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Alternative finance

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SmallBusiness.co.uk is working in partnership with Finpoint to help you find the right finance for your business. This section provides comprehensive guides and articles on the different alternative finance options for UK small businesses and entrepreneurs. There are many different types available, including crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, micro loans, equity finance and angel investments, plus various strands of asset-based lending and refinancing.

For smaller businesses looking to grow, alternative finance providers are often better aligned to their needs – not only because they can offer less strict criteria than traditional lenders like banks, but also because they can be more flexible and responsive whilst offering a better customer service.

The alternative finance market is a dynamic sector in the UK, driven by the country’s twin strengths in fintech and investment banking services. Business funding for British SMEs from alternative finance firms now tops £15bn annually and is set to grow strongly up to and beyond the 2020s. Read on for ideas, analysis and case studies to see if it could benefit your company as well.

Four fintechs share £40m funding pot to boost small business finance

Iwoca, Atom Bank, Currencycloud and Modulr all pledge to address £10bn funding gap for small business trying to raise finance

Alternative finance

Crowdfunding for Business

3 ways to rescue a struggling crowdfunding campaign

John Auckland of TribeFirst shows us three ways to rescue your crowdfunding campaign if it's starting to flounder.

Alternative finance

Small businesses receive a record £6.7bn in equity funding

Last year, the UK's small businesses received a record £6.7bn in equity funding, with regional VC funding on the increase. But SMEs are increasingly wary of investing in themselves, according to latest CYBG research

Alternative finance

How to choose the right finance option for your SME

Philip Belamant explains the difference between loans and equity, and why specialist lenders who forward fund specific costs such as ad spend provide an alternative.

Alternative finance

SMEs seek out new sources of funding as traditional routes dry up

More SMEs are turning to alternative finance sources but they can be faced with indeterminable jargon. We decode the key terms.

Alternative finance

Cash flow relief for SMEs

With a competitive loan offering that is fast and flexible, alternative finance provider Merchant Money is successfully breaking barriers in the small business economy.

Alternative finance

Caple completes £5m in alternative funding loans to UK SMEs

UK small businesses Spinnaker International and Grayson Thermal Systems secure funding with the support of alternative credit specialist Caple

Alternative finance

Why small businesses should call upon the expert Angels

Small businesses have many uncertainties to deal with - how to get funding and Brexit are just two. Angel investors can offer advice and solutions around both. Jenny Tooth explains

Alternative finance

Caple completes £5m in alternative funding loans to UK SMEs

UK small businesses Spinnaker International and Grayson Thermal Systems secure funding with the support of alternative credit specialist Caple

Alternative finance

Why small businesses should call upon the expert Angels

Small businesses have many uncertainties to deal with - how to get funding and Brexit are just two. Angel investors can offer advice and solutions around both. Jenny Tooth explains

Alternative finance

One third of SMEs expect business funding to become more difficult post Brexit

Demand for external funding drops as businesses sit tight.

Crowdfunding for Business

Crowdfunding 2.0: why security tokens will transform start-up finance

Experts predict this new source of startup funding could be worth £2.3 billion in 2019.

Alternative finance

Alternative funding solution to Brexit finance problems for small businesses

Small businesses may be feeling the uncertainty of Brexit but financiers are focussed on the sector to survive and grow following any exit from the EU

Alternative finance

Seven tips for getting paid promptly as a small business owner

Getting clients to pay you on time is a crucial part of securing strong and healthy cashflow for your business.

Partner content

16 ways to improve your business cash flow

Read here for 16 tried and tested tips and tricks to improve potential cash flow problems

Business management

How to create good cashflow habits

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Partner content

What are the benefits of business broadband?

Business broadband offers a host of advantages over standard domestic connections, here’s why you should be considering an upgrade

Partner content

How should I select my business broadband provider?

As with any supplier, it’s important to do your research and ask important questions before you select a broadband provider for your business. But what are the must-have things you should take into consideration?