What lenders typically weigh
For this situation, UK SME lenders typically weigh a small set of signals more heavily than others. The strength of each lever affects which lenders will look at the case and what terms you might expect:
- Type and recency of adverse
- Older satisfied CCJs are easier than recent unsatisfied ones. Insolvency, bankruptcy and ongoing arrears are much stronger blockers than historic missed payments.
- Whether the issue is business or personal
- A clean business credit file with director personal issues is more workable than the reverse. Lenders weigh both but differently.
- Asset security
- Asset finance against tangible kit or vehicles is the most accessible product with bad credit because the asset reduces lender risk.
- Revenue and trading history
- A long, consistent revenue history can offset adverse credit for some lenders. Sales data carries weight in MCA and revenue-based finance underwriting.
- Deposit and PG
- A larger deposit and a director PG materially open the lender pool for asset finance and some unsecured products.
Finance types that usually fit this situation
Asset Finance
Finance to buy/refinance equipment, vehicles or machinery.
Merchant Cash Advance
Cash advance repaid as a share of card/POS/platform sales.
Invoice Finance
Funding advanced against unpaid B2B invoices.
UK lenders that often look at this situation
The lenders below publish criteria consistent with this situation. Final approval is always subject to lender underwriting.
Simply Asset Finance
Asset finance
- Amount
- £15k–£5m
- Speed
- Not disclosed
- Security / PG
- Asset-backed
- Data confidence
- High
Propel Finance
Asset finance
- Amount
- Not disclosed
- Speed
- Contact within 1 working day
- Security / PG
- Asset-backed
- Data confidence
- Medium
Time Finance
Invoice finance
- Amount
- Up to 90% invoice advance
- Speed
- Often within 24h post invoice
- Security / PG
- Invoice-backed
- Data confidence
- Medium
Liberis
Business Cash Advance
- Amount
- £500–£1m; flexi up to £2m via partners
- Speed
- Minutes via partner
- Security / PG
- Not clearly disclosed
- Data confidence
- Medium
Capify
Small business loan
- Amount
- £5k–£1m
- Speed
- Not clearly disclosed
- Security / PG
- Unsecured marketed
- Data confidence
- High
YouLend
Sales-based funding
- Amount
- Up to 2x monthly revenue
- Speed
- Offer <24h; funding ~48h
- Security / PG
- Not disclosed
- Data confidence
- Medium
If you can't qualify yet
If no mainstream UK lender can offer terms, the route of last resort is to address the credit issues directly rather than apply repeatedly. Satisfy outstanding CCJs and ask the court for a certificate of satisfaction. Bring tax and supplier payments current. Avoid stacking applications because declines themselves become a blocker. Consider a business credit card or small platform-native MCA from a card processor (SumUp, Square, PayPal) to build a paid-on-time record. Once the trade-credit picture improves, re-approach mainstream lenders with the documented improvement.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I get business finance with a recent CCJ?
- Possible for asset finance with a larger deposit and strong PG, and for MCA where card sales are strong. Unsecured term lending is much harder. Specialist non-prime asset finance lenders publish appetite for adverse-credit cases.
- Is asset finance easier with bad credit than unsecured loans?
- Usually yes. The asset reduces lender risk and specialist non-prime asset finance lenders cover the gap when mainstream criteria don't fit. Deposits of 20–30% are typical for adverse cases.
- Will the lender check my personal credit even for a limited company?
- Almost always for SMEs. Director credit checks are standard practice. Some lenders weigh it more heavily than others; specialist non-prime providers underwrite around director adverse where business performance is strong.
- Can I get finance after a previous insolvency?
- More difficult, particularly within 6 years of the event. Some specialist asset finance lenders will look at post-insolvency cases with director PG and strong deposit. Mainstream unsecured lending is generally not available.
- How long do credit issues affect my chances?
- CCJs sit on the credit file for 6 years from the judgment date. Defaults are similar. Bankruptcy 6 years. Most lenders weight recent issues much more heavily than older ones, so time itself improves the picture if no new issues appear.