Best UK Loans for Self-Employed People

Learn all about the loans available for self-employed people.

Updated: November 15, 2023

There are different types of loans, from personal loans to business loans. You can get start-up or bigger loans to help bridge cash flow or to cover expenses when you own a business. If you're self-employed or a sole trader, you may need help finding the right loan.

You may wonder if any self-employed loans are on the market; the short answer is yes. However, there aren’t many self-employed loans in the UK market. In this article, you'll learn all about the loans available for self-employed people.

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1. Funding Circle★★★★★Click Here
2. Selfy Loans★★★★★Click Here
3. SME Loans★★★★★Click Here
4. Ocean Finance★★★★Click Here
5. Norton Finance★★★★Click Here
6. Proper Finance★★★★Click Here

What Is a Self-Employed Loan?

When you're self-employed, being in complete control of your finances and ensuring you make a liveable income can be tricky. It's no secret that your income fluctuates when you're self-employed, and not every month looks the same.

If you need clarification on whether you fall into this category, self-employed means you work for yourself as a freelancer or sole trader; you don't work for an employer. You run your own business and hold sole responsibility for its success.

It's completely okay if you require a little financial help; it's okay to borrow money; it can be beneficial in many ways. There are personal loans for self-employed workers to help for business purposes; whether you need new equipment or borrow money for a business trip, a personal loan can help you in your hour of need.

There are three types of loans for sole traders:

  • Secured loans: A secured loan is a loan you take out whilst pledging an asset (such as your house if you own it) as collateral. Secured loans are also known as homeowner loans.
  • Unsecured loans: An unsecured loan eligibility is determined by your credit and financial history. The most common unsecured loan is a personal loan.
  • Guarantor loans: A guarantor loan requires a third party, like a family or friend, with a good credit history to guarantee the loan. Guarantor loans are ideal for someone struggling to get other loans.

You may only be eligible for some loans as some have an income requirement and will depend on your credit history. Still, there are loans designed for self-employed individuals available.

Self-Employed Loans: Pros and Cons

Taking out any line of credit can be risky.

Before introducing you to the available self-employed loans, we will explore all the pros and cons.

Pros

✔️ You can borrow more significant sums of money than taking out a credit card. Depending on your credit rating and self-employed income, you could get a loan up to £25,000.

✔️ When taking out a loan, you can agree on the repayment term. Typically, you can take out a personal loan for up to seven years, giving you more time to make repayments.

✔️ You will benefit from lending with complete transparency. You will be told how much your monthly repayments are and choose the length of repayment terms.

✔️ If you have a bad credit file, you can apply for a secured or a guarantor loan instead of a personal loan.

✔️ Loans typically have a quick turnaround time. If your application is accepted, you could have the money in your bank account within three to five working days.

Cons

❌️ Your loan application may only be accepted with a good credit rating. Most lenders will require you to have a good credit history.

❌️ If you fail to repay your loan, you could pay extra fees, potentially harming your credit rating. So, only take out a loan if you can make all loan repayments. Additionally, some lenders will charge a fee if you choose to repay the loan early.

❌️ For a self-employed personal loan, you will need a lot of documentation, such as recent bank statements, personal details, proof of income, rental income and more.

❌️ Taking out a loan can be expensive; on top of your monthly repayment, you must pay interest on the amount you borrow. The interest rate is agreed at the beginning of the contract.

Best Loans for Self-Employed People — Reviews

Here are top 6 loans for self-employed people:

1. Funding Circle: Self-Employed Loans for Small Businesses

  • Loan amount: £10,000 to £500,000
  • Interest rate: From 8.9% per year
  • Repayment term: Six months to five years

Funding Circle offers business loans up to £500,000. Self-employed loans can help boost cash flow, help with payroll, grow your business, pay business expenses, manage uncertainty and cover revenue gaps.

The application process is quick, only taking 10 minutes, and you can get approved within an hour. Funds are typically deposited into your bank account within 48 hours if your application is accepted.

Funding Circle offers three types of self-employed loans: sole trader, partnership, and limited company loans.

2. Selfy Loans: Personal and Business Loans for the Self-Employed

  • Loan amount: £1,000 to £15,000
  • Interest rate: From 24.2%
  • Repayment term: 18 to 60 months

If you've not got the most favourable credit file, Selfy Loans offers advice and loans for self-employed people or subcontractors. Selfy Loans specialise in assisting self-employed people get finance, and they don't charge an application fee.

They're a direct lender and offer a friendly face-to-face service. You can use the loan to buy new equipment tools, pay annual personal tax liability, and get professional qualifications.

To be eligible for a Self Loan, you must be over 21, self-employed for more than two years, earn a minimum gross income of £10,000, and have not been declared bankrupt or have an IVA.

3. SME Loans: Fast Funding Loans for Self-Employed Workers

  • Loan amount: £1,000 to £500,000
  • Interest rate: Unspecified, but you can get an instant quote
  • Repayment term: One to five years

You can get an instant quote for a self-employed loan with SME Loans. SME Loans offer tools for self-employed workers, from self-employment overviews to loans and more to help you succeed. The loan requires a personal guarantee, so you can apply regardless of your credit history and will be accepted. Repayment periods are flexible.

SME loans also offer a merchant cash advance, which means you can receive an advance on revenue. These loans are from £5,000 to £500,000, and you repay using a small percentage of future customer transactions.

4. Ocean Finance: Self-Employed Loan from a Wide Panel of Lenders

  • Loan amount: £1,000 to £15,000
  • Interest rate: From 13.4% up to 99.9% APR
  • Repayment term: 18 to 60 months

You can get a free quote without affecting your credit score when using Ocean Finance to locate the most suitable personal self-employed loan. When you apply for a loan, you will get an instant online decision, and all credit histories are considered. Ocean Finance provides access to loans, credit cards and mortgages to people across the UK.

To apply for a loan with Ocean Finance, you must provide details like name, address, job details, how much you would like to borrow, and how long.

5. Norton Finance: Self-Employed Loans

  • Loan amount: £3,000 to £100,000
  • Interest rate: From 6.7%
  • Repayment term: One month to 30 years

You can apply for a secured or unsecured self-employed loan with Norton Finance. This lender has several options, so if you're worried about your credit file and own your home, you can apply for a secured loan.

You can have flexibility with your lending and use the online loan calculator to determine your terms and monthly repayment before you fill out the online application.

To apply for a loan with Norton Finance, you must provide personal details like your address for the past three years, company details or what your business does, tax return calculations, bank statements and evidence of rental income if you are a landlord.

6. Proper Finance: Loans for Self-Employed Individuals

  • Loan amount: £10,000 to £1 million
  • Interest rate: Unspecified
  • Repayment term: 3 to 30 years

If you're looking for a larger loan, Proper Finance facilitates secured loans for self-employed people, allowing you to use the property as security to borrow. You can use your home, office, flat or other commercial property as collateral. A secured loan is ideal if you own property but don't have an excellent credit history.

To be eligible for a self-employed loan, you must be a UK resident over 18, have a working debit account, email address, phone number and the security to offer, and have a regular income.

Leading Loans for Self-Employed People: The Verdict

Although few loan options are available for self-employed workers, there are promising ones in our best list for a wide range of credit histories. So, whether you've got a great or no credit score, you can still get help with your finances.

If you need clarification on whether a loan suits your financial situation, please speak with a financial advisor before filling out any loan applications.

Related Guides:

Best UK Loans for Self-Employed People: FAQs

Can You Get a Self-Employed Loan?

How Much Can I Borrow as Self-Employed?

What Does It Mean to be Self-Employed?

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