.

What is a secured business loan?

A secured business loan is a type of loan that a company can apply for using its assets as collateral. If the business defaults on its loan repayments, the lender can then claim ownership of, and sell, the assets used as security instead. Because of this effective guarantee, it’s often possible to borrow more or obtain a lower interest rate with business loans secured against property than with an unsecured business loan where security isn’t required.

The way that they work means that secured business loans might also be referred to as asset-backed loans or asset-backed finance. Sometimes they’ll also be called secured small business loans.

How do secured business loans work?

Secured business loans can work in different ways, depending on the type of loan you choose. The various types of secured business loans available include:

Term loans - secured business term loans can usually be set for the short, medium or long term. Repayments are made each month, so that the loan is gradually paid off over the entire term.
Interest-only loans - this type of business loan will be fixed for a set amount of years, but in that time your monthly repayments will only ever pay off the interest. This keeps repayments low, but at the end of the term you’ll either need a way to pay off the original loan amount or will need to refinance the capital amount to a new loan.
Bridging loans - these secured business loans are designed for the short term to ’bridge’ financial gaps. A bridging loan is usually paid off via a single ‘bullet’ payment covering both the capital and interest at the end of the term.

» COMPARE: Business bridging loans

What are the advantages of a secured business loan?

Will often offer lower interest rates than like-for-like unsecured loans.
Can allow large loan amounts if sufficient assets are available as collateral.
Can usually be repaid over a long period of time.
Could be available even if your business has a bad credit rating or poor trading history.
May be available to start-up businesses with no trading history.

What are the disadvantages of a secured business loan?

Your business must have suitable assets.
These assets are at risk of being lost if repayments aren’t made.
Can take longer to arrange, due to the involvement of assets and the need to make appropriate legal arrangements.

What assets can I use for a secured business loan?

Most lenders will accept tangible or hard business assets that you can see and physically touch as security against a secured business loan. Some specialist lenders may also accept intangible or soft business assets that you can’t see or touch, even though they might prove harder to value.

Tangible/hard assets	Intangible/soft assets
Property	Trademarks
Machinery and equipment	Licences
Vehicles	Intellectual property
Business stock	Copyrights
Land	Patents
Cash
Money owed to the business as accounts receivable

Lenders may be willing to accept a combination of different assets as security, which could include assets that you own personally, such as your home, car, or shares. It may also be possible to use cash as collateral, although the conditions of cash secured business loans are often different compared to a business loan secured on property.

Features of a secured business loan

Most secured business loans in the UK can be tailored to your company’s needs. This means you only need to borrow the amount that you want (subject to any minimum loan amounts a lender might specify). The maximum you can borrow will depend on the value of the assets that you provide as security. You can also choose between a short-term loan or a medium to long-term loan.

» COMPARE: Short-term business loans

If a lender agrees to advance you a loan, there are usually no restrictions on how the funds can be spent. However, you must make the repayments in line with the loan agreement, or else risk losing the assets used as collateral if you fail to repay. Business loans secured against property generally have fixed interest rates, providing certainty over repayment amounts and when they need to be made.

How to get a secured business loan

Different lenders will usually have different requirements, but generally a business will need to have been registered to trade in the UK for a minimum of three months, and have a suitable asset or assets for security.

If your business is set up as a limited company or a limited liability partnership, a lender may also require a ‘personal guarantee’ from yourself as a director of the company. This involves you providing personal assets, such as your home or valuable personal possessions, as additional security that the lender can call on if repayments aren’t made.

How to apply for a secured business loan

The process of applying for a secured business loan will usually involve a consultation with the lender to discuss your borrowing requirements and eligibility. Typically questions will surround your line of business, your business turnover and trading history, and what you intend to do with the funds.

The lender will look at the credit history of your business, but even if this is poor, or you have a low turnover or little in the way of trading history, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get a secured business loan; instead, a greater onus is likely to be placed on the value and merit of your assets as security.

A valuation of your assets will help the lender confirm whether they are prepared to lend to you and on what terms. If they are, and you’re happy with the loan being offered, the legal documents must be signed before the funds are released.

What’s the difference between a secured business loan and an unsecured business loan?

The main difference is that a secured business loan requires assets as security, while an unsecured business loan does not. Therefore the turnover of your company, its trading history and credit rating will be far more important considerations to a lender if you want an unsecured loan, where there is no collateral as a guarantee.

A secured business loan will usually have a lower interest rate than a comparable unsecured loan because having assets as security reduces the risk of a lender not getting its money back. Lenders of asset-backed loans are also often more willing to lend larger amounts and offer longer terms because of the security too; with an unsecured business loan, the maximum that can be borrowed will often depend on the turnover of your business.

With assets part of the equation, the process of applying for a secured business loan is usually lengthier and more complex than applying for an unsecured loan. Secured business loans also often have upfront fees to cover the additional expense of valuing and then making legal arrangements in respect of the assets.

» COMPARE: Unsecured business loans

How to get a secured business loan with bad credit

As a secured business loan provider typically places more importance on the assets that are being used as security than your business’ credit history, an application is unlikely to be automatically rejected on the basis of bad credit.

However, a lender may want to see proof that your business is on a steady financial footing before it is willing to approve a loan for a company with bad credit.

» MORE: Learn about business credit scores

How much can I borrow?

The amount that you can borrow using a secured business loan will usually depend on the value of the assets put forward as security. Most lenders are usually prepared to offer loan amounts up to the full value of the collateral.

What fees and charges are involved in a secured business loan?

There may be higher fees with a secured business loan than other types of loan because of the additional charges that come with assessing, valuing and then making legal arrangements for the assets being used as collateral. These are likely to be covered within an arrangement, booking or origination fee.

Some lenders might have a bank or wire transfer fee for paying the money into your bank account, and broker fees may be payable if one is involved with the transaction.

You should usually expect a penalty charge if you make late payments, and there may also be early repayment charges if you want to settle your loan early.

What rates are available?

The interest rate you’ll pay on business loans secured against property will usually depend on how much you’re borrowing, the term over which it will be paid back, and the size of the loan in relation to the value of the assets used as security. The smaller the loan as a percentage of the assets, the lower the rate of interest may be.

Poor credit may make it more difficult to secure the lowest rates that the best secured business loans offer, while start-up firms and those in a line of business deemed riskier by lenders may face a similar challenge.

How long does it take to receive funds?

The time involved with verifying assets and meeting legal requirements means arranging a secured business loan usually takes longer than arranging an unsecured business loan. Of course, timescales will vary from lender to lender, but two to three weeks is a benchmark that many aim to meet.

Are my business assets at risk?

The nature of secured business loans means that the assets you put forward could be lost if you don’t make the necessary loan repayments when you should. If you’re struggling to make payments on a loan you already have, talk to your lender as soon as you can.

What are the alternatives to secured business loans?

If you’re unwilling to use business assets as security or don’t have suitable assets available, there are various alternatives to a secured business loan you might want to consider. These could include unsecured business loans, credit cards, credit lines and business overdrafts, particularly when borrowing smaller sums.

» COMPARE: Business credit lines

Another potential option is invoice financing, where businesses can borrow funds against invoices they are waiting for customers to pay.

» COMPARE: Invoice financing

Or if your business is in need of new equipment, machinery or vehicles, asset financing can provide the opportunity to spread the cost of purchasing or hiring such assets.

» COMPARE: Asset financing

How does NerdWallet’s secured business loans comparison work?

Finding the right secured business loan for your company is easy with our comparison table. Simply select the criteria you’d like to sort the lenders by from the dropdown list and the table will reorder itself automatically.

Lenders can be sorted according to the minimum or maximum amounts they will lend, the minimum or maximum terms they offer, or the minimum turnover required of a company before they are willing to lend – our featured lenders are the default list.

Additional details about a specific loan, including eligibility criteria, can be found behind the ‘More info’ button. And even greater detail can be seen if you click ‘See Deal’.

Secured Business Loans FAQ

Is a small business loan secured or unsecured?

If you’re searching for a small business loan, you’ll find that both secured and unsecured options are available. Which is better for you will depend on your business needs, circumstances and whether you have suitable assets to back a secured business loan.

» COMPARE: Business loans

Are secured loans easier to get than unsecured loans?

This will usually depend on your business circumstances. If your company has poor credit, an underwhelming trading history or low turnover, it might be easier to get a secured business loan. However, if you don’t have assets suited to getting a secured business loan, an unsecured loan may be your only option.

Can I get a business loan without security?

Yes, an unsecured business loan can be arranged without security. Instead, lenders will typically look at the credit standing, trading history and turnover of your business to decide whether you’d be able to meet the repayments.

Do secured business loans hurt your credit?

If you miss a repayment or default on your secured business loan, this will have a negative impact on your business’ credit score.

» MORE: Improve your business credit rating

Will I need a personal guarantee?

You may be asked to provide a personal guarantee as added security if your business operates as a limited company or a limited liability partnership. Sometimes, a personal guarantee might also be requested by a lender if the assets put forward for a secured business loan aren’t of a high enough value to cover the loan amount you want.

» MORE: Learn about personal guarantees

What if I don't have any business assets?

If your company doesn’t have assets, it may still be possible to get a secured business loan using only a personal guarantee as security. Alternatively, you may want to consider an unsecured business loan.

About the author:

Tim draws on 20 years’ experience at Moneyfacts, Virgin Money and Future to pen articles that always put consumers’ interests first. He has particular expertise in mortgages, pensions and savings. Read more

Compare Secured Business Loans

4 products found

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Capify Secured Business Loans

Secured lending for UK SMEs since 2008

Can be used for any business purpose

Check your eligibility for a secured loan in 60 seconds
Minimum Turnover
£120,000 p.a.

Available Amounts
£5,000 to £500,000

Available Terms
3 to 18 months

See Deal + More info
Company details
- Capify loans are paid back in very small automated regular payment; either daily or weekly
- A fast and easy business funding alternative for SMEs
- Funds can be used for any business purpose, from managing cashflow through to improving technology
Eligibility Criteria
- UK-based Limited Companies only
- Must process more than £10,000 a month through your business bank account
- Must have at least 12 months’ trading records
Broker
Funding Xchange Secured Business Loans

Discover instant & personalised Secured Loan offers in just 3 minutes

Borrow against your company's assets and get the capital your business needs

One search compares Secured with Unsecured lending solutions to find the best for you
Minimum Turnover
£100,000 p.a.

Available Amounts
£25,000 to £5,000,000

Available Terms
6 months to 25 years

See Deal + More info
Company details
- Access 70 lenders from one simple funding request
- Easily compare the choices available, including RLS options
- Apply with confidence, no impact on your credit score
Eligibility Criteria
- Your business must have been trading for a minimum of 2 years
- Your business must have an annual turnover of at least £100,000
Broker
Swoop Funding Secured Business Loans

Use business assets including property, vehicles, machinery, debtors etc. to secure flexible funding for your business

Can be used for any business reason

Competitive rates compared to unsecured finance options
Minimum Turnover
£50,000 p.a.

Available Amounts
£20,000 to £2,000,000

Available Terms
2 months to 10 years

See Deal + More info
Company details
- Simple, secure and speedy search of 1,000 funding providers without affecting your credit rating
- Free access every type of finance including the Recovery Loan Scheme
- Online management allows you to find funding opportunities and track applications
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be based in the UK
- Must have an annual turnover of £50,000+
- Must have been trading for 12 months or more
Barclays Secured Business Loans

Set your repayment terms, up to 20 years

Fixed or variable rates to choose from

Interest-only repayments available (subject to status and application)
Minimum Turnover
No minimum

Available Amounts
From £25,000

Available Terms
1 to 20 years

See Deal + More info
Company details
- Flexible borrowing for your business - unsecured (up to £100,000) and secured loans available
- Fixed interest rates available on all loans, plus variable interest rates for loans over £25,000
Eligibility Criteria
- Subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. Eligibility criteria applies.
- Financial information and/or security may be requested
- Personal guarantees are usually required from limited companies

Suppliers that don't offer Secured Business Loans but may offer suitable alternatives:

Nationwide Finance Business Finance

Nationwide Finance help 35,000 businesses get finance each year

Direct funder - not a broker

Same day decision, funds within 24 hours
Minimum Turnover
No minimum

Available Amounts
£8,000 to £500,000

Available Terms
1 to 5 years

See Deal
Company details
- Nationwide Finance help 35,000 businesses get finance each year
- Direct funder - not a broker
- Same day decision, funds within 24 hours
Eligibility Criteria
- Nationwide Finance help 35,000 businesses get finance each year
- Direct funder - not a broker
- Same day decision, funds within 24 hours
Funding Circle

Your business must have a minimum of 12 months’ trading history

Fast, hassle-free business finance from £10,000 to £500,000 at competitive, fixed rates

Apply online in minutes, get a decision in as little as 1 hour and funds typically within 48 hours

UK-based support team — rated ‘Excellent’ on TrustPilot
Minimum Turnover
£25,000 p.a.

Available Amounts
£10,000 to £500,000

Available Terms
6 months to 6 years

See Deal
Company details
- Fast, hassle-free business finance from £10,000 to £500,000 at competitive, fixed rates
- Apply online in minutes, get a decision in as little as 1 hour and funds typically within 48 hours
- UK-based support team — rated ‘Excellent’ on TrustPilot
Eligibility Criteria
- Fast, hassle-free business finance from £10,000 to £500,000 at competitive, fixed rates
- Apply online in minutes, get a decision in as little as 1 hour and funds typically within 48 hours
- UK-based support team — rated ‘Excellent’ on TrustPilot
Broker
Tide

Tide works with a number of partners who offer a range of flexible business funding solutions

They will run pre-eligibility checks, without affecting your credit score, to show you credit options tailored to your business

Connect your business bank account in minutes to see your credit options
Minimum Turnover
Varies

Available Amounts
£500 to £15,000,000

Available Terms
1 month to 6 years

See Deal
Company details
- Tide works with a number of partners who offer a range of flexible business funding solutions
- They will run pre-eligibility checks, without affecting your credit score, to show you credit options tailored to your business
- Connect your business bank account in minutes to see your credit options
Eligibility Criteria
Fleximize

YOUR BUSINESS MUST BE A LIMITED COMPANY WITH 6+ MONTHS' TRADING

Fast, hassle-free business loans of up to £500,000 for almost any purpose

Industry-leading flexibility – top-ups, repayment holidays, and penalty-free overpayments available on all loans

Award-winning customer service – rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot
Minimum Turnover
£120,000 p.a.

Available Amounts
£10,000 to £500,000

Available Terms
3 months to 5 years

See Deal
Company details
- Fast, hassle-free business loans of up to £500,000 for almost any purpose
- Industry-leading flexibility – top-ups, repayment holidays, and penalty-free overpayments available on all loans
- Award-winning customer service – rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot
Eligibility Criteria
YouLend

Your business must take on a minimum of £3,000 per month of card sales

YouLend is Europe's largest revenue finance provider - working with eBay, Shopify and Just Eat

YouLend funds over 5,000 UK SMEs every month including sole traders, partnerships and limited companies

Apply online in minutes, for a decision within 24 hours
Minimum Turnover
£3,000 card sales per month

Available Amounts
£3,000 to £1,000,000

Available Terms
3 to 18 months

See Deal
Company details
- YouLend is Europe's largest revenue finance provider - working with eBay, Shopify and Just Eat
- YouLend funds over 5,000 UK SMEs every month including sole traders, partnerships and limited companies
- Apply online in minutes, for a decision within 24 hours
Eligibility Criteria
- YouLend is Europe's largest revenue finance provider - working with eBay, Shopify and Just Eat
- YouLend funds over 5,000 UK SMEs every month including sole traders, partnerships and limited companies
- Apply online in minutes, for a decision within 24 hours
Broker
Love Finance

Your business must be a limited company with a minimum of 2 years trading

Love Finance is a lender and broker

Get a decision in minutes via a simple online form

Get funding within 24 hours
Minimum Turnover
£25,000 p.a

Available Amounts
£5,000 to £500,000

Available Terms
3 months to 5 years

See Deal
Company details
- Love Finance is a lender and broker
- Get a decision in minutes via a simple online form
- Get funding within 24 hours
Eligibility Criteria
- Love Finance is a lender and broker
- Get a decision in minutes via a simple online form
- Get funding within 24 hours
365 Business Finance

Your business must process credit and debit card transactions to apply for this product

A flexible business funding alternative

Cash advanced against card transactions

Pay back an affordable % of your card transactions
Minimum Turnover
£10,000+ card transactions per month

Available Amounts
£10,000 to £300,000

Available Terms
4 to 18 months

See Deal
Company details
- Get between £10,000 and £300,000
- Pay back through your customer card transactions
- A single all inclusive charge that never changes
- No interest, APRs or hidden extras
Eligibility Criteria
- Your business must have been trading for at least 6 months
- Your business must accept debit and credit card payments
- Your business must take at least £10,000 per month in card transactions.
Cubefunder

Only available to Limited Companies in England and Wales with 3+ months' trading

Fast and Flexible funding from £5,000 - £100,000 for Limited Companies within England and Wales

No penalties for Late payments or Early repayment

Apply and receive funds within 48 hours
Minimum Turnover
£50,000 p.a.

Available Amounts
£5,000 to £100,000

Available Terms
3 months to 1 year

See Deal
Company details
- Fast and Flexible funding from £5,000 - £100,000 for Limited Companies within England and Wales
- No penalties for Late payments or Early repayment
- Apply and receive funds within 48 hours
Eligibility Criteria
- Fast and Flexible funding from £5,000 - £100,000 for Limited Companies within England and Wales
- No penalties for Late payments or Early repayment
- Apply and receive funds within 48 hours
Previse

Previse Instant Advance is a fast cash flow facility, designed specifically to help businesses grow

Completely unsecured, no personal guarantees or security required

Available with a variety of short term lengths
Minimum Turnover
£250,000 p.a.

Available Amounts
£25,000 to £2,000,000

Available Terms
3, 6 or 9 months

See Deal
Company details
- Previse Instant Advance is a fast cash flow facility, designed specifically to help businesses grow
- Completely unsecured, no personal guarantees or security required
- Available with a variety of short term lengths
Eligibility Criteria
- Previse Instant Advance is a fast cash flow facility, designed specifically to help businesses grow
- Completely unsecured, no personal guarantees or security required
- Available with a variety of short term lengths
NatWest

Flexible everyday business finance options with a variety of loan terms and repayment options to suit your needs

Borrow from £1,000 upwards with fixed and variable interest rates, no early repayment charges and no closure fees

Security may be required. Product fees may apply. Over 18s only. Subject to status, business use only.
Minimum Turnover
No minimum

Available Amounts
£1,000 to £50,000

Available Terms
1 to 7 years

See Deal
Company details
- Flexible everyday business finance options with a variety of loan terms and repayment options to suit your needs
- Borrow from £1,000 upwards with fixed and variable interest rates, no early repayment charges and no closure fees
- Security may be required. Product fees may apply. Over 18s only. Subject to status, business use only.
Eligibility Criteria
- Flexible everyday business finance options with a variety of loan terms and repayment options to suit your needs
- Borrow from £1,000 upwards with fixed and variable interest rates, no early repayment charges and no closure fees
- Security may be required. Product fees may apply. Over 18s only. Subject to status, business use only.

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