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

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

Investor Funding In The UK: Legal Guide For Startups And SMEs
When you’re growing a startup or SME, investor funding can feel like the big milestone that takes you from “promising idea” to “proper business”. And it can be - but only if...

Private vs Public Limited Companies: UK Differences, Pros & Cons
If your business is growing fast, it’s normal to start thinking bigger than “just getting through the next quarter”. You might be looking at outside investment, a bigger team, new premises, or...

Undiluted Shares: What They Are And Why They Matter For Startups
When you’re building a UK startup, your equity is more than just a number on a spreadsheet. It’s how you reward founders, attract investors, hire talent, and keep everyone aligned as the...

Long-Term Funding Options For UK Startups And SMEs: Documents & Risks
Finding long term funding can feel like a milestone moment for your business - whether you’re building your MVP, hiring your first team, or gearing up for serious growth. But here’s the...

Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA): Summary for UK SMEs
If you run a startup or SME in the UK, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) can feel like something that only banks and huge institutions need to worry about....

How To Get Shares In a UK Company: Options for Founders and Staff
If you’re building a UK business, shares can quickly become one of the most valuable tools you have. You might be thinking about bringing on a co-founder, rewarding early hires, raising investment,...

Private Company Shares in the UK: Issuing, Transferring and Protecting Ownership
If you run a limited company in the UK, private company shares are the legal “building blocks” of ownership. They don’t just decide who gets dividends or who can vote. They affect...

Comfort Letters In The UK: Uses And Key Legal Risks
If you’re growing a business, raising finance, signing a new lease, or taking on a major contract, you might be asked to provide a comfort letter. It can sound harmless (even reassuring),...

What Is a BATNA? Negotiation Basics for Startups and Small Businesses
If you run a small business or you’re building a startup, you’re negotiating more often than you probably realise. You negotiate with suppliers on pricing and delivery. With customers on scope and...

Short-Term Business Finance in the UK: Options, Contracts and Legal Risks
When cash flow gets tight, it’s completely normal to start looking for a quick injection of funds. Maybe you’re waiting on a big client invoice, stocking up for a seasonal spike, replacing...

UK Insolvency Order Of Priority: Who Gets Paid First?
If a customer, supplier, or partner business goes insolvent, one of the first questions you’ll ask is: will we get paid, and when? Unfortunately, the answer often depends less on how “fair”...

UK Film Finance Companies: Roles and Essential Legal Documents
If you’re producing film or scripted content in the UK, there’s a good chance you’ll end up speaking to a film finance company (or at least people who operate like them). And...

Debentures Definition in the UK: How They Work and Key Legal Considerations
If you’re raising finance for your business, you’ll quickly run into a lot of terminology that sounds similar but has very different legal consequences. “Debenture” is one of those words. A debenture...

What Happens To A Bounce Back Loan If Your Company Goes Bust? (UK)
If you’re a company director and your business is under serious financial pressure, it’s completely normal to be worried about one question in particular: what happens to a bounce back loan if...

Shareholder Definition, Role In A Business And Key Legal Issues (UK)
If you’re building a company (or thinking about raising money for one), you’ll hear the word “shareholder” very early on. But what does it actually mean in practice? Who counts as a...

Who Are a Company’s Directors? How to Find Out and Why It Matters (UK)
If you’re about to sign a contract, extend credit, enter a joint venture, or even just start a long-term supplier relationship, it’s normal to want to know one simple thing: Who are...
Need help with your business legals?
Speak with Sprintlaw to get practical legal support and fixed-fee options tailored to your business.

