Loans for SMEs | Borrow £50k–£500k | Acceptance
Business Loans for SMEs – funding built for small and medium-sized enterprises
Whether you’re a five-person team or approaching 250 staff, your funding shouldn’t come with the paperwork of a corporate lending desk. Borrow £50,000-£500,000, get a decision in 24 hours, and repay in fixed monthly installments that fit your business.
- Soft credit check — no footprint
- No early repayment fees
- Funds in as little as 48 hours
- Human decisions, not just algorithms
SME Characteristics
What is an SME?
How big is an SMEs?
Small business: fewer than 50 employees and turnover under £10.2 million
Medium business: fewer than 250 employees and turnover under £36 million
Are there many SMEs?
Small and medium-sized enterprises make up the vast majority of UK businesses – over 99% of all businesses across the United Kingdom fall into this category.
How does SME financing differ?
SME lending is built to flex across that range – assessed on your actual trading history and affordability, rather than assuming every business needs the same size or shape of loan.
What is a loan for SMEs?
An SME business loan is unsecured finance that lets your business borrow a fixed amount and repay it in predictable monthly instalments, sized and assessed around how small and medium-sized businesses actually trade – rather than the documentation and history a larger corporate borrower would be expected to provide.
Cash flow and working capital
Smooth the gap between money owed to you and money you owe out, without disrupting day-to-day operations.
Equipment and growth
Fund the tools, technology, or premises needed to take the business to its next stage.
Stock and seasonal demand
Buy ahead of a busy period, or manage cash flow through a quieter one.
Tax bills and one-off costs
Cover VAT, corporation tax, or an unexpected bill without dipping into reserves earmarked elsewhere.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
£50,000 – £500,000
Loan amount
6 – 60 months
Repayment term
No assets needed
Unsecured lending
Fixed monthly payments
No surprise charges
No early repayment fees
Repay whenever you're ready
Won’t affect your credit score
The process
How do I apply for an SME business loan?
Simple and fast, built for how quickly small and medium-sized businesses need to move.
Apply in minutes
Use our quick online form. Tell us how much you need.
Soft credit check
We check your eligibility without leaving a mark on your credit file.
We say yes
A real person reviews your application and comes back to you within 24 hours.
Money in your account
Sign your agreement and the funds are on their way.
Eligibility
Am I eligible for SME finance?
We welcome applications from limited companies, sole traders, partnerships, and LLPs – including businesses with an imperfect credit history.
Based in the UK
Make sure you are registered with Companies House
Trading 12+ months
Most applications require at least 12 months of trading history, if you're newer, get in touch and we may still be able to help
Not currently insolvent
Make sure your company is in a position to repay any debts or credit
Costs
How much will an SME business loan cost me?
Your rate is personalised and confirmed before you commit. Based on our representative APR of 18.9%, here are some illustrative examples:
| Loan amount | Acceptance | High street bank | Total repayable |
|---|---|---|---|
| £50,000 | 24 months | £2,510 | £60,240 |
| £100,000 | 36 months | £3,640 | £131,040 |
| £200,000 | 48 months | £5,820 | £279,360 |
| £350,000 | 60 months | £9,030 | £541,800 |
| £500,000 | 60 months | £12,920 | £775,200 |
18.9%
What fees are there?
None hidden. Interest is built into your fixed monthly repayment — that’s the only cost.
Can I repay early?
Yes, at any time with zero penalties. You only pay interest for the period you held the loan.
What do I get with SME funding?
Borrowing at this level is one of the fastest ways to fund growth or bridge a gap without giving up equity or disrupting working capital. Here’s an honest comparison.
- Advantages
- Funding scaled to your business, whether you're a small operation or a larger SME
- Preserve cash flow - no need to use your working capital
- Fixed repayments - easy to budget around
- Decision in 24 hours
- Repay early with zero penalties
- Not secured against business assets
- Disadvantages
- Rate depends on trading history and affordability
- Adds a fixed monthly commitment on top of your existing outgoings
- Requires 12+ months trading history
- Total cost can be higher than funding growth from cash flow alone
Work out your loan
What will my SME cost me?
Get an instant estimate. No credit impact.
- Finance £50,000 to £500,000
- Terms from 6 to 60 months
- No early repayment penalties
Your loan estimate
Illustrative only. No impact on your credit score.
Representative APR 18.9%. Subject to status and eligibility. For illustrative purposes only.
Your actual rate may differ. See full calculator
What we offer
What do I need to apply for a loan for SMEs?
Some of the documentation that may be required when you apply includes:
Company registration number
Your company registration number from Companies House, used to verify your business and confirm its trading status.
Confirmation of annual turnover
So we can size the loan and move fast against your deadline.
3–6 months of bank statements
Recent statements showing your trading activity, so we can assess your cash flow and affordability accurately.
Details of the amount and purpose
How much you’re looking to borrow and what it’s for – whether that’s cash flow, equipment, stock, or something else. This helps us match you to the right term and structure.
Your contact details
Name, email address, and phone number, along with your role in the business, so we can verify you’re authorised to apply on its behalf.
We welcome applications from limited companies, sole traders, partnerships, and LLPs — including businesses with an imperfect credit history.
Features
What more should I know about SME business loans?
What are the fees to apply?
With Acceptance SME loans, there are no hidden fees. Interest is built into your fixed monthly repayment.
Does my business size affect my rate?
Your rate depends on trading history, turnover, and affordability rather than business size alone – a strong-trading five-person business and a strong-trading 100-person business are assessed on the same basis.
Can I repay my loan early?
Yes, at any time with zero penalties. You only pay interest for the period you held the loan.
What will my SME loan repayments be?
Get an instant estimate based on the amount you need and your preferred term. No credit impact.
Put it to work
What else can you do with business loans from Acceptance?
Whatever stage your SME is at, here’s what our customers use Acceptance funding for.
- Settle VAT, PAYE, or corporation tax in full
- Stabilise cash flow around payment deadlines
- Hire more staff
- Buy stock or inventory
- Upgrade equipment
- Consolidate other short-term debt
Common questions about SME business loans
These are some of the common questions about loans for SMEs:
What officially counts as an SME?
In the UK, a small business typically has fewer than 50 employees and turnover under £10.2 million; a medium-sized business has fewer than 250 employees and turnover under £36 million. Together they make up the majority of UK businesses.
Is my business too small, or too large, to qualify?
Probably not. We assess applications on trading history, turnover, and affordability rather than a fixed size threshold - we lend to businesses across the full SME range.
Is this the same as a government-backed SME loan scheme?
No. Government-backed schemes such as Start Up Loans or the Growth Guarantee Scheme are separate products with their own eligibility rules. This is an independent business loan from Acceptance, assessed on your own trading history.
Will applying affect my credit score?
No. We run a soft credit check to assess eligibility, which leaves no mark on your credit file.
How quickly can I get an SME business loan?
Most applicants receive a decision within 24 hours, with funds released in as little as 48 hours.
Can I repay the loan early if my cash flow improves?
Yes, at any time with zero penalties. You only pay interest for the period you held the loan.
Explore more
Other ways Acceptance can fund your business
Loan for Tax Bills
Borrow to avoid HMRC late payments on corporation, PAYE or any other tax bill.
VAT Loans
Borrow to clear your VAT return and repay in fixed monthly installments.