If you’re looking to acquire another business in your sector, unsecured acquisition funding gives you the capital required without detrimentally impacting your cash flow.

These facilities range from £25k to £5M and can be spread over a period of up to 5 years. 

Many business acquisitions are structured by deferred consideration, whereby, there is an initial amount paid upfront to the seller with further tranches paid over the next few years, these further tranches maybe based on certain targets being achieved. 

Here at Acorn, we can provide funding not only for the initial payment but also for future deferred consideration liabilities.

Other deals may require the full amount up front, which we can either fund through one lender or use a multi-funder approach if the deal is more highly leveraged.

Acorns unsecured acquisition funding options are simple and straightforward. We don’t necessarily need to carry out detailed business valuations. This speeds up the process, keeps legal and accountancy costs to a minimum and provides you with the funding you need to acquire the target business as quickly as possible.

• Max 72-month term
• Facilities ranging from £25k to £5m
• Bespoke facilities with and without debentures
• Staged pay outs
• Strong panel of lenders to assist clients looking at multiple acquisitions.

Partner Buy-In / Buy-Out

During periods of transition, it’s crucial to safeguard your cash flow to ensure your business continues to run smoothly. For many small and medium sized companies, a partner buy-out can put a financial strain on the business. This often starts a long process that can have unintended consequences, negatively affect relationships and the wellbeing of a company.

However, when handled with care, partner buyouts can be made quickly and amicably. Whether you need finance to facilitate a share increase, or a full buyout, we’ll work with you to provide the best funding options for both parties.

Our considered approach can help preserve your professional relationships and safeguard the health of your business during the transition. We realise that no two partnership buyouts are the same, and so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to financing. As such, we’ll take the time to evaluate your situation and provide a range of suitable options that will work for you.

• 12-60 month terms for partner buy outs
• Funding in the names of individuals buying into professional services firms set up as "LTD" entities
• Able to utilise a multitude of funders to achieve higher advances if required

For your company to reach its full potential, you need to invest in areas that will boost its development. As a small or medium business, you need simple, straightforward financing options that will help you take the next step in your growth.

At Acorn, we offer a range of loan products that cover a broad spectrum of business development needs, such as.

• Marketing and advertising
• R & D
• Employee Training
• Stock Purchases
• New Product Launches
• New Website or App Development
• New Division
• Cyber Security
• CRM Development
• Re-Branding
• Recruitment & Staff Funding
• Refurbishments & Fit-Outs
• And more

Money that’s owed to your business through late, or non-payments can be crippling.

Acorn offers business loans that are designed to help you keep the wheels turning in the meantime. Our loans enable you to cover your overheads and free up the time you need to secure new business until payments are made.

It’s important to note that a debtors’ loan isn’t the same as Invoice Discounting or  Factoring. Rather, it’s a straightforward commercial loan to the business for the purpose of debtors. There are no charges imposed by the lender over outstanding invoices.

We usually find that this product is much better suited to our clients who have debtors outstanding for longer periods than would be suitable for Invoice Discounting. It is also a more flexible, cost effective finance option.

• 12 to 60 – month term
• Quick acceptances
• No charge imposed by lender over outstanding invoices
• Not to be confused with invoice discounting or factoring

Coming so soon after the Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) renewal deadline, Practising certificates can be an unwelcome expense and means forward planning must be taken to ensure they’re covered.

We can help fund this necessary cost and spread it over a 6-12 month period freeing up your cash-flow for use on other business needs.

The facility can also be revolved, meaning it will sit in place should you require it again in the future.

We can even consolidate Professional Indemnity Insurance and Practising Certificates into one loan, freeing up your time to concentrate on running your firm.

• Decisions within 48-72 hours
• E-sign docs
• 6-12 month term
• Pay-outs within 5-7 days

With the insurance market hardening in recent times, firms are finding it much more costly and far more complicated to organise the Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) they need to continue trading.

While it has certainly become more difficult to access in recent months, PII is not impossible to organise, and by working with a reputable insurance broker you will be able to give yourself the best possible chance of achieving the right terms.

Many insurance brokers offer a funding option, Acorn have access to multiple funding options and are often more competitive.

• 1-to-1 personal service
• Quick acceptances
• E-sign docs
• Pay-outs within 5-7 days

A revolving facility works in the same way as a traditional bank overdraft or interest only facility by providing you with pre-agreed credit. There’s no need to make any purchase to access the funding and you can transfer the money to other business accounts as required. Interest is charged on the amount drawn down, as per the number of days used.

This option provides you with complete flexibility. There are no early repayment or settlement fees and you can redraw as and when you need.

This facility works as a general cash flow safety net and covers requirements such as stock purchases; delayed invoice payments; business costs, such as Tax/VAT payments and urgent stock purchases.

• Terms from 3-12 months
• From £15k - £5m

When cash flow is tight, paying your Tax and VAT bills can be a struggle. A loan from Acorn Business Finance can help relieve you of this burden to ensure that HMRC is paid on time, instead of entering into a full payment arrangement plan with HMRC. 

At Acorn, we can help you fund:

• Income Tax – January and July
• Corporation Tax
• Capital Gains Tax
• PAYE & NI
• Quarterly VAT
• One off large VAT payments

Sometimes businesses need a helping hand when it comes to covering day-to-day running costs. A working capital loan can keep your business moving forward, helping you cover everything from accounts payable, to office rent and salaries.

The loan is repaid over a short to medium-term, which allows your business to grow without taking on a long-term debt commitment.

At Acorn, we offer working capital loans that provide you with the funds you need to keep on track.

The benefits of our working capital loans include:

• Straightforward and easy to arrange
• Takes your time out of the equation
• Revolving facilities if required
• Maximum 60-month term

Interest Only Funding

If your business is growing and you’re looking to take the next step, interest-only funding could be a good option. Interest-only loans are ideal for small and medium-sized businesses that don’t have substantial capital or large cash flow.

At Acorn, we’ve secured a bespoke, revolving 3-month facility that’s available exclusively to our clients. The funding is currently capped at a maximum lend amount of £250k and the facility can be revolved up to 3 times.

At the end of the fourth quarter, if you’re not quite ready to repay the capital, you have the option to repay it over a further 12 months (capital & interest).

Here’s how you’ll benefit:

• Short term 3-month revolving interest-only loan
• This facility is available for specific requirements
• Quick to organise and easy to revolve