Business insurance: what a UK micro-business actually needs
Public liability, employers' liability, professional indemnity, cyber, key person — what is legally required, what is genuinely useful, and what is over-sold.
Read guide →Cash-flow lending for trade businesses
Plumbers, electricians, builders and other trades invoice after the job — but materials need paying before you start. We bridge that gap for UK incorporated trade businesses.
UK Ltd or LLP only · No personal guarantee · Decisions most working days
Recognise any of these?
- Materials to buy upfront when a customer invoice is 30 days away
- A van breakdown that stops you working today
- Winning a larger contract than normal and needing to scale up fast
- Seasonal quiet periods when invoices slow but overheads do not
If so, a Credicorp short-term business loan could help you bridge that gap.
Which product fits?
Credicorp Business Loan Recommended for this sector
Trades cash flow is driven by the gap between buying materials and receiving payment. A fixed-term loan covers that specific gap at a known total cost.
- £50–£500 in one advance
- Fixed 14–84 -day term
- 0.25% per day simple interest + £5 establishment fee
- Total cost capped at 100% of principal
- No personal guarantee
- Most decisions same working day
Credicorp Slice — split a single bill
If you have a specific trade supplier invoice to pay — materials, tools, plant hire — Credicorp Slice lets you spread it over 3 or 4 instalments at a flat fee.
- Bills of £50–£2,000
- Flat 6% fee — no compounding
- 3 or 4 weekly instalments by Direct Debit
- Settle early and we refund the unused fee pro rata
Find your fit
Pick the borrowing that fits your business
Tell us what you need and roughly how much. We’ll point you to the right product — it’s a guide to help you choose, not a lending decision or a quote.
See the cost for your sector
A typical trades business might borrow £400.00 over 56 days. Adjust the sliders to match your own scenario.
This matches your needs? Start your application
Borrowing is expensive relative to bank lending. Only borrow if the cost is less than the gap it closes. Total cost capped at 100% of principal — you will never repay more than double. There is no personal guarantee; lending is to the company.
Who can apply?
- UK limited company or LLP (body-corporate lending only — not sole traders)
- 6+ months trading
- Current UK business bank account
- Director identity check (you, not the company, as the company's authorised representative)
- No personal guarantee required — the obligation is the company's
Guides for your business
Investments for a UK director — the basics, honestly
A first-principles guide to investing surplus money — for directors who want a sensible plan rather than a stock-tip spreadsheet.
Read guide →UK startup funding guide for founders — no jargon
A startup funding guide for UK founders: grants, loans, equity, bootstrapping — the funding ladder for a micro-business, with honest pros and cons for each step.
Read guide →Common questions
- Can a trade business incorporated as a limited company apply?
- Yes. Credicorp lends to UK incorporated limited companies and LLPs in the trades — plumbers, electricians, builders, decorators and other specialists. The company must be incorporated at Companies House.
- Do companies in this sector need to provide a personal guarantee?
- No. All Credicorp lending is to the company — the UK limited company or LLP — as the sole obligor. There is no personal guarantee and no personal credit search on any director or shareholder.
- How quickly can a company in this sector get a lending decision from Credicorp?
- Applications are reviewed as they arrive during business hours. Credicorp aims to make a credit decision the same working day in most cases. Once approved, funds typically reach your company account the same day.
Credicorp lends to UK limited companies and LLPs under the body-corporate exemption (Articles 60B and 60L of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001). This is not consumer lending. The Financial Ombudsman Service and Financial Services Compensation Scheme do not apply. Full details: regulatory status and responsible lending policy.