Commercial Loans

Commercial loans are available at competitive interest rates and repayment terms from our lending market leaders. These can be used to start or expand and develop your business or for the purchasing of equipment. Commercial loans could be the most flexible solution to meet your financial needs but it’s also important to consider the effect of loan repayments on your cash flow and business assets.

When looking at commercial loans you will need to assess your requirements for repayment terms and compare interest rates, known as the Annual Percentage Rate or APR, of different lenders in order to decide which loan is best for you. The repayment term can be anything between one and fifteen years on average and you have two choices with regard to interest rates: fixed interest rates and variable interest rates.

Fixed Rate: The interest rate is set at the beginning of the term of the loan, the percentage given to you being determined by your circumstances, the amount of the loan, the term and your assessed ability to repay the loan by the due date. Your monthly repayment amount remains constant, regardless of changes in the bank base rate which is an advantage if the rate increases but a disadvantage if it drops.

Variable Rate: The interest rate you pay is linked to fluctuations in the bank base rate and can therefore increase or decrease depending on what is happening in the open market. You will consistently pay the current market rate plus an agreed premium but because the base rate can change, your monthly repayments could go up or down. This is an advantage if interest rates fall but you may end up paying a lot more if rates rise.

There are a number of reasons why commercial loans can be a beneficial way of raising the money you need. The first is cash flow. Because your loan repayments are agreed and set for the term of the loan your cash management can be more predictable from month to month. Secondly, you have a large degree of flexibility on how you use the loan, including paying off other higher interest loans. Commercial loans also enable you retain ownership in your company by making it unnecessary for you to raise funds by selling an interest in your company to an outside investor. Interest payments on commercial loans are also tax deductible and are made with pre-tax money. A further advantage is that if you back your loan using capital equipment then you remain the legal owner of the equipment. You must be aware however that if you do not pay back the loan and default on repayments then the lender is able to foreclose on any assets backing the loan and to sell them to pay back the money owing.

Comparing the APRs of commercial loans is a good indication of how competitive loans are but it is also important to pay attention to the small print on the loan agreement. If you think you may be in a position to pay back the loan before the due date then you’ll be wise to check the early redemption policy of the lender. Some lending companies charge up to two months interest if you settle the loan within 3 to 5 years and before the due date, which can increase the total cost of the loan. It may be cheaper to take a loan with a slightly higher APR but with no redemption penalty.