Business finance & estate planning, explained clearly.
Practical guidance for UK business owners and families — covering commercial loans, working capital, invoice and asset finance alongside our dedicated UK estate-planning library on Will Writing, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Trusts.
Each guide explains how a structure works, what lenders or statutory frameworks require, typical considerations, and how to prepare properly before taking action.
Our commercial finance guides are written for UK limited companies and trading businesses. Our estate-planning guides cover UK succession, capacity and trust law with citations to GOV.UK, HMRC and the Office of the Public Guardian.
Filter by topic, or search a keyword.
Bridging Finance: When Short-Term Property Finance Makes Sense
An expert, comprehensive guide to UK bridging finance: how short-term property loans work, when they make financial sense, how lenders evaluate exit strategies, LTV limits, interest structures, and key borrower considerations.
Property Development Finance: What Lenders Actually Look At
A detailed technical guide to how UK development finance lenders evaluate projects: Gross Development Value (GDV), Loan to Cost (LTC), development appraisals, planning conditions, monitoring surveyors, drawdowns, and exit options.
Invoice Finance vs Overdraft: What UK Businesses Actually Need to Know
A practical commercial comparison between business overdrafts and invoice finance for UK SMEs. Compare funding scalability, cost structures, cash conversion cycles, factoring vs discounting, and eligibility requirements.
Commercial Loan Preparation Guide: What UK Lenders Require
A comprehensive checklist and guide explaining the documents, financial metrics, debt service coverage ratios (DSCR), and security packages UK commercial lenders require before approving term debt.
Unsecured Business Loans for UK Limited Companies: Eligibility, Rates & Personal Guarantees
A comprehensive guide to unsecured business loans for UK limited companies: interest rates, credit score criteria, turnover requirements, personal guarantees, and how commercial lenders evaluate applications.
UK Commercial Mortgages: Rates, Deposit Requirements & Lending Criteria Guide
A comprehensive guide to UK commercial mortgages: deposit requirements (20% to 30%), current commercial interest margins, owner-occupier vs commercial investment, and how lenders calculate Debt Service Coverage Ratios.
HMRC Tax Loans for UK Limited Companies: Funding VAT, Corporation Tax & PAYE
A comprehensive UK guide to HMRC tax loans for limited companies: how to fund quarterly VAT bills, Corporation Tax liabilities, and PAYE arrears, comparing commercial tax loans against HMRC Time to Pay (TTP) arrangements, interest rates, eligibility, and fast-track approval.
Asset Finance for UK Limited Companies: Hire Purchase, Leasing & Tax Benefits
A complete guide to UK asset finance for limited companies: comparing Hire Purchase (HP), Finance Lease, and Operating Lease, tax benefits under UK Full Expensing capital allowances, balloon payments, and refinancing existing equipment.
Merchant Cash Advance UK: How Business Cash Advances Work for Limited Companies
An in-depth guide to UK Merchant Cash Advances (MCA) and revenue-based financing: how borrowing against card machine sales works, factor rates vs APR, automated repayments, eligibility criteria, and alternative cash flow options.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in England and Wales? The Intestacy Rules Explained
When someone dies without a valid will, statutory intestacy rules dictate who administers the estate and who inherits. Learn how the £322,000 statutory legacy works in England and Wales, why unmarried partners have no automatic entitlement, and how Scotland and Northern Ireland differ.
Choosing Executors and Legal Guardians in a UK Will: Duties, Risks and Practical Considerations
A will does more than list who receives assets — it appoints the executors who will administer your estate and, for parents of children under 18, the legal guardians who would care for them. Here is what those roles involve in practice.
Seven Will-Writing Mistakes That Trigger UK Inheritance Disputes (and How to Avoid Them)
Even small technical errors in how a will is worded, signed or witnessed can render a gift void or leave an entire estate open to challenge. We examine seven recurring pitfalls under UK succession law.
Property and Financial Affairs vs Health and Welfare LPA: Why the Two Documents Work Differently
In England and Wales, Lasting Powers of Attorney are split into two separate legal instruments: Property and Financial Affairs, and Health and Welfare. Understanding when each document can be used — and why a spouse or 'next of kin' has no automatic authority without one — is essential.
Registering a Lasting Power of Attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian: Fees, Timescales and Signing Rules
A Lasting Power of Attorney in England and Wales has no legal effect until it has been registered by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Learn how OPG registration fees, statutory waiting periods, certificate providers and strict chronological signing orders work.
Mental Capacity and Business Continuity: Why UK Company Directors Consider a Property and Financial Affairs LPA
For sole traders, partners and limited company directors, an unexpected illness, accident or loss of capacity can leave business bank accounts, payroll and commercial contracts without an authorised signatory. Here is how personal and business-focused LPAs interact with company law.
How Family Trusts Work in the UK: Settlors, Trustees, Beneficiaries and Fiduciary Duties
A trust separates the legal ownership and management of an asset from the right to benefit from it. We explain the core roles of settlor, trustees and beneficiaries, compare the main types of UK family trusts, and outline the fiduciary duties trustees take on.
The HMRC Trust Registration Service (TRS): Which UK Trusts Must Register and What Trustees Must Record
Under UK anti-money-laundering regulations, most UK express trusts must be registered on HMRC's Trust Registration Service (TRS) — even if the trust has no tax liability and holds only a property interest. Here is what trustees need to know about deadlines, exemptions and record-keeping.
Trusts, Care Home Fees and Inheritance Tax: Separating UK Legal Reality from Marketing Myths
Consumers are frequently targeted by advertisements claiming that placing your home into a lifetime 'asset protection trust' automatically shields it from care home fees and Inheritance Tax. We examine the Care Act 2014 deliberate deprivation rules, the relevant property IHT regime, and why transparent specialist advice is essential.
8-week UK estate-planning publishing schedule.
Our estate-planning editorial programme is structured around verified UK consumer and business-owner questions, connecting every guide to its parent service page and official GOV.UK, HMRC and Office of the Public Guardian sources.
Each service area — Will Writing, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Trusts — is supported by three dedicated foundational guides and ongoing legislative updates.
- Week 1 (Nov W1)Will Writing
Unmarried Couples and Property Ownership: Why 'Common-Law Marriage' Does Not Protect Your Partner
Rationale: Addresses the single largest UK intestacy misconception among cohabiting homeowners.
Target query: “unmarried partner inheritance rights uk will”Intent: Informational / High-urgency family protection - Week 2 (Nov W2)Lasting Powers of Attorney
Joint vs Joint-and-Several Attorneys: How One Tick Box Changes Your Lasting Power of Attorney
Rationale: Explains why joint appointments fail if one attorney can no longer act under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Target query: “jointly vs jointly and severally power of attorney uk”Intent: Commercial-investigation / Pre-application decision - Week 3 (Nov W3)Trusts
Tenants in Common vs Joint Tenants: How Property Ownership Affects Will Trusts and Succession
Rationale: Connects HM Land Registry ownership structures directly to Will Writing and Life Interest Trusts.
Target query: “tenants in common vs joint tenants will trust uk”Intent: Informational / Property & blended-family planning - Week 4 (Nov W4)Will Writing
Business Shares in a Will: Coordinating Articles of Association, Shareholders' Agreements and Executors
Rationale: Tailored specifically to BusinessLending.uk's core audience of UK limited company directors.
Target query: “what happens to limited company shares when a director dies uk”Intent: B2B-to-Estate-Planning bridge for SME directors - Week 5 (Dec W1)Lasting Powers of Attorney
LPA vs Court of Protection Deputyship: Costs, Timescales and Why Planning While You Have Capacity Matters
Rationale: Contrasts the £92 OPG LPA fee with the multi-month Court of Protection deputyship process.
Target query: “lasting power of attorney vs court of protection deputyship cost”Intent: Commercial comparison / Family decision trigger - Week 6 (Dec W2)Trusts
Trusts for Vulnerable and Disabled Beneficiaries: How Qualifying Trusts Work Under UK Law
Rationale: Provides high-empathy, factual guidance on Finance Act 2005 qualifying vulnerable beneficiary trusts.
Target query: “disabled persons trust uk vulnerable beneficiary”Intent: Informational / Specialist family provision - Week 7 (Dec W3)Will Writing
When Should You Review Your Will? Marriage, Divorce, House Moves and the Law Commission's Reform Proposals
Rationale: Captures post-marriage, post-divorce and New Year estate-review search demand.
Target query: “when to update a will uk marriage divorce”Intent: Informational / Life-event review trigger - Week 8 (Dec W4)Trusts
Writing a Letter of Wishes for a Discretionary Trust: What to Include and How Trustees Use It
Rationale: Explains the boundary between a binding trust deed and a confidential Letter of Wishes.
Target query: “letter of wishes discretionary trust uk guide”Intent: Informational / Practical settlor guidance
Need tailored guidance on your borrowing requirement?
If your commercial scenario is not covered in these guides, tell us about your company and requirement. We'll review the parameters and explain viable lender criteria.
BusinessLending.uk is a commercial finance introducer, not a lender. No upfront fees. Subject to provider assessment.
Frequently asked about commercial finance & estate-planning insights
Clear, straightforward answers regarding our commercial finance introduction process, eligibility criteria, and how enquiries are handled.
Every business and enquiry is distinct. If you have a specific question, our team is happy to talk through your circumstances without obligation.
Discuss your funding requirementPlan for what matters most.
Explore Will Writing, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Trusts, with guidance on taking the right next step for your circumstances.
Our commercial finance introduction service is for eligible UK limited companies. Estate planning enquiries are handled separately.
01View serviceWill Writing
Explore how to document who should inherit your estate, who should act as your executors, and how your wishes should be carried out.
02View serviceLasting Powers of Attorney
Understand how to appoint trusted people to make property and financial or health and welfare decisions on your behalf where the applicable law allows.
03View serviceTrusts
Learn about the broad purpose of trusts and why personalised legal and tax advice is needed regarding suitability, administration, responsibilities and costs.
BusinessLending.uk does not draft legal documents or provide individual legal or tax advice. We can discuss your estate-planning enquiry and, where an appropriate specialist arrangement is available, explain possible next steps. Any specialist introduction requires your agreement.
Have a specific question about funding?
Send us the requirement and we'll come back with clear, practical thoughts.
BusinessLending.uk is a commercial finance introducer, not a lender. No upfront fees. Subject to provider assessment.