We make it simple for you to apply for funding.
Once we’ve checked that your application is eligible, we’ll manually review both the application and your business circumstances and give you a price.
Business loans
Apply for a business loan
What are the key features of the Starling Business Loan?
- Business Loans from £25,001 to £250,000
- Personal Guarantee required as security
- A fixed interest rate, so your repayments stay the same for the duration of the loan
- One-off loan arrangement fee of 4% payable at point of drawdown
- Available to Limited Liability Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships. We will not accept applications from sole traders
- No fees for early repayments
- Repayment terms between 12 months to 72 months
- Non Starling customers can apply, but you will need to open an account. Please refer to our account terms and conditions to see if your business will be eligible for an account with us
What we’ll need to know
- Your personal and business details. The person completing the application must be a director or partner of the business applying for the facility and be currently authorised to act on its behalf. When we refer to “your business or your company” we are referring to a limited liability partnership or a private limited company as applicable
- Your registered company number with Companies House
- What do you need the money for, such as purchase of equipment, business expansion and working cash flow
- The latest filed accounts for the business including your Profit and Loss statement and balance sheet
- Where you hold a non-Starling Bank account, the last 6 months of statements
What you need to know
- All applications are subject to credit checks on both the company and directors
- A full credit assessment is completed on all applications, which includes a check on whether your business can afford to repay the debt.
- Your company is responsible for repayment of the loan, including all interest and your arrangement fee
Eligibility Criteria
- If you are not a Starling business customer then you will need to open an account and transfer your primary business banking. Please refer to our account terms and conditions to see if your business will be eligible for an account with us
- UK-based: The borrower must be based in the UK and carrying out trading activity in the UK. We look at your Persons of Significant Controls (PSCs) on Companies House too - you’ll need to have active PSCs and they must be UK-based
- Your business must have been trading for at least 24 months
- A full credit assessment is completed on all applications, which includes a check on whether your business can afford to repay the debt
- Credit and fraud checks for all applicants: Starling will undertake credit and fraud checks for all applicants. This will include a check on your business and its Directors/PSCs
- This will include a check to see if you or your business have missed direct debit payments, missed lending repayments, defaults or have any County Court Judgements
- We will see if you have been a director or PSC of other businesses that have become insolvent.
- We will also check to see that your business hasn’t missed other payments, such as for loans or direct debits.
- Your accounts and confirmation statements should be up to date on Companies House.
- We will not accept applications from companies that are Dormant on Companies House
How to apply for a Starling business loan
Start your application for a Starling unsecured business loan (£25,001 to £250,000).
We’re offering business loans to limited companies and limited liability partnerships.
The person completing this form must be a director or partner of the business applying for the facility and be currently authorised to act on its behalf. When we refer to “your business or your company” we are referring to a limited liability partnership or a private limited company as applicable.
FAQs
What rate will I receive?
Each application is subject to a full credit assessment. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual business’ circumstances.
Can I have a loan and an overdraft?
Yes, however each application is subject to a full credit assessment.
Are you taking Personal Guarantees or any other security?
Yes, we are taking Personal Guarantees from the people that run the business.
What is a Personal Guarantee?
When you provide a Personal Guarantee you are agreeing to act as a Guarantor for the debt obligations of the company. If your company were to default on its loan or overdraft payments that means that you’ve guaranteed that you’ll pay instead.
Are there any other options?
Starling is currently offering business overdrafts of £1,000 up to £50,000. Please visit our business overdrafts page for more information.
What happens if I miss a repayment?
If you miss or expect to miss a repayment under your Business Loan Agreement, please get in touch with us straight away to discuss it with our lending team. The risks of missing a repayment under your Business Loan Agreement are that we may:
- Cancel our agreement with you and require you to repay the full amount of the Business Loan immediately;
- Disclose information about your Business Loan to the credit reference agencies;
- Set off any amounts you owe us under the agreement against any funds you hold with us in other accounts;
- Take enforcement action against you to recover any amounts you still owe if necessary;
- Restrict your access to any other credit facilities you have with us and require you to immediately repay those facilities.
Are you a commercial finance broker?
We run a Lending Partner Programme for SME lending. To be eligible you will need to be a FCA registered broker and a member of the NACFB. Get in touch with our SME partnerships team to find out more about the Lending Partner Programme.
Already have a business overdraft with Starling and you need help or are worried?
Our customer support team is here for you 24/7. You can get in touch with them via phone, email or in-app chat.