Can you help if my business has adverse credit, arrears or historic CCJs?

Short answer — yes, we can help guide you, but outcomes depend on your circumstances

Best Business Loans does not lend directly, but we can help UK businesses with adverse credit, arrears or historic County Court Judgements (CCJs) find suitable finance providers or brokers who specialise in these situations.

We match your business to lenders and brokers in our network who consider imperfect credit profiles, and we help you understand realistic options and next steps before you apply.

What we mean by adverse credit, arrears and historic CCJs

Adverse credit for a business can include missed payments, late filing of accounts, arrears on loans, overdrafts, or County Court Judgements recorded against the business or directors.

A CCJ is a court decision ordering a debtor to pay a sum to a creditor, and it appears on credit reports for six years unless satisfied and updated sooner.

Arrears and short-term payment issues are viewed differently by lenders to long-term defaults, so how recent and how severe the records are matters a great deal.

Which types of lenders and brokers may consider applications with adverse credit

Specialist lenders and some broker partners consider higher-risk profiles and focus on the strength of security, cash flow, or the value of assets rather than credit history alone.

Examples include asset-based lenders, invoice finance providers, merchant cash advance firms, bridging lenders and a small number of high-street or challenger banks that operate bespoke credit teams.

Some brokers in our network have experience placing cases where directors have historic CCJs or where businesses have recovered from arrears, and they can advise which routes are realistic for you.

Who typically won’t help

Most mainstream banks and many standard business loan products have strict credit policies and may decline applications with recent defaults, multiple CCJs, or long-standing arrears.

Start-ups, sole traders and unincorporated businesses are often excluded from specialist commercial options that are more forgiving of credit issues.

How Best Business Loans helps businesses with adverse credit

We use our AI-driven matching platform to analyse your business profile and match you to lenders and brokers who are actively interested in cases like yours.

Our service saves you time by identifying likely matches and pointing out lenders that consider the specific factors that matter to them, such as asset values, sector risk or invoice-backed receivables.

We do not guarantee lending, nor do we charge you to submit a Quick Quote; we introduce you to the most suitable providers based on the information you supply.

What we assess in your Quick Quote

When you complete our Quick Quote, our system asks about company age, turnover, outstanding credit issues (including CCJs), purpose of funding and security available.

Providing accurate details allows our AI and our broker partners to make better eligibility checks and gives you a clearer Decision in Principle more quickly.

Practical steps to improve your chances of being accepted

Prepare a clear, honest account of any adverse credit events and gather documents such as management accounts, latest bank statements, VAT returns and copies of CCJ satisfactions where relevant.

Demonstrating improved trading performance, a recovery plan, or evidence that CCJs have been paid or set aside materially improves credibility with lenders.

Quick checklist to prepare before applying

1) Up-to-date management accounts or trading figures for the last 6–12 months.

2) Bank statements showing regular income and any reduction in overdrafts or arrears.

3) Copies of CCJ documentation, proof of satisfaction or payment plans and correspondence with creditors.

How to present arrears and CCJs to lenders

Be transparent: hiding CCJs or historic arrears often causes applications to fail and can be considered misleading by lenders.

Explain the cause of the problem (e.g. temporary cashflow shock, seasonal dip, one-off dispute) and document the corrective actions you’ve taken.

Alternatives, timelines and next steps

If unsecured borrowing is unlikely, lenders may still consider secured options, asset finance, invoice discounting, or short-term bridging that is backed by property or equipment.

Some government-backed schemes or guarantees may help eligible firms, and refinancing or consolidation could be an option once stability is proven.

We recommend submitting a Quick Quote for an eligibility check so our AI and brokers can indicate realistic routes and expected timeframes for an introduction or Decision in Principle.

Typical timelines and what to expect

After you submit a Quick Quote, many broker-led or specialist lenders can give an indicative decision within 24–72 hours, but full underwriting typically takes longer.

Complex cases that require credit committee approval, asset valuations or legal checks can take several weeks to complete.

We’ll aim to set expectations early so you know whether an application is likely to be rapid or more involved.

Practical example — a business with a historic CCJ

A manufacturing firm with a satisfied CCJ from three years ago and steady turnover may be considered for asset finance or invoice discounting rather than an unsecured term loan.

Our AI will prioritise lenders who have previously funded similar cases and brokers who can package the case with evidence of recovery and security.

This targeted approach often achieves better outcomes than applying blind to multiple mainstream lenders.

How to get started with Best Business Loans

Complete our Quick Quote form to get a fast eligibility check and an introduction to lenders or brokers in our network who work with adverse credit profiles.

We will explain that we are an independent introducer and that providers we recommend may have their own regulatory status; Best Business Loans does not provide regulated lending advice.

For enquiries about sustainability-linked funding where adverse credit is a factor, you can also see options for eco-upgrades and specialist lending via our Sustainability Loans page: Sustainability Loans.

What we won’t do — important compliance points

We will not promise approval, misrepresent the likelihood of a result, or recommend products that are unsuitable for your business needs.

We follow FCA and ASA principles by being clear, fair and not misleading in all communications, and we advise you to read lender terms carefully before accepting any offers.

Key takeaways — in short

Yes — Best Business Loans can help you explore options if your business has adverse credit, arrears or historic CCJs, but success depends on the cause, recency and available security.

Our AI matching and experienced broker network focus on realistic routes such as asset-backed lending, invoice finance or specialist lenders rather than unsuitable mainstream products.

Start with an honest Quick Quote to get a tailored eligibility check and a clearer view of next steps.

If you’re ready to explore realistic finance options for a business with adverse credit, start your Quick Quote now and get a no-obligation eligibility check.

Need help before you apply? Contact our UK support team at hello@bestbusinessloans.ai and we’ll point you in the right direction.