No credit check business loans – bad and poor credit considered
We don’t run a credit check on your business when you apply with Acceptance. Instead, we use a soft credit check to assess your eligibility, which leaves no mark on your credit file – so you can find out where you stand without any risk to your score.
- Soft credit check — no footprint
- No early repayment fees
- Funds in as little as 48 hours
- Human decisions, not just algorithms
No Credit Search
What does 'no credit check' mean for my business loan application?
Soft Credit Check
When you apply with Acceptance, we do not run a credit check on your business. We assess your eligibility using a soft credit check instead, which checks your basic credit profile without leaving any mark on your file.
Lenders Credit Check
If your application is accepted and you decide to go ahead, the lender who ultimately provides the funding will run their own credit check as part of formally approving the loan. This is standard across the entire UK lending industry
Do I need good credit?
If you have bad credit or a limited credit history, you can find out whether you’re likely to be accepted without a check appearing on your file – then decide whether to proceed to the stage where a lender’s check applies.
What is a bad credit business loan?
A bad credit business loan is unsecured funding assessed with more weight on your current trading performance and affordability than on a poor or thin credit history. Rather than declining an application on credit score alone, we look at your actual bank statements, turnover, and trading pattern to judge whether the loan is affordable now – not just what happened on your credit file in the past.
Businesses with poor or bad credit commonly use this funding to cover:
Cash flow gaps
Bridge a shortfall without needing the credit profile a mainstream bank loan typically requires.
Rebuilding after a difficult period
Access funding while demonstrating a period of stronger, more recent trading.
Tax bills and unexpected costs
Cover an HMRC deadline or one-off bill even where credit history has made borrowing elsewhere difficult.
Growth and stock
Fund the day-to-day needs of the business without a poor credit history closing off every option.
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
Eligibility
Am I eligible for a no credit check business loan?
We lend across all sectors and consider applications from businesses with an imperfect credit history. Meet the basics below and there’s a strong chance we can help.
Based in the UK
Registered with Companies House and actively trading in the United Kingdom.
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
Bad or poor credit considered
A low credit score, defaults, or CCJs won't automatically rule you out - we look at your current trading position alongside your credit history.
The process
How do I apply with no credit check from Acceptance?
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 the tax bill you need to cover and 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, so you can pay HMRC before the deadline.
Costs
How much will a bad credit 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%
Will poor credit mean I’m charged a higher rate?
It can do. Your rate reflects overall risk, and credit history is one factor alongside your trading performance and affordability – but a poor credit score alone won’t necessarily mean the highest rate, and it won’t rule you out of applying.
Can I repay early?
Yes, at any time with zero penalties. You only pay interest for the period you held the loan.
What are the advantages of applying with no credit check from us?
- Advantages
- No credit check from Acceptance - only a soft check to assess eligibility
- No impact on your credit score just for finding out where you stand
- Bad credit, poor credit, and limited credit history all considered
- Decision in 24 hours
- Repay early with zero penalties
- Not secured against business assets
- Disadvantages
- A lender's own credit check still applies if you proceed to a formal offer
- Rate depends on trading history and affordability, and poor credit may mean a higher rate
- Requires 12+ months trading history
- Total cost is higher than borrowing with a strong, clean credit profile
Work out your loan
Work out your loan
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
5 things you'll need to apply for a no credit check loan
Having these ready before you start speeds up your application significantly.
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 our lenders can understand your ability to repay.
3–6 months of bank statements
Recent statements showing your trading activity, so we can assess your cash flow and affordability accurately.
An honest account of your credit history
If you have bad or poor credit, tell us upfront – it helps us match you to the right lender and terms faster.
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 applying with bad or poor credit?
Does Acceptance run a credit check?
No. We assess your application using a soft credit check only, which has no impact on your credit score.
Will a lender check my credit if I go ahead?
Yes. If you choose to proceed with a loan offer, the lender providing the funds will run their own credit check as part of finalising the agreement. We’ll always tell you before this happens.
Can I apply with bad credit or a low credit score?
Yes. We consider applications from businesses with bad credit, poor credit, defaults, or CCJs, assessed alongside your current trading performance rather than credit history alone.
Will checking my eligibility affect my score?
No. Our soft credit check leaves no mark on your file, so you can check where you stand without any risk.
Put it to work
What can you do with funding from Acceptance?
Whatever your credit history, here’s what our customers use this 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 no credit check business loans
These are some of the common questions about our no credit check loans
What is a "no credit check" loan?
Acceptance does not run a credit check on your business when you apply - we use a soft credit check to assess eligibility instead, which leaves no mark on your file. If you proceed to a formal loan offer, the lender providing the funds will run their own credit check, as is standard practice across UK lending.
What's the difference between a soft and hard credit check?
A soft credit check reviews your credit profile without leaving a visible mark that other lenders can see, and doesn't affect your score. A hard credit check is a fuller search, visible to other lenders, and only happens if you choose to proceed with a lender's formal offer - we'll always tell you before this happens.
Can I get a business loan with bad credit?
Yes. We consider applications from businesses with bad credit, poor credit, or a history of missed payments, defaults, or CCJs, assessed alongside your current trading performance and affordability.
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.
Does poor credit mean I'll be turned down?
Not automatically. We look at your trading history and current affordability alongside your credit profile, rather than declining on credit score alone.
Explore more
Other ways Acceptance can fund your business
Unsecured business loan
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