Start Up Loans
Your Start Up Phase. Supported, Not Rushed
Starting a business can feel like there’s pressure to move quickly, especially when funding feels like the next step.
Before exploring loan options, it’s important to understand where you are in your journey and whether funding now is the right move.
Female Founder Finance supports you to prepare properly, understand your options, and move forward with confidence whether that means applying for a Start Up Loan now, later, or not at all.
What Is A Start Up Loan?
A Start Up Loan is a government-backed personal loan for business purposes. It can be a powerful tool, when used at the right time.
Key features typically include:
- borrowing up to £25,000 per founder
- a fixed interest rate
- repayments over 1–5 years
- access to mentoring for successful applicants
However, Start Up Loans are not right for everyone, and timing matters.
Our role is to help you understand:
- whether a Start Up Loan makes sense now
- what preparation is needed before applying
- what alternatives exist if it doesn’t
We are a credit broker, not a lender.
Formal assessment and lending decisions sit with the official Start Up Loans programme and accredited Business Support Partners.
Before You Think About Applying
Many Start Up Loan applications slow down or stall, not because the idea is wrong, but because preparation wasn’t finished yet.
Readiness is about:
Document consistency
Clear sales assumptions
Personal affordability
Understanding how the business will operate day to day
We help you understand whether you’re ready and what support might help first.
Why We Don't Rush
Starting a business can create pressure to move quickly, especially when funding feels like the next step.
In the Start Up Loans process, however, rushing often causes delays, not faster outcomes.
Applications usually slow down when:
documents don’t align
evidence is missing or unclear
assumptions are optimistic but unsupported
This isn’t about getting things “wrong”.
It’s about preparation not being finished yet.
What matters before you apply
Assessors review what’s written and evidenced.
They can’t:
fix documents
reconcile figures
interpret intent
fill in gaps later
Once an application is submitted, opportunities to clarify are limited.
That’s why we focus on readiness first.
Our approach
Female Founder Finance helps you:
prepare properly
avoid avoidable friction
decide whether the timing is right
Sometimes the best next step is applying.
Sometimes it’s preparing a little more first.
Both are valid.
Download Our Explainers
What The Support Is And Why It's Free
Female Founder Finance provides structured assessment, preparation, and guidance to help you decide whether a Start Up Loan, or any funding, is right for you.
This support is provided at no cost to founders.
We are funded through partnerships within the wider business support ecosystem, not by charging individuals starting their businesses.
This allows us to focus on what’s right for you, not on pushing you to apply.
How We've Helped.....
Real examples of success for start up businesses
Beyond Funding: Setting Your Business Up Properly
Funding is only one part of starting a business. We also support founders with:
- financial foundations (bookkeeping, tax awareness)
- risk & protection basics
- legal & structure clarity
- future growth readiness
Where helpful, we can introduce trusted specialists with no pressure and no obligation.
Your Journey with Female Founder Finance
We’re not here for one decision - we’re here for your journey.
Idea → Preparation → Funding → Set-up → Stability → Growth
You can return to Female Founder Finance at any stage whether you’re applying for funding, pausing, or planning next steps.
This is your long-term home.
Copyright © Female Founder Finance - All Rights Reserved.
Registered in England and Wales no. 10591615. Registered office: 5 Prospect Place, Millennium Way, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8HG.
Female Founder Finance is a trading style of Vernon Projects Limited. Vernon Projects Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN:1005423. Vernon Projects Limited are an authorised Credit Broker and not a lender.
Female Founder Finance may typically receive a payment (s) or other benefits from the finance provider if you decide to enter into an agreement with them depending on the chosen provider and their commission or incentive models. This will be disclosed with full transparency upon engagement.
Vernon Projects Limited is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 1005423
ICO Number ZB545208
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