This comes up a lot before applying: "is my turnover high enough?" The short answer is that there is no minimum turnover figure to clear. We do not publish a revenue threshold, and you will not be turned away because your sales sit below some number. What we look at instead is whether your business meets a few plain eligibility points, and then whether the borrowing is affordable against how the company trades.
Why there is no turnover threshold
A single fixed turnover rule would be a blunt instrument. Two companies can report the same annual figure and be in completely different shape: one steady and comfortable, the other stretched thin. A flat threshold would wave the second one through and shut the first one out — the opposite of a fair decision. So rather than asking "is your turnover above £X?", we look at how money actually moves through the business and whether a new repayment would sit comfortably within that. Turnover is one signal among several, not a gate you pass or fail at the door.
What actually decides whether you can apply
Eligibility comes down to a handful of plain points rather than a revenue figure:
- The borrower is a UK limited company or LLP registered at Companies House. We lend to the company, not to you as an individual, and take no personal guarantee.
- The business has a short run of real trading behind it, so there is enough recent activity to assess — this is about genuine trading, not the company's age.
- The company holds its own UK business bank account, in the company's name, so we can see how it trades and how a loan would be funded and repaid.
- The borrowing is for a genuine business purpose — stock, a supplier bill, equipment, a short cash-flow gap — not personal spending.
Notice what is not on that list: a minimum turnover, VAT registration, or a flawless credit file. For the full checklist, including how the trading-time point works, see do I need to be VAT-registered or trading a certain time to apply.
Affordability, not a revenue figure
Meeting those points means you can apply; it does not, on its own, guarantee an offer. Once you apply, we assess the company's affordability from its bank activity and a check on the business — the income in, the outgoings out, how steady the pattern is, and how much room there is to take on a repayment without strain. A modest but steady cash flow can support borrowing well; a larger but erratic one might support less. More on how that works is in how do you decide whether to lend to my business.
What this means for the amount you are offered
Because every offer is affordability-led, the figure we put in front of you is set by what the company can comfortably manage — not by your turnover, and not automatically by the top of our range. A strong, steady picture can mean more is available; a tighter one can mean a smaller amount or a shorter term. Whatever the figure, you see the amount, term, schedule and total cost in full before you commit. For how the range and your specific offer relate, see how much can my business borrow, and for how long.
If your trading is light right now
If your business is newer or trading quietly, you are not excluded by a turnover rule — but a thin recent history gives us less to assess, which can mean a more cautious offer or none yet. A few more months of real activity before applying can strengthen your position. We weigh recent activity more heavily than the company's age, as explained in how much trading history do you look at.
The kind of lending this is
Credicorp lends to UK limited companies and LLPs for business purposes, with the company as the borrower. This is exempt business lending under Article 60B of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 — not regulated consumer credit, not covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, and with no personal guarantee. To talk something through before applying, use the General Support Enquiry form.
See also: Can a newly formed company apply?, Can a charity or charitable company apply?, Can a CIC or community interest company apply?.