Getting Finance Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on getting finance for uk businesses.

Do I Need A Startup Lawyer Before Taking Investment?
Preparing for seed or angel investment? Here's what to check before issuing shares, from your cap table and investor documents to IP ownership and Companies House filings.

Do I Need A Fundraising Term Sheet Solicitor?
Received a startup investment term sheet? Here's what to check before signing, from control and dilution to investor rights and the documents that follow.

How To Set Up EMI Options For Your First Hire
Offering equity to your first hire can be a smart move. Here's how EMI options work, what documents you need and the approval steps to get right.

How Safes Impact Your UK Cap Table and Shareholder Structure
A SAFE can be a fast way to raise early-stage funding, but it can also create cap table confusion if founders do not model conversion properly. This guide

Articles Of Association Review Before Investment
Taking investment? Your articles need to match the deal. Here's what investors look for and when you may need to amend your company rules.

Bridge Round Note: What Should UK Startups Check?
Raising bridge funding can move quickly. Here's what to check in your bridge round note before you sign, from discount and valuation cap to consent rights.

Do I Need A Lawyer For A Promissory Note?
Documenting a business loan? Here is when a promissory note template may be enough, and when legal drafting can protect your repayments, interest and security.

NDA Template For Sharing A Pitch Deck With Investors
Sending a pitch deck can feel risky when your best ideas and numbers are inside. Here's when an NDA helps, when investors may push back and what to include.

Director Loan Agreement Template: What To Include
Lending money to your own company? Here's how to document a director or shareholder loan clearly, from repayment and interest to security and board approval.

Do I Need A Lawyer To Set Up An EMI Scheme?
Thinking about EMI options? Here is when you can set up an EMI scheme yourself, where legal help matters, and the HMRC and Companies House steps to get right.

Should You Use A Deed Of Accession For New Investors?
Bringing in a new investor? A deed of accession can make sure they are properly bound by your existing shareholders agreement before they receive shares.

Board Consent Packs For Startup Decisions
Making startup decisions quickly is normal, but key approvals still need a clear paper trail. Here's how board consent packs can protect your company as it grows.

EMI Scheme Checklist For Startup Founders
Planning EMI options for your startup team? Here's a practical checklist covering eligibility, option terms, approvals, leaver rules and HMRC filings.

Personal Guarantees for Supplier Accounts in the UK
Offering or signing trade credit terms? Learn how personal guarantees work in UK supplier accounts, what should be drafted clearly and what directors can negotiate.

Shareholder Loan Agreements for UK Family Companies
Family loans can keep a company moving, but vague terms can cause disputes later. Learn how UK family companies can document shareholder loans properly.

Credit Application Terms and Terms of Trade for UK Businesses
Credit application terms and terms of trade can shape payment risk, liability, personal guarantees and debt recovery. This guide explains what UK

Can a Limited Company Lend Money to an Individual in the UK?
If you run a small limited company, it’s pretty common for “personal” and “business” finances to bump into each other. Maybe a director needs a short-term cash injection, an employee asks for...

Rule Of Thumb Business Valuation: How It Works And Legal Risks For SMEs
If you’re thinking about selling your business, bringing in an investor, buying out a co-founder, or even just planning your next growth phase, you’ll quickly run into the question: what is this...

Corporate Finance Solicitors: What SMEs And Startups Should Know Before Raising Capital
Raising capital can be one of the most exciting milestones in your business journey. It can also be one of the easiest places to make expensive mistakes. If you’re a UK startup...

Private Equity Loan Notes: Risks and Terms for UK Founders
If you’re raising investment for your UK startup or growing SME, you’ll probably come across private equity loan notes sooner than you expect. They can look (and sound) like a straightforward way...

Shareholder Equity: What It Means and How to Calculate It in the UK
Shareholder equity shows what is left in a company after liabilities are deducted from assets. This guide explains what it means for UK businesses, how to

SAFE Notes for UK Startups: Key Terms and Pitfalls for Founders
A safe note can be a fast way for UK startups to raise early funding, but the terms can affect dilution, investor rights and your next round. Here is what

Term Sheet vs Shareholders Agreement "What's The Difference" (2026 Updated)
If you're raising investment, bringing on a co-founder, or just trying to formalise who owns what in your company, you'll usually hear two documents mentioned early on: a term sheet and a...

Raising Capital From Friends And Family ? How To Do It Right (2026 Updated)
When you're building a startup or scaling a small business, it's completely normal to look first at the people who already believe in you. Friends and family funding can be fast, flexible...
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