Self-employed loans for small businesses
Get a self-employed business loan online at Funding Circle and borrow up to £500,000 with nothing to pay for the first 12 months.
- Unsecured small business loans
- Borrow up to £500,000
- Terms from 2 - 5 years
- Decision in as little as 5 hours
- No upfront or early settlement fees
Funding Circle is accredited by the Government-owned British Business Bank to provide loans under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). .
Business loans for small business owners
Our self employed loans provide a simple, low-cost way to borrow money for your business and with fixed monthly repayments it is easy to plan for the future.
You don’t need to make any repayments for the first 12 months. With rates from 1.8%-7.4% APR, no upfront fee and no interest to pay for 12 months either, a self employed loan can be much more affordable than a business overdraft or credit card.
What does it mean to be self-employed?
Being self-employed means that you work for yourself, rather than working for an employer, which gives you more freedom to choose a way of working that’s right for you.
Types of self-employment loans
There are three types of self-employment that each have different benefits.
You can apply for a self-employed loan with Funding Circle if you have been trading for 3 years or more to borrow £50,001 to £250,000.
A self-employed sole trader is the simplest way to start your own business. Sole traders work on their own and are personally liable for any loans or debts.
A self-employed partnership is a minimum of two people that share responsibility for a business. Each person’s income and liability is proportional to their share in the business.
A limited company is when the business is a separate legal entity from the owners. The company itself is liable for any loans or debt, rather than the owners having to be personally liable.
Self Employed Loans:
- Boost your cash flow
- Pay business expenses
- Help with payroll
- Manage uncertainty
- Grow your business
- Cover revenue gaps
Pete from Hackney Brewery was able to increase his ale production after taking a £30,000 small business loan to buy a new fermenter. Read more.
How do I apply for a CBILS business loan?
It’s quick and easy to apply online and you’ll receive a fast decision to take your business forward.
Check if you qualify in 30 seconds
See if you’re eligible without affecting your credit score.
Apply online in 10 minutes
Tell us about you and your business with our simple application.
Decision in as little as 5 hours
If approved, you’ll receive a no-obligation, personalised quote.
Your loan is funded
Once you accept, we run some final checks to process your loan and deposit the money straight into your account.
Here to help if you need us
Our UK-based team are here to help throughout your loan. If you’re already a customer and have been impacted by Covid-19, please give us a call on our dedicated line.
Please note that due to an increase in call volumes, wait times are longer than usual. We appreciate your patience.
Loan enquiries credit@fundingcircle.com
COVID-19 helpline 0203 966 1186
Business customer support email loanservicing@fundingcircle.com
Open Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm
To help increase stock and upgrade their website, Christine Johnston at The Kite, Surf & SUP Company has taken two small business loans.
Related resources
Learn more about your options for small business loans
Business loan calculator
Find out how much a loan could cost with our business loan calculator.
Learn moreResource centre
Find guides, tips and more in our dedicated resource centre for small business owners.
Learn moreBusiness loans
Learn what you can borrow for, how to apply and how we’ll help you with a quick decision.
Learn moreSecured or unsecured loans
Understand the difference between the two and find the right option for your business.
Learn moreFunding Circle has teamed up with insurance giant Aegon in a small business lending partnership.City A.M. August 2017
We’re here to help
Contact our team if you have any questions.

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