Getting Finance Articles

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

SAFE Notes for UK Startups: Key Terms and Pitfalls for Founders

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

13 September 2026
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Term Sheet vs Shareholders Agreement "What's The Difference" (2026 Updated)

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...

1 September 2026
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Raising Capital From Friends And Family ? How To Do It Right (2026 Updated)

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...

1 September 2026
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Can You Accept Investment Before Your Shareholders Agreement Is Ready?

Can You Accept Investment Before Your Shareholders Agreement Is Ready?

Can you take investment before your Shareholders Agreement is signed? Yes, but only if the right funding documents and company approvals are already in place.

1 September 2026
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What Is A Shareholders Agreement? (2026 Updated)

What Is A Shareholders Agreement? (2026 Updated)

If you're building a UK company with one or more co-founders, investors, friends, or family members, it's easy to focus on the exciting parts first: product, customers, growth, funding. But when you're...

31 August 2026
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Founder Secondary Sales in the UK: Legal Issues for Startups and Shareholders

Founder Secondary Sales in the UK: Legal Issues for Startups and Shareholders

A founder secondary sale can create liquidity for founders, but it also raises real legal issues around transfer restrictions, investor consents

30 August 2026
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SAFE Notes and Cap Table Impact for UK Startup Founders

SAFE Notes and Cap Table Impact for UK Startup Founders

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

7 August 2026
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What Is A Share Subscription Letter And When Do I Need It? (2026 Updated)

What Is A Share Subscription Letter And When Do I Need It? (2026 Updated)

If you're raising money for your company, bringing on a co-founder, or issuing shares to an early supporter, the paperwork can feel surprisingly "corporate" for what might be a small and fast-moving...

1 August 2026
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Bounce Back Loan Write-Off in the UK: What You Can and Can't Do (2026 Updated)

Bounce Back Loan Write-Off in the UK: What You Can and Can't Do (2026 Updated)

If you took out a Bounce Back Loan (BBL) during the pandemic, you're not alone. For many small businesses, it was the difference between shutting the doors and staying afloat. Fast forward...

1 August 2026
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Capital Raise Board Consents in the UK: What Founders Need to Approve

Capital Raise Board Consents in the UK: What Founders Need to Approve

Raising investment in the UK is not just about signing a term sheet. This guide explains the board consents, shareholder approvals and practical corporate

25 July 2026
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The Difference Between A Promissory Note And A Loan Agreement (2026 Updated)

The Difference Between A Promissory Note And A Loan Agreement (2026 Updated)

If you're lending money to (or borrowing money from) another business or individual, it's tempting to think a quick written IOU is enough. But when payment is late (or never arrives), the...

21 July 2026
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Bank Guarantees in the UK: Risks and How They Work

Bank Guarantees in the UK: Risks and How They Work

A bank guarantee can unlock leases, supply contracts and major projects, but the wrong wording can expose your business to serious risk. This guide

19 July 2026
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What Happens During The IPO Process? (2026 Updated)

What Happens During The IPO Process? (2026 Updated)

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1 July 2026
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Vendor Finance Interest Rates

Vendor Finance Interest Rates

Vendor finance can bridge the gap in a business sale, but the interest rate is only part of the picture. This guide explains how UK businesses can

12 June 2026
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SAFE Notes in the UK: Key Terms and Risks for Startup Founders

SAFE Notes in the UK: Key Terms and Risks for Startup Founders

A SAFE note can speed up early-stage fundraising, but UK founders need to understand how conversion terms, valuation caps, discounts and investor rights

2 June 2026
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What Actually Happens in a Startup Legal Due Diligence Process

What Actually Happens in a Startup Legal Due Diligence Process

Think investors only care about your pitch? Startup legal due diligence can make or break a deal before funding even lands.

1 June 2026
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5 Legal Risks That Quietly Scare Away UK Investors

5 Legal Risks That Quietly Scare Away UK Investors

Could hidden legal issues be killing your funding round before it starts? These five risks can quietly reduce valuation or send UK investors walking away.

13 May 2026
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Legal Advice On Whether To Lend Money To A Friend's Business (2026 Updated)

Legal Advice On Whether To Lend Money To A Friend's Business (2026 Updated)

Lending money to a friend's business can feel like a great way to back someone you believe in - and in plenty of cases, it works out well for everyone. But mixing...

1 May 2026
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VC Assumptions Explained: What Founders Need To Know

VC Assumptions Explained: What Founders Need To Know

If you’re building a startup and thinking about raising investment, it can feel like VCs speak a different language. You’ll hear things like “standard terms”, “market”, “founder-friendly”, “we assume you’ve got the...

28 April 2026
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Future Fund Convertible Loan Agreements for UK Startups

Future Fund Convertible Loan Agreements for UK Startups

If you ran a UK startup during the pandemic, there’s a good chance you came across the UK Government’s “Future Fund” scheme and the idea of using a convertible loan note. Convertible...

27 April 2026
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UK Limited Partnerships: How They Work, Legal Requirements & Uses

UK Limited Partnerships: How They Work, Legal Requirements & Uses

If you’re weighing up business structures and you’ve come across searches for limited partnerships in the UK , you’re not alone. A limited partnership can be a really useful option when you...

27 April 2026
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UK Seed Funding Rounds: What Founders Must Know Before Raising Capital

UK Seed Funding Rounds: What Founders Must Know Before Raising Capital

Raising money can feel like a huge milestone - and it is. But seed funding rounds also have a habit of moving fast, with founders juggling pitch decks, investor calls, product timelines,...

24 April 2026
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Investor Contract Essentials: Key Terms, Pitfalls And How To Protect Your Startup

Investor Contract Essentials: Key Terms, Pitfalls And How To Protect Your Startup

Raising money is exciting. It can also feel like you’ve suddenly been dropped into a world of term sheets, cap tables, “standard” clauses and documents you’re expected to sign quickly. If you’re...

24 April 2026
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Public Limited Company (PLC): Characteristics, Requirements & Pros and Cons

Public Limited Company (PLC): Characteristics, Requirements & Pros and Cons

If you’re growing quickly (or planning to), you’ve probably heard that a public limited company (PLC) can be the “next level” corporate structure. But a PLC isn’t just a bigger version of...

22 April 2026
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