What documents do I need for business funding?
Funding timelines are quoted from the point where documents are complete, which is why two businesses applying on the same morning can be funded a week apart.
This is the full list, what each item is for, and the two things that most often send an application backwards.
The core list
- Six months of business bank statements. PDFs downloaded from online banking. Not screenshots, not photographs of a screen.
- Company number. Your Companies House registration.
- Director ID. Passport or driving licence.
- Proof of address for the director, if requested.
For most applications in our range, that is the whole list.
What may be asked for on top
- Filed accounts, where the company has them
- Detail on existing finance commitments
- Explanation of an unusual month in the statements
- VAT returns, on larger advances
Being asked for these is normal and is not a sign the application is in trouble.
The two things that cause delay
Screenshots instead of PDFs. A statement has to be verifiable. An image of a banking app cannot be checked, so it goes back and the clock restarts.
A missing month. Five of the six months is not six months. Send all six together rather than in instalments.
What happens once documents are complete
Our published timeline is 24 to 72 hours from final documents, and the emphasis belongs on final. The clock starts when the file is complete, not when the form was submitted.
Applying and receiving an offer costs nothing, and there is no obligation to proceed once you have seen the figures.
Questions, answered plainly
What documents do I need to apply for business funding?
For a UK limited company: six months of business bank statements as PDFs, your Companies House number, and director ID such as a passport or driving licence. Proof of address, filed accounts or VAT returns may be requested on top.
Can I send screenshots of my bank statements?
No. Statements need to be verifiable PDFs downloaded from online banking. Screenshots and photographs are the most common cause of an application being sent back.
How many months of bank statements do you need?
Six. Send all six together — a partial set restarts the process rather than advancing it.
How long does funding take once documents are in?
Our published timeline is 24 to 72 hours from final documents. The clock starts when the file is complete, not when the application was submitted.
Related
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