DanR started this topic @ 13:46 on 19/01/2006
Dear All.
My name is Dan; believe it or not I have been working on and trying to raise finance for a start-up idea of mine for many YEARS!
And after this amount of time I have come to the conclusion that the banks have bent the small firms loan guarantee (SFLG) to its own ends.
If you read the profile of the SFLG on this site or any other you will not here that 99% of the banks use this for match funding only!
If you require £20K for example they will use the SFLG for £10K and expect you to find the other £10K. This goes against the very nature of what the SFLG was intended for. I'm a recent graduate from university and have no house or any other kind of security for a loan. So the government in their infinite wisdom have come up with the SFLG, which we should thank them for. But only if it is used in the way they intended.
And that’s not all; I will still have to find the 25% security for the £10K the banks have reluctantly agreed to lend me!
At this moment in time it is easier to get a regular unsecured any purpose loan to fun d a start-up or even credit cards, both of which have a higher APR and need to be repaid from day one than to get a SFLG!
Ok im done with my rant!
Thanks
Dan.
P.s
Banks who have confirmed this with me are:
Natwest
Barclays
Yorkshire
Royal Bank of Scotland.
Has anyone else found this ??
RE: Small Firms Loan Guarantee a Sham !!!!
James Smith | 19/01/2006 04:17 PM
It’s not a sham. It’s the way it works, you can’t get much more risky than lending 100% finance to a new graduate (presumably little experience in their chosen field) who has reached adult life without any savings.
You may be surprised no-one will lend to you - I am on the other hand always constantly amazed that people try to set up business with no savings or assets what so ever, and then expect banks to stump up all the cash.
Reality check required I’m afraid.
Also have a good look at your business plan. Why do you need £20k? Can you not start in a smaller way? Many businesses can now be started on a shoe string as a "phase 1" to prove the business model, before re-investing the cash for expansion.
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James Smith
Chartered Accountant
www.jamesesmith.co.uk
01235 536 773
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Your indispensable guide to Small Business Bookkeeping, Self-Assessment & VAT
RE: Small Firms Loan Guarantee a Sham !!!!
D George | 19/01/2006 05:06 PM
I have to agree with James
I am thinking "The Producers" here.
A 50/50 split is still a good deal for a potential idea only. Think if you go to a venture capitalist firm if the idea was good enough you would sign away control of the company.
My understanding of the SFLG is that it is a lender of last resort and you should be able to fund it yourself.
anyway what is your idea?
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Damian George MBA
Senior Dealer
Corporate FX
Tel +44 (0)207 959 6929
Mob +44 (0)7869 150 578
damian@tri-fx.com
www.tri-fx.com
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RE: Small Firms Loan Guarantee a Sham !!!!
Jonny | 20/01/2006 10:08 AM
We used a SFLG scheme to open our shop last year.
The bank allowed us to take into account all the money we had invested over the two years prior to the shop opening (ie when we traded solely online) as our part of the funding match.
Maybe start a bit smaller for the first 6 months and use a c/card or a small loan from family or friends to get going and review where you are in 6 months time. You may find you don't even need to borrow in the first place.
I must say though, I thought the SFLG scheme was very quick and easy to arrange with the help of the bank and I was pretty impressed all round.
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RE: Small Firms Loan Guarantee a Sham !!!!
investnortheast | 13/09/2007 03:16 PM
Can you tell me which bank you got the SFLG from?
Regards
Paul
RE: Small Firms Loan Guarantee a Sham !!!!
djaundrill | 09/07/2008 10:11 PM
It's not a sham. I was recently refused but the point they make is true. If you have a bad personal rating or are putting nothing up yourself then it is very high risk.
6-8 months ago it wouldn't have been an issue or they may have been able to work round it but in the current market they need to watch who and what they invest in. AT the end of the day thats what they are doing.
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With Regards
Darren Jaundrill
chase:it limited
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