Understand your finance options
If you have a growing business, there’s an external finance option to match your ambition.
External finance is any funding you obtain from outside your business. It can come from friends and family, from a traditional bank or even from an investor.
On this page, we help you understand what external finance options are available and how they could help your business grow.
Learn new skills, reach more customers and boost your profits with Help to Grow.
Equity and debt finance
Finance options can be grouped into two categories – equity and debt.
Equity finance is where a business sells shares to raise money. Debt finance is where a business borrows money from a lender, and then pays it back with interest.
There are numerous types of equity finance and debt finance. Here, we direct you to our dedicated pages on the different equity and debt products, so you can do your research and establish which might be best for your business.
Use this quick and easy tool to find finance options for your business. Answer six simple questions and learn what types of investment may be most suitable for you.
The good news for entrepreneurs is that there is a wealth of finance options out there to help grow a business. We answer some common questions, so you can make an informed decision about your funding future.
There can often be a lot of capital available to British businesses that are looking to take their next funding step. Read more about the impact equity finance can have.
Businesses want to grow for a variety of reasons – to invest in R&D, to enter new markets, or to refinance, for example. But why should they consider equity as an option to fund their growth plans? Find out the benefits of equity finance here.
Equity or debt – it’s a choice many entrepreneurs face. And there are advantages to both. The right option for your business depends on a number of considerations. Learn more on this page.
Regional funding programmes aim to support smaller businesses across the UK's regions and devolved nations in areas such as early-stage development and capital.
Regional support
Enter your postcode to find business support and case studies from businesses within your region. You'll be taken to our interactive map.
Making business finance work for you
Starting a business doesn’t come with a set of instructions.
We know that understanding the many different types of financial product in the marketplace can be difficult.
Our Making business finance work for you guide is designed to help you make an informed choice about accessing the right type of finance for you and your business.
