Business Loans For Women

Quick, simple business funding for women-owned businesses

The UK is now recognised as Europe’s largest hub for female-founded innovation, attracting 27% of all European VC funding for female founders, and initiatives like the Invest in Women Taskforce are helping more women-led businesses access the backing they need to grow and scale.

Despite the growth in women starting companies, including over 10,000 new female-owned business registrations in February 2025 alone, the share of equity investment going to all-female founding teams remains stubbornly low. So why is it still so difficult for many to grow them into larger, high-investment companies?

A review of female entrepreneurship suggests male-founded businesses receive better financial support than women, which could be repressing female-founded business growth.

At Capalona, we help women-owned businesses compare business loans and other funding options for small businesses, so you can find finance that fits. You needn’t be held back by a lack of financial support any longer. Read below to find out more about the business loans available for women and how to apply.

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What business loans are available for women?

There are many business loan products available to female entrepreneurs. We’re talking you through six options: unsecured and secured loans, line of credit, invoice finance, merchant cash advance, and asset finance. Read more about each loan type below.

Unsecured Business Loan

Unsecured business loans for women can be a quick way to fund a small business, sometimes within just hours. As they’re unsecured, this means you don’t have to secure the loan with a business asset such as land, property or equipment. This is one of the most common female business loan options for small businesses because you don’t need to offer collateral. Because they’re unsecured, you can expect to pay higher interest rates.

Secured Business Loan

Secured business loans for women are loans secured with collateral. This means that should you default on repayments, the lender can repossess your asset. Because it’s secured, it’s less risky for the lender, which means they’ll be willing to offer you higher loan amounts, lower interest rates, and longer repayment terms.

Line of Credit

A business line of credit is a revolving credit facility. This means you can draw down funds as and when you need them, a bit like a credit card. You’ll have agreed to a repayment period with your lender — usually between 6 and 12 months.

Invoice Finance

Invoice finance is a great way to manage cash flow in the short term. With invoice finance, you can unlock up to 95% of the unpaid invoice value, so you can achieve peace of mind, knowing you can always pay staff wages on time. There are two invoice finance products you could explore further: invoice discounting and invoice factoring.

Merchant Cash Advance

Merchant cash advance, also known as business cash advance, is a flexible way of obtaining cash for your business. With a merchant cash advance, you don’t make fixed repayments each month, instead, repayments are based on your future debit or credit card sales. When you make a sale, a pre-agreed percentage of each transaction will automatically go towards paying off your loan.

Asset Finance

Asset finance helps you unlock cash tied up in your business assets. Unlocking this cash means you can buy new equipment through a hire agreement, and you’ll be given an option to purchase the asset at the end of your contract.

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Are there start up business loans for women?

Yes. If you’ve started a new business and require an injection of cash, you can apply for a start-up business loan. You must meet specific lender requirements when applying for a start-up loan, but before applying, please check that you meet the minimum criteria:

• Have already, or are looking to set up as a sole trader/self-employed, Limited company (LTD), or Limited liability partnership (LLP) in the UK
• You are 18 years of age or older
• A UK resident
• You want to start a business in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland
• You could qualify if your business has been trading for less than 24 months

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Are there grants for female small business owners?

Yes, grants can be a great form of small business funding for women, alongside loans and start-up finance. Here are some female grant providers you could explore in greater detail.

• The Women in Innovation Awards by Gov.uk
• Crowdfund Her by CrowdFunder
• The Female Founders Fund
• Female Founders Office Hours initiative by Playfair Capital

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Can I get a small business loan for women with bad credit?

Yes. Regardless of your credit history, there are bad credit business loans for women out there. Not all lenders cater to poor credit history, so you won’t have the pick of the bunch, but many lenders will still lend to you.

There are many other ways to secure a loan other than bad credit. For example, you could provide a personal guarantee, which states you would be personally liable to complete repayments on the small business loan.

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Benefits of business loans for women

Securing finance for your business can support you as you take your business to the next level. Whether you’re looking to expand your premises, open up a nice business location, or invest in new markets, finance can open the door to many growth opportunities.

But what are the specific benefits of using business loans for women?

• You can get quick access to funds - Sometimes you can access your money within 24 hours.
• A healthy cash flow - You can manage a steady cash flow, regardless of whether your clients take ages to pay you.
• Financial freedom - You don’t need to rely on anyone else, you’re in charge of the repayments and how the money is spent.

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Top networks for female business owners

A supportive community filled with like-minded female business owners can help inspire you when building your business. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’re a seasoned business professional, having a community to call on, ask questions, and share your experiences can really help as you embark on your business journey.

Here are seven websites to check out:

British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE)

Based in the UK, BAWE is a non-profit organisation for female entrepreneurs.

The Female Entrepreneur Association

This association boasts over 500,000 women around the world who are currently using their online hub. The hub offers its users insightful content, learning opportunities, and a member’s club.

Women Entrepreneurs UK

This website gives women a platform to share their successes, failures, challenges, and ups and downs women face as they run their businesses.

Enterprising Women

This is a supportive network, helping inspire and empower women.

Novi (formerly Forward Ladies)

This is a global platform connecting women from all walks of life and empowering them through exposure to opportunities and a supportive network.

Prowess

Prowess provides its international female audience direction and support with a whole hub of useful guides covering topics from money management to marketing and advertising your business.

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How to apply for a business loan for women?

Applying for a business loan for women is quick and simple. All you have to do is fill in our short form, including some basic business details, and we'll automatically find suitable lenders and funding options for your needs.

After you’ve filled in the form, you can relax. We’ll take it from there. Our free-to-use loan matching service simply connects business owners with trusted UK lenders — helping you find and compare the best loan options available.

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Why use Capalona?

We’re an online loan matching broker, which means we’re focused on pairing you with the right lenders. Our loan comparison tool is completely free for you to use, and you’re under no obligation to accept any quotes from our lenders - so no pressure here.

We wanted to create a comparison tool that made business life easier, and that means removing the mammoth task of searching through lenders from your to-do list. Ready to get started?