Finance

Finance advice articles for small businesses

Access to finance

• 10 alternative sources of finance
  We often hear from successful small businesses struggling to source funding from traditional sources such as banks. Here are 10 alternative funding sources for creditworthy businesses.
  
  
• Enterprise Finance Guarantee
  Under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG), the Government guarantees lending to viable businesses to ensure that they can get the working capital and investment that they need. Find out if your business is eligible.
  
  
• Grants for small businesses
  Grant funding is harder for businesses to come by these days, but it is still available if you know where to look. Read more about the types of grants available to businesses and, if you need more help, find out about our grant application support service.

Cash flow

• Credit control
  Increase your chances of getting paid with these mini guides to credit management and debt recovery.
  
  For more in-depth advice, see our Credit Control Guide.
  
  
• Credit control templates
  Download a sample bundle of FREE credit control templates in Microsoft Word format from the Credit Control Guide.

Banking

• How to get the best from your bank
  Improve your relationship with your bank to boost your chances of securing the finance you need.
  
  
• Interest rate swap mis-selling
  In June 2012, some of Britain's biggest banks were order to pay compensation to small businesses mis-sold complicated insurance to protect loans against interest rate rises. We're helping members affected by this mis-selling.

Tax

• Small Business Rate Relief
  All businesses have to pay business rates on commercial properties, but some small businesses may be able to save money by claiming relief.
  
  
• Tax guides and videos
  View HMRC tax guides and videos to help you understand your tax responsibilities as a business owner.
  
  
• Budget 2012
  Read our response to the Chancellor's Budget speech from March 2012 and see which measures affect small businesses.

Financial advice

• How to choose financial advice
  All businesses will, at some point, need to get advice on their finances. Find out how to choose the right financial advice for your business, plus search for an independent financial adviser.