Can you get a fast commercial finance without a personal guarantee?

Short answer: Yes — sometimes. Specialist lenders and brokers can arrange fast commercial finance without a personal guarantee (PG) when a business can offer strong alternative security (equipment, invoices, property, predictable revenue) and meets lender criteria. The trade-off is usually higher cost, tighter covenants or lower borrowing amounts. If you want quick, no‑obligation quotes from lenders and brokers who specialise in no‑PG lending, start a Free Eligibility Check now: Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

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Table of Contents

• Short answer — sometimes, but it depends
• What is a personal guarantee?
• Which commercial finance types may be available without a personal guarantee?
• Why some lenders ask for personal guarantees
• The trade-off: speed, cost and coverage
• How to increase your chances of fast, no‑PG commercial finance
• Typical turnaround times and realistic expectations
• Costs & sample pricing benchmarks
• How UK Business Loans helps
• Real‑world examples
• Compliance & important notes
• Frequently asked questions
• Final summary & next steps

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Short answer — sometimes, but it depends

Some lenders will provide fast commercial finance without requiring a personal guarantee — particularly where the lender can take clear security over business assets or where future cashflows/contracted income are strong and predictable. Common quick options include asset finance (secured on equipment), some forms of invoice finance, merchant cash advances and specialist revenue‑based products.

Speed and availability depend on: the amount required (we typically help businesses seeking £10,000+), sector risk, trading history, the quality of assets or debtors you can offer, and documentation readiness. Ready to see if your business qualifies? Start a Free Eligibility Check — it’s free, quick and no obligation.

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What is a personal guarantee — plain English

A personal guarantee (PG) is a legal promise by a director or owner to be personally responsible for business debt if the business defaults. In effect, a lender can pursue the guarantor’s personal assets (home, savings) to recover unpaid sums. Personal guarantees come in several forms:

• Director/shareholder guarantee: Individual directors sign to back business borrowing.
• Joint & several guarantee: Multiple directors each agree they can be pursued individually for the full debt.
• Limited or capped guarantee: A PG with a fixed maximum liability or time limit.

Why this matters: a PG transfers business risk to personal balance sheets. Many directors prefer to avoid PGs, but lenders often use them to reduce risk — especially where business assets are limited.

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Which commercial finance types may be available without a personal guarantee?

Below are common commercial finance products and how likely they are to be offered without a PG. Each lender’s policy varies, so these are general patterns rather than guarantees.

• Asset finance (equipment, vehicle finance) — Often possible without a PG if the lender takes a fixed charge over the financed asset. If the asset has strong resale value and the borrower keeps good accounts, no PG is achievable and settlement can be fast.
• Invoice finance / factoring — Can be structured without director PGs where the debtor book is healthy and concentration risk is low. Lenders that focus purely on the invoices and debtor creditworthiness may offer non‑PG facilities.
• Asset‑based lending & specialist property finance — Negotiable. High LTV requests or complex property cases often attract PGs; lower LTV and strong security may permit no‑PG offers.
• Merchant cash advance / revenue‑based finance — Typically no PG because repayment is tied to card/Retail sales. These provide speed but often at higher cost.
• Peer‑to‑peer (marketplace) lenders — Some P2P products don’t require PGs for established businesses with strong credit, though individual platforms differ widely.
• Bridging & development finance — Often secured on property and may not require a director PG if the asset and borrower’s profile are strong; however many bridging/development lenders will ask for PGs for added security.

When no‑PG is unlikely: startups with no trading history, businesses with weak accounts, high‑risk sectors or very large loan‑to‑value requests.

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Why some lenders ask for personal guarantees

Lenders ask for PGs to reduce exposure where business assets don’t fully secure the loan. A PG gives lenders an additional recovery route if the company fails. Underwriting balances borrower strength, security offered and the lender’s risk appetite — and for many mainstream banks PGs are standard for unsecured or high‑risk commercial lending.

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The trade-off: speed, cost and coverage

Choosing no‑PG finance has pros and cons. Here’s a clear view so you know what to expect.

What this means in practice: a construction firm might get fast equipment finance secured on machines with no PG and settle in days — but the lender may charge a higher rate than a bank loan that required a PG and offered a lower rate over a longer term.

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How to increase your chances of fast, no‑PG commercial finance

Here’s a practical checklist to improve approval odds and speed up the process:

• Be ready with up‑to‑date business accounts, bank statements and VAT records.
• Show clear, predictable revenue or long‑term contracts / purchase orders.
• Offer tangible assets lenders can take security over (machinery, vehicles, property).
• Maintain a clean debtor ledger for invoice finance (low concentrations, reputable customers).
• Demonstrate sector experience and stable cashflow forecasting.
• Be transparent about adverse credit — brokers can route you to specialist lenders.
• Prepare corporate documents (directors’ IDs, company extracts) to speed checks.

How brokers speed things up: expert brokers know which lenders accept no‑PG structures and can present applications in the most persuasive way. UK Business Loans connects you to brokers and lenders who specialise in no‑PG solutions so you get matched quickly. Start your Free Eligibility Check — it takes 2 minutes.

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Typical turnaround times and realistic expectations for ‘fast’ finance

Timings depend on product and documentation clarity:

• Initial matched quotes: often within hours of enquiry.
• Decisions (specialist alternative lenders): commonly 24–72 hours.
• Settlement (simple asset finance): frequently 3–10 business days once checks completed.
• Complex property or development funding: several weeks.

Fast outcome = prepared paperwork + clear security + experienced broker handling the submission.

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Costs & sample pricing benchmarks (estimates only)

Actual rates vary by product, sector and borrower risk. Typical representative ranges:

• Asset finance: effective rates often between 6%–20% APR depending on term and asset value.
• Invoice finance: fees and advance rates vary; facility fees and discount rates typically in low single digits up to teens (depending on structure).
• Merchant cash advance: higher cost — factor fees can be significant; effective APRs often much higher than traditional lending.
• P2P / alternative lenders: from mid‑teens upwards depending on credit profile.

These are illustrative only — always request tailored quotes. Get Free Quotes — No Obligation.

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How UK Business Loans helps — our process for no personal guarantee cases

We don’t lend. We introduce your business to the lenders and brokers most likely to help. Our simple process:

1. Complete a quick enquiry form (2 minutes) — tell us your amount, purpose and documents ready.
2. We match you to specialist brokers and lenders who consider no‑PG structures.
3. Receive a fast response — often within hours — and compare offers.
4. Choose the best option and progress directly with the lender/broker.

Why it helps: our introducer network includes lenders experienced with asset, invoice and revenue‑based lending. We filter matches so you contact only those most likely to approve. Ready to be matched? Get Matched with Lenders — Start Free Eligibility Check.

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Real‑world examples (anonymised)

• Construction contractor: £120k equipment finance secured on diggers. No director PG required; settlement in 7 business days.
• Retail wholesaler: Invoice finance to release cash from overdue invoices. Lender advanced 80% of invoices without director PG due to strong debtor profiles.
• Hospitality group: Merchant cash advance arranged quickly ahead of a seasonal peak; no PG but higher cost and daily repayment percentage.

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Compliance & important notes

Important: UK Business Loans is an introducer. We do not lend or provide regulated financial advice. Submitting an enquiry is free, will not affect your credit score, and does not guarantee an offer. We will share your details only with lenders and brokers relevant to your enquiry. Lenders may carry out credit and affordability checks if you progress an application.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can I get a business loan with no personal guarantee if I have bad credit?

Possibly, but options are limited. Some specialist lenders accept higher risk profiles without PGs, often at higher cost. A broker can identify suitable lenders.

Are there lenders who never take a personal guarantee?

Some lenders specialise in non‑PG products, but their appetite depends on security offered (assets, invoices) and the risk profile. It’s rare for large sums to be available with no security at all.

Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?

No. Submitting an enquiry to UK Business Loans does not affect your credit score. Lenders may run checks later if you apply.

What information should I have ready?

Basic company details, recent accounts or management accounts, bank statements, details of assets or invoices, and the loan purpose and amount.

How fast will lenders contact me?

Often within hours during business hours. Some specialist lenders respond in 24–72 hours.

Is no‑PG the same as unsecured?

Not always. No‑PG can still mean secured lending (asset or invoice security) — unsecured means no security and usually a PG or other protections are required.

Can I negotiate a limited personal guarantee?

Yes — capped or time‑limited guarantees are commonly negotiated to reduce personal exposure.

How much can I borrow without a PG?

Amounts vary. Smaller facilities (from around £10k) are more commonly available without PG; larger sums may require stronger security or a PG.

What sectors commonly succeed with no‑PG offers?

Asset‑rich sectors (construction, agriculture, transport) and businesses with strong debtor books tend to have better success.

Who pays UK Business Loans?

We are paid by lenders or brokers when a business proceeds. Our service is free to you and there’s no obligation to accept any offer.

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Final summary & call to action

Fast commercial finance without a personal guarantee is achievable for many businesses that can offer clear alternative security or predictable revenue. The trade‑offs are usually higher cost or stricter terms — but with the right broker and documentation you can often secure a fast, no‑obligation quote.

Ready to find out what you qualify for? Complete a short enquiry now and we’ll match you to lenders and brokers who specialise in no‑PG commercial finance: Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

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Learn more about alternative commercial options like commercial finance to understand which route best fits your business.

Important: UK Business Loans is an introducer and does not provide loans or regulated financial advice. Submitting an enquiry is free, will not affect your credit score, and does not guarantee an offer. We will share your details with lenders and brokers relevant to your enquiry.

1) Can I get a business loan in the UK without a personal guarantee?
Yes — specialist lenders and brokers can sometimes offer no‑personal‑guarantee (no‑PG) commercial finance when your business can provide alternative security (equipment, invoices, property) or predictable revenue.

2) How quickly can I get fast commercial finance or a business loan?
You can often receive matched quotes within hours, lender decisions in 24–72 hours, and simple asset finance settlements in 3–10 business days with prepared paperwork.

3) Will submitting an enquiry with UK Business Loans affect my credit score?
No — submitting a free enquiry to UK Business Loans does not affect your credit score; lenders may run checks only if you progress an application.

4) How much can I borrow without a personal guarantee?
Amounts vary by product and security, but no‑PG facilities are commonly available from around £10,000 upwards, with larger sums needing stronger asset security or lender appetite.

5) What documents should I have ready to speed up a business loan application?
Have recent accounts or management accounts, bank statements, VAT records, details of assets or debtor ledgers, company extracts and directors’ IDs to accelerate lender checks.

6) Which types of commercial finance in the UK are most likely to be available without a PG?
Asset finance, invoice finance, merchant cash advances/revenue‑based products and some specialist property or P2P facilities are most commonly structured without director PGs, depending on security and risk.

7) How much does no‑PG commercial finance typically cost?
Costs vary by product and risk—asset finance often ranges roughly 6%–20% APR, invoice finance fees from low single digits up to teens, while merchant cash advances and some alternative lenders can be significantly higher.

8) Can I get a business loan if I have bad credit?
Possibly — specialist lenders and brokers in our network may consider higher‑risk profiles without PGs, but options are limited and usually come at higher cost or stricter terms.

9) Is the UK Business Loans enquiry form an application or a paid service?
No — the short enquiry form is free and not a loan application; it simply helps us match your business to relevant lenders and brokers and does not obligate you to proceed.

10) How does UK Business Loans get paid and who do you match me with?
We are an introducer paid by lenders or brokers when a business proceeds, and we match you only with trusted, FCA‑regulated partners who specialise in the finance type and sector you need.