Everything went smoothly from start to finish. Our admin team and business manager Habib were incredibly helpful offering plenty of advice and support. The initial paperwork is quite extensive but if... See more
Company replied
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Review summary
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
From the moment I applied the process was fantastic. My initial advisor was warm and friendly, anything advice I needed I was given. Once I had completed the initial assessment I was then handed ove... See more
Company replied
Very worthwhile experience. They are open to giving people an opportunity based on their business plan, rather than on a credit score. Great to be given a chance where others wouldn’t. The business pl... See more
Company replied
My advisor Suzy was excellent, always in my corner. Always explained things well and really fought my battle for me! My loan took a little longer than expected but Suzy was always reassuring and expla... See more
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Company details
Written by the company
The Start Up Loans Company was established in September 2012, with a mission to help new and early-stage UK businesses access affordable finance and mentoring support.
Contact info
Steel City House, S1 2GQ, Sheffield , United Kingdom
- www.startuploans.co.uk
4.2
Great
486 reviews
No recent history of asking for reviews
This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative
Replied to 85% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 1 month
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Brilliant service and support!
Brilliant service. I felt very supported and encouraged throughout process. Suzanne Lowe my advisor was really knowledgeable, thorough & prompt. Thank you very much....
January 9, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Tim,
Many thanks for your positive feedback!
We’re glad to know that you have a good application experience, and that your Business Advisor provided the support you needed to help you complete your application effectively and efficiently.
We wish you best of luck with your business.
Kind regards,
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
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Applied for a Start Up Loan
Applied for a Start Up Loan, and they wasted two months of my time requesting endless documents. Despite providing everything, they declined my application. They also performed a hard credit search, which negatively impacted my score. Afterward, I checked their reviews on Trustpilot—most were bad, and now I see why. Don’t waste your time or ruin your credit score with them.
January 7, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi there,
I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t have a good application experience.
Please be advised that as what we offer is an unsecured personal loan, we must complete a credit check to look at your credit history and further assess your eligibility - a credit check always has an impact on a credit history, most of the time minor. We also need to request a series of documents to look at the viability of your business, its sustainability, and your personal afforability to make the repayments, before reaching an outcome on an application.
If you want to discuss this further, please contact us at hello@startuploans.co.uk and we can look at this for you.
Best regards,
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
Easy, casual, personal service.
The personalised service provided by the loan advisor was excellent. They were honest, supportive and clearly very knowledgeable. The whole process is very quick if you are well prepared and have all the correct documentation to support your application. The post loan business support is very encouraging and connects you with an expert tailored to your business needs for 12 months.
December 18, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Super Models,
Many thanks for your positive feedback. It is very motivating to know that our team provided a good service and that you felt supported throughout the application process. It is also great to know that you are making the most of the post-loan support that is available.
We wish you all the best with your business!
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
A Disheartening and Mismanaged Process That Fails to Support Entrepreneurs
I am writing this review not out of frustration, but to help other entrepreneurs avoid wasting valuable time on a process that is fundamentally flawed and counterproductive to supporting startup businesses.
Starting a business is already an incredibly challenging endeavor, and the loan application process I experienced only made it harder. At first, everything seemed promising—you’re told you’ve been “pre-approved,” and the process appears straightforward. Then comes the long list of requirements: financial documents, cash flow forecasts, revised business plans, even irrelevant personal financial details that seem excessive and invasive.
Once everything is submitted, the waiting game begins. Weeks pass, and you find yourself chasing updates repeatedly. Emails go unanswered, and any sense of progress stalls. The process is neither transparent nor efficient. It feels more like an exercise in box-ticking than genuine business support.
One of the most concerning aspects is the insistence on structuring the loan over the maximum term, clearly designed to increase interest payments rather than help businesses in the way that government-backed loans are intended. Despite providing clear evidence of affordability, profitability forecasts, and future revenue pipelines, my application was still pushed into a longer-term repayment structure that did not align with my business strategy.
The entire experience felt like being stuck in a bureaucratic loop where decisions are made to suit internal criteria rather than genuine business support. The amount of time I spent reworking business plans and providing additional documentation could have been better spent driving sales and growing my business—ironically, the very reason I applied for the loan in the first place.
I will be escalating this experience to my local MP because I believe this process fails to fulfill its intended purpose. Government-backed startup loans should support entrepreneurs with viable business plans—not create additional barriers with a system that feels outdated and mismanaged.
For anyone considering this route, be prepared for an arduous, time-consuming process that may leave you feeling more defeated than supported. The framework desperately needs modernisation to truly help entrepreneurs build businesses and contribute to the economy.
Update After Reply 19/12/2024
After leaving my initial 2-star review, I received a response from The Start-Up Loans Company. While I appreciate the effort to address my feedback, the reply only reinforced my concerns. It was clear that the response had been generated using AI or a templated approach. The Americanised language, overly generic tone, and lack of genuine personalisation stood out immediately.
This impersonal communication highlights exactly why I felt compelled to leave my initial review. As a business owner seeking financial support, I value transparency, efficiency, and a personalised approach—qualities that seem to be lacking in this process.
Receiving a copied-and-pasted response, even if it’s polished, does not address the real issues I faced, including delays, lack of communication, and a frustratingly opaque process. Entrepreneurs like myself need real engagement, not generic reassurances, especially when navigating the complexities of starting or growing a business.
This experience has left me even more convinced that there’s a fundamental need for improvement, not just in the loan process but in how customer concerns are handled.
I hope this feedback encourages meaningful changes because templated responses are not the way to support entrepreneurs.
November 1, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Ashley,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We truly appreciate all insights as they help us identify areas where we can improve and better support entrepreneurs like you.
We’re sorry to hear that your experience with the loan application process didn’t meet your expectations after putting time and effort into it. We understand that starting and growing a business can be challenging, and we are committed to helping entrepreneurs navigate financial support in the most efficient way possible. We take your concerns seriously, especially regarding the delays, the lack of contact, the transparency and efficiency of the process.
As per the different stages of application process, please be advised that passing the initial credit check doesn’t mean that the application has been ‘pre-approved’, as that is just one part of the process required to further assess the eligibility for the loan and to review the personal credit history of the applicant. Passing this stage doesn’t guarantee loan approval, as further assessments are required. During these assessments, we carefully review key business documents to evaluate the viability and sustainability of the business, as well as the applicant's ability to make repayments. It’s a combination of these factors that ultimately helps determine the outcome of the application.
There is indeed a lending criteria that applicants must meet in order to be eligible and to successfully obtain the funds once the assessment process has been completed. Regarding your concerns about the loan term structure, we understand that each business is unique, and the repayment terms should align with the specific goals and strategies of the business.
We really value your input as it can help us modernize and refine our process to better meet the needs of entrepreneurs. Please reach out to us directly so we can address your concerns at hello@startuploans.co.uk. Your satisfaction is important to us, and we hope to have the opportunity to look at this for you.
Best regards,
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
A great experience start to finish
A great experience start to finish. Helpful, supportive and knowledgeable people and an invaluable service. An oasis in a desert of poor customer service and AI chat. Thank you so much!
December 12, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Miss Helen,
Oh, thank you so much for such a kind words!
We're glad to hear that you had such a positive experience from start to finish. It’s also great to know that our team could provide the support you needed throughout your application process for the Start Up Loan. We truly appreciate your feedback and are glad we could provide a personal, helpful service. Thanks again for your trust and support!
Kind regards,
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
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Waste of Time and Dishonest
Waste of Time and Dishonest
The Start-Up Loans Company has 46% 1 star reviews, how is their rating 3.8?
This incompetent, TAXPAYER FUNDED (what a surprise) so called company makes you spend days typing out business plans, applying for business lease / heads of terms (when the application isn't even approved yet!) for nothing.
I passed all credit checks and wrote a good plan.
The advisor said my application was highly likely to be approved and the money could come in before December 24th 2024.
I then get a boilerplate letter saying the application was declined, even though I have perfect credit!
I then made a GDPR request that was illegally blocked.
Don't waste your time with these incompetent fools.
December 10, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Mohammed,
I’m sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet your expectations, especially after putting time and effort into your application.
I want to assure you that your feedback is taken seriously, and we would like to understand more about the issues you encountered during the application process and your GDPR request.
Please be advised that passing the initial credit check does not guarantee the success of the application, as you will still need to go through the assessment process required to look at the viability of your business, its sustainability and your personal afforability to make the repayments.
If you’d like to discuss this further, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly at hello@startuploans.co.uk so we can look at this for you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Kind regards,
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
Stellar customer service…
The support and feedback gave been first class. As a first time applicant I can't have asked for a better introduction to my start up app.
December 9, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Nathan,
Many thanks for your feedback.
We’re so glad to hear that the support and feedback provided during the application process have been helpful, especially as a first-time applicant. It's great to know that your introduction to your Start Up Loan was a positive experience. We wish you all the best with your business!
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
valuable feedback every step of the way
"I had a great experience! The insights provided were helpful to focus on activities that will generate revenue early on, and the process was detailed, with valuable feedback every step of the way. Highly recommend!"
November 30, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Enock,
Many thanks for your positive review and for recommending us!
We're glad to hear that the insights and feedback were valuable in helping you focus on revenue-generating activities. It's great to know that the process also provided the clarity and direction to help develop your business. We wish you continued success!
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
Please do not waste your time paying…
Please do not waste your time paying there fees it’s a waste of time and money then the staff at hello@startup are rude and unprofessional they have not provided no service at all I still had to pay £100 to have my business plan written and still no help or guidance just appointments being cancelled and disgusting attitude when you go to the bank to get your money back I will be taking this further as there conduct as a company is unprofessional and beyond RUDE Please Please Please don’t deal with this company they are not a professional legitimate company they are like worries and pass threats when you are not happy with what they are doing if you see the emails you would be SHOCKED
November 30, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Charlene,
We’re sorry to hear about your negative experience, and we apologize for any frustration you've encountered and the quality of the service you received. We take customer feedback seriously and would like to understand more about the issues you faced.
As per the £100 fee you paid for your Business Plan, please note that our application process is completely free. We also offer free downloadable templates on our website to assist you in completing your business documents – and as part of the application process, we will also assign you a Business Advisor that will help you complete these documents before progressing your application onto the next stage.
Please reach out to us directly so we can address your concerns at hello@startuploans.co.uk. Your satisfaction is important to us, and we hope to have the opportunity to look at this for you and make things right.
Kind regards,
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
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Satisfied customer!
My business manager helped me through the process. I would recommend Jane to anyone that needs to secure a start up loan.
November 21, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your positive review!
We're thrilled to hear that you found your Business Advisor Jane helpful throughout the process. We're also glad we could support you in securing your Start Up Loan. If you ever need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out. Wishing you continued success with your business!
Best regards,
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
Great service
This Company provided excellent service to me, and I would be very happy to recommend them to anyone. The people are great, friendly, and very helpful. They made it their priority to understand your needs and meet with you.
November 18, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Marie,
Thank a lot for your positive review and for recommending us.
We are happy to know that you not only had the support you needed to complete your application, but that you also found your Business Advisor friendly and helpful.
All the best with your business!
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
Really ,dealing of staff,adviser and…
Really ,dealing of staff,adviser and loan department are very appreciable thanks for
November 12, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Dilwar,
Many thanks for your feedback. We are glad to hear that you had a positive application process experience.
All the best with your business! :)
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
Waste of time
Waste of time! Credit check gets done before anything, then the un-realistic questions start and hidden criteria. I am a business owner and this would have stopped me from even considering starting in business if I had started here. All of the reviews referring to people not wanting to put the effort in at the start is simply un-true, this application process is set-out in a back to front approach and should be changed. Just a few points to consider - They ask for a borrowing start date that cannot be reached by them, due to the length of time they take to process applications, - The process asks for information that not even fully established businesses will hold, but if you make your 'predictions' correctly you have a chance. Sad to think that this application process alone will stop some good businesses starting!
November 8, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hello Mitch,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. I’m sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. We strive to be transparent about our processes and the potential impacts. We are committed to transparency, and you can find all the information about the application process is available on our website.
We conduct a credit check to avoid increasing financial indebtedness that may overburden an individual borrower, to look at your credit history and to further assess your eligibility for the loan. We also provide detailed information about the application process, the credit checks, and the required documents on our site.
Our business support partners make lending decisions based on your credit check in conjunction with key documents such as your Business Plan, Cash Flow Forecast, and Personal Survival Budget - they may also request bank statements to ensure due diligence and responsible lending. Please note that the assessment process to reach an outcome on the application takes roughly up to 8 weeks. During that time, your Business Support Partner will look at the viability of your business, its sustainability, and your personal affordability to make the repayments.
If you’d like to discuss your concerns further, please feel free to reach out to us at hello@startuploans.co.uk. We value your input and are committed to improving based on your experience.
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
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Straightforward, friendly advisor
The whole process was clear and straightforward. My appointed advisor, Suzy Lowe, was friendly, insightful, and great to work with!
October 24, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Lewis,
Thank you for your kind words! We're glad to hear that you found the process clear and enjoyed working with your Business Advisor Suzy Lowe. Your feedback is important to us, and we’re here to support you anytime!
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
Really disappointed
Really disappointed. You answer some questions which tell you whether you're eligible, then a credit check is done. I passed both which was great. I then spent so much time and effort transferring my business plan to their format, only to be told I am not actually eligible to apply. Why make me complete a credit score only to then tell me I'm not eligible, this can really effect people in other aspects of their lives.
July 1, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Daniel,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your application was made ineligible after completing the credit check and providing your business plan. We make great efforts to be transparent about our processes and the potential impacts.
We are committed to transparency, and all information about the eligibility criteria and the application process is available on our website. We also provide detailed information about the application process, credit checks, and the required documents on our site.
We conduct a personal credit check to avoid increasing financial indebtedness that may overburden an individual borrower. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee approval of an application based on the outcome of the credit check alone. This is because we also consider the business viability.
If you’d like to discuss your concerns further, please feel free to reach out to us at hello@startuploans.co.uk. We value your feedback and are committed to improving based on your experience.
Felipe,
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
I have spoken to the rudest woman, vile.
I have spoken to the rudest woman named Michelle I've ever spoke to doing a customer services job. She should not be dealing with the public and especially new business owners. She lacks manners and talks over you which has happened on several occasions with a very patronising voice. I please ask your company to do random spot checks on your staff especially if they are the first point of contact. There behaviour is appalling. Test it for yourself. Please put someone more polite and less patronising in that position. She's horrible.
I payed my full subscription and sent in my business plan. I then paid another £100 for help with my financial forecast. I followed it up and was told I would hear by the 23rd October 2024. I have left a voice mail 2 x a day since. Finally this rude, obnoxious, doesn't listen lady responds with 1000% attitude and sarcasim till the point I ring back ask her name and who is above her. I think she's the rudest lady I've ever spoke to in 49 years of my life genuinely. I'm in shock how she has that position. This must be a joke. She needs reviewing by checking her customer service attitude and pretending to be the public when calling. In total shock. Vile, disgusting behaviour. Your company seriously needs to check her out.
October 28, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi JH,
Thank you for your feedback. I'm sorry to hear about delays and the poor application experience with your Business Advisor Michelle; this is not the standard we strive for. We aim to provide a supportive and respectful environment for all our customers. We understand how frustrating this must have been, especially when your seeking support for your new business. Please do reach out to us so we can address this for you.
As per the paid subscription and £100 fee you paid, please note that our application process is completely free. We also offer free downloadable templates on our website to assist you in completing your Cash Flow Forecast.
To discuss your concerns further, please reach out to us at hello@startuploans.co.uk. We value your input as it helps improve the quality of the service we are providing.
Felipe,
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
Stress free process
Very easy steps to follow with excellent support people taking the stress out of the process. Highly recommended.
October 23, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Stephen,
Thanks so much for your review and for recommending us.
We are happy to know that you had the support you needed to help you complete your application.
Best of luck with your business.
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
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Great support and help throughout the…
Great support and help throughout the process.
October 17, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi John,
Thanks a lot for your review.
We’re glad to know that you had the support you needed to complete your application.
All the best with your business.
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
A great service from start to finish
A great service from start to finish, lots of communication from Karl - helpful advice was given throughout which meant a smooth and speedy outcome.
October 15, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Emma,
Many thanks for your great review.
We’re glad to know that the application journey was smooth and that you had a speedy outcome.
Best of luck with your business.
Felipe
Senior Customer Service Advisor
The Start-Up Loans Company
don't waste your time
check the negative reviews left by others, they are accurate to the dot.
my own experience was an absolute disaster, don't expect to hear from these people, for months and months.
our application lasted for two months before someone who has absolutely no clue sent an e-mail asking us to send the same information that we sent multiple times before.
when we sent a reply he didn't even read it and asked for the same information again.
this shenanigans lasted for a few more weeks before he asked for information that has no legal basis.
i withdrawed the application to keep our dignity at least.
expect to be treated like a dog ! it's a uk government program at the end of the day, typical.
October 14, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Start Up Loans
Hi Aecee,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear about the poor application process you experienced. It’s clear that we fell short of your expectations, and we regret the delays and communication issues you encountered during the application process. Your concerns are important to us, and if you’re open to it, we would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further and address your specific situation. You can email us at hello@startuploans.co.uk
Best regards,
Felipe, Start Up Loans Customer Service Team
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