How to get funding to start a business
31 Jul 2020
09 Feb 2026
31 Jul 2020
14 min. read
09 Feb 2026
| Typical amount | Speed of access | Cost | Control & ownership | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bootstrapping | £5k-50k | Immediate | No interest or repayment | Full control | Early-stage, low-cost start ups |
Friends & family | £1k-25k | Fast | Low or no interest | Full control | Trusted networks, small injections |
Government grants | £1k-50k | Slow (weeks or months) | No interest or repayment | Full control | Innovation, social enterprises, high growth sectors |
Debt financing | £10k-500k | Medium (weeks) | Interest + fixed repayments | Full control | Businesses with revenue |
Equity financing | £50k-5m | Slow (months) | Share of profits or equity | Shared control | High-growth, scalable businesses |