The latest reporting and explainers from across business news, personal finance, grants and funding, and the wider economy.

• 

  Grants and Funding

  Can I Get A Business Loan Without A Personal Guarantee?

  A personal guarantee can make business borrowing feel much less separate from my personal finances. I may operate through a limited company, but if I personally guarantee its loan, I can become responsible for repaying the guaranteed amount if the company cannot. It is therefore reasonable to ask whether I can obtain business finance without…

• 

  Grants and Funding

  Can I Get A Business Loan If I’ve Only Just Started Trading?

  A new business often needs money at exactly the point when borrowing is most difficult. I might need equipment, stock, marketing or working capital before the business has had enough time to build substantial revenue. Traditional lenders often like to see evidence of trading performance, which a brand-new business simply cannot provide. That does not…

• 

  Grants and Funding

  What Grants Can I Get If I’m Disabled?

  If I am disabled or have a long-term health condition, I may be able to access financial help with costs that other people do not face. Some of this support comes through benefits. Some comes through local authorities, charities or health and social-care services. There are also genuine grants for particular purposes, including adapting my…

• 

  Grants and Funding

  How Can I Fund A Business When The Bank Says No?

  Being rejected for business finance by my bank does not necessarily mean that the business cannot obtain funding anywhere else. Banks have their own lending criteria and risk appetite. A business that does not fit one lender’s requirements may be acceptable to another provider using a different approach. In fact, the UK has a specific…

• 

  Grants and Funding

  Can I Get Business Funding Without Giving Away Equity?

  Raising investment can provide a business with substantial amounts of money, but equity finance comes with an important trade-off. I sell part of the business in exchange for the investment. For some entrepreneurs that makes perfect sense. For others, retaining ownership is a priority. Fortunately, equity investment is only one way to finance a business….

• 

  Grants and Funding

  Are There Grants For Carers In The UK?

  Unpaid caring can have a significant financial impact. I may reduce my working hours, spend more on travel or heating, or simply have less flexibility to earn because somebody depends on me. It is therefore reasonable to ask whether carers can receive grants. The answer is yes in some circumstances, particularly through charitable funds and…

• 

  Grants and Funding

  Can I Get A Grant To Help Me Move House?

  Moving house can be expensive even when I am moving into relatively modest accommodation. I may need a tenancy deposit, rent in advance, removal costs and money for basic furniture or appliances. If I am on a low income, finding all of that money at once can be extremely difficult. There is no general government…

• 

  Grants and Funding

  Are There Grants For Students And Adults Returning To Education?

  Returning to education as an adult can be a major financial decision. I may have course fees to pay while also dealing with rent, bills, travel, childcare and perhaps a reduction in the amount I can earn. There is financial support available, but the idea of a general government “adult education grant” is misleading. Some…

• 

  Grants and Funding

  Can I Get A Grant To Help Pay For Childcare?

  Childcare can be one of the largest costs a family faces, particularly when children are young. There is significant government support with childcare costs in the UK, but much of it is not technically provided as a conventional grant. Depending on where I live and my circumstances, I might receive funded childcare hours, help through…