HSBC business loans review

HSBC offers a wide range of business financing opportunities for companies of all sizes. We've rounded-up the various deals currently available.

4.3 ★★★★★ (30 reviews) Write a review
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HSBC business loans comparison

HSBC business loans

Name Product Finder Score Loan type Loan amounts Loan terms Minimum turnover/trading criteria Key benefit
HSBC Flexible Business Loan
4.5
★★★★★
Fixed or variable rate loan
£25,001 to £25,000,000
12 to 240 months
No specified minimum turnover or time trading
HSBC Fixed Rate Small Business Loan
4.4
★★★★★
Fixed rate loan
£1,000 to £10,000,000
12 to 120 months
No specified minimum turnover or time trading
Representative example: Borrow £13,000 over 5 years at a rate of 7.1% p.a. (fixed). Representative APR 7.1% and total payable £15,404.01 in monthly repayments of £256.73.
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Other popular business loans

Table: promoted deals first

Name Product Finder Score Loan type Loan amounts Loan terms Minimum turnover/trading criteria Key benefit
Nest Asset Finance
3.5
★★★★★
Fixed rate Unsecured Asset finance loan
No specified loan amounts
No specified loan terms
No specified minimum turnover or time trading
Portman Finance Business Loan
3.9
★★★★★
Fixed or variable rate Asset finance loan
£10,000 to £2,000,000
3 to 72 months
£100,000 annual turnover,
1 year trading
Representative example: Borrow £30,000 over 3 years at a rate of 7.26% p.a. (fixed). Total payable £36,537.84 in 36 monthly repayments of £1014.94.
iwoca Flexi-Loan
3.8
★★★★★
Variable rate Unsecured loan
£1,000 to £500,000
1 to 24 months
£25,000 annual turnover,
6 months trading
Your business loan rate varies based on your circumstances. Interest applies only to your outstanding balance on days you use the loan – there are no early repayment fees. Limited companies only.
Representative example: Borrow £10,000 over 12 months at a rate of 40% p.a. (variable). Representative APR 49% and total payable £12,294.
iwoca
3.8
★★★★★
Variable rate Unsecured loan
£1,000 to £500,000
1 to 24 months
No specified minimum turnover or time trading
Your business loan rate varies based on your circumstances. Interest applies only to your outstanding balance on days you use the loan – there are no early repayment fees. Limited companies only.
Representative example: Borrow £10,000 over 12 months at a rate of 40% p.a. (variable). Representative APR 49% and total payable £12,294.
Nest Invoice Financing
4.0
★★★★★
Fixed rate Unsecured loan
£10,000 to £5,000,000
6 to 120 months
No specified minimum turnover or time trading
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HSBC business loans overview

HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations and it serves millions of customers worldwide. The bank was founded in 1836 to facilitate trade between Europe and Asia.

HSBC has a high rate of approval for business lending (93% for loans up to £30,000, as of 2017) and says it is committed to helping British businesses take the first necessary steps to scale the ladder of success. If you need a loan, you can apply via the HSBC site.

Quick overview of HSBC UK business loans

Minimum trading period Not specified
Loan terms From 12 to 240 months
Loan amounts From £1,000 to £25,000,000
Minimum turnover Not specified

HSBC small business loans

HSBC offers fixed rate loans for small businesses looking to borrow up to £10,000,000, with loan terms between 12 and 12 years. HSBC small business loans have a representative APR of 7.1% for loans between £1,000 and £10,000,000.

HSBC business overdraft

If you already have an HSBC Business Current Account, you can borrow money without needing to use security (subject to approval) by using a business overdraft. The interest rate you receive will be linked to the Bank of England base rate. Learn more about business banking.

HSBC asset finance

HSBC asset and equipment finance is designed to let your company access better equipment, vehicles and software today, rather than having to save and wait. You can learn more about asset financing or compare deals from a range of lenders.

What other business finance products does HSBC offer?

  • Fixed and variable rate loans
    A fixed rate loan means you’re protected from increases in interest rates, and can budget with certainty, while a variable rate exposes you to potential increases in interest rates, but could also mean you benefit from any reductions in rates. See HSBC’s current deals or compare fixed rate deals from multiple lenders.
  • Business credit cards
    Need a small, ongoing, flexible line of credit? An HSBC business credit card could do the trick. Check out our review or compare all business credit cards.
  • Invoice financing
    HSBC’s invoice discounting service could help your firm maintain a healthy cash flow. Learn more about how invoice financing works or compare invoice financing deals for your business.
  • Commercial mortgages
    Scaling-up or relocating? HSBC offers commercial mortgages too. Learn more about commercial mortgages or discover options suited to your business.

HSBC business loan rates

HSBC small business loans have a 7.1% representative APR on loans between £1,000 and £10,000,000, but the interest rate you receive will vary based on your business’ application and financial situation, as well as the size and length of your loan.

HSBC business overdrafts have a variable representative EAR of 11.19%, with the overdraft facility offered with at least a 4% margin over the Bank of England base rate.

Am I eligible for a HSBC business loan?

You should only apply for a HSBC business loan if you’re certain you can meet the repayment terms.

Here are the criteria that you will personally need to meet in order to be eligible for an HSBC Small Business Loan:

  • UK resident for at least three years
  • Over 18 years old
  • Good credit rating without a history of county court judgments or bankruptcy

Information HSBC will need to process your loan application

HSBC will need to know the following:

  • A full rundown of how your business operates
  • How your particular skills and experience will help you achieve your goals
  • Information on how the money you want to borrow fits into your larger goals
  • The period over which you want to borrow your money

Proof the bank will need to see to approve your application

  • Security/assets. It will often need to see security in the form of guarantees, property or other types of assets that are easy to value.
  • Other business interests. It will need to see how many other commitments you and your business will have in order to ensure that you can dedicate the appropriate amount of time in order to grow it properly and make your loan repayments.
  • Cash flow forecast. You need to be able to prove that you have a logical and well thought out business strategy and model.
  • Financial accounts. The bank will need to see evidence of your past financial history.

HSBC states that its business loans should not be used for anything other than the purpose of investing in your business. Absolutely no personal purchases are allowed.

Customer reviews

HSBC received a high score in our 2024 customer satisfaction survey, as 97% of its business loan customers said that they would recommend the brand to a friend. Many respondents said how impressed they were by the customer service, while others commented on how good the loan rates were. One business loan customer described how “it is an easy process, with a decent interest rate and dedicated staff”.

On Trustpilot, however, HSBC as a whole received a score of 1.8 out of 5 stars, with some customers citing the unexpected closure of their bank account, as well as difficulties with customer service (updated July 2024).

What can’t HSBC do?

Looking for something else? Outside of the HSBC services listed above, you could also consider the following finance products for your business.

Restaurant worker taking card payment from a customer over counter

Merchant cash advance

Get a lump sum upfront to repay in-line with volume of future sales. Compare deals and learn how business cash advances work.

Find out more

Team of staff having strategy meeting in a studio office

Business line of credit

Borrow only as much as you need, when you need it, then repay on terms that suit you. Compare a range of lenders.

Compare now

Textile studio in a small business

Business loans for bad credit

Get live, personalised quotes on unsecured or secured loans from specialist lenders with our partner Tide

Frequently asked questions

Business loans ratings

★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor

Finder scores, in blue, are based on our expert analysis. We also show reviews from users, where we've received more than 10, with a score in yellow. We gather more reviews from customers every year in Finder's customer satisfaction survey.

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
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Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio

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Chris has written 612 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Loans & credit cards
  • Building credit
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