A guide on how to fund and grow your business after the lockdown
Why This Matters
The world didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for small businesses when lockdown ended. If you’re running a micro business or an SME, you’re probably still feeling a dull ache in your bank account, and watching your reserves like a hawk, too. The way you once did business may not fit the new shape of your local market. Finding new customers, keeping your regulars happy, and simply paying the bills might all feel a lot harder than it did in 2019.
But here’s the raw truth: Hesitating, doing nothing, or following generic advice could cost you more than a tough year. Without solid funding and the right growth moves, you could sink further into stress, miss opportunities, or even shut up shop for good. And that’s before you factor in the confusion that comes with tracking every new grant or government update.
Money isn’t the only problem, but it’s often the most pressing. If funding isn’t flowing, it clogs up everything: your marketing, your hiring, even your ability to invest in better equipment or simply keep stock on the shelves. Time is money, but mismanaging your time trying to chase the wrong support, or not having good advice to hand, can burn through your motivation fast.
That’s why getting your funding plan straight, combined with a proper approach to advice and decision making, is non-negotiable. There’s no prize for ploughing on solo if it ends with lights out.
Common Pitfalls
This isn’t your fault, but most small business owners and freelancers get caught by some classic traps:
- Chasing the same old banks. They’ll tell you “Computer says no,” but rarely will they say why. Not all funders think alike.
- Thinking grants are a magic fix. There are useful grants out there, but once the headlines die down, most dry up quickly, and many are tied in knots of red tape.
- Bouncing between funding types without strategy. Treating asset finance, commercial loans, and working capital as interchangeable tools is a fast path to awkward repayments and wasted time.
- Going it alone. No one has all the answers, especially not at 2 a.m. after your fourth instant coffee. Trying to figure out legal, financial, or strategic stuff without trusted, honest input doesn't usually end well.
- Pitching to lenders with a foggy story. Banks and funders hate confusion and love clarity. If you don't explain where the money’s going and how it’ll make more, you’ll struggle.
- Ignoring the people side of business. All the cash in the world can’t fix bad advice or loneliness at the top.
If you recognise any of these, take it as a sign: You’re not alone, and you’re not doomed, but it’s time for a new down-to-earth plan.
Step-by-Step Fix
1. Build Your Personal Boardroom
Think Dragons’ Den, but without the showy jackets or the risk of being roasted on TV. Every business, no matter how small, needs a circle of advisors—your “5-Star Team.” You don’t need to pay most of them; you need their brains, honesty, and different perspectives.
Who should be in your advisory huddle?
- Accountant: They’ll spot problems before they cost you sleep (or an HMRC fine).
- Lawyer (or a legally minded mate): Contracts, leases, and T&Cs can save or sink you.
- Seasoned business owner: Someone who’s seen a few downturns, preferably someone local or in your sector.
- Finance broker: Useful for access to specialist lenders, spotting less obvious funding routes, and translating financial gobbledygook.
- Wildcard (optional): Pick a straight-talking friend who’s good at poking holes in plans. Every visionary needs a disruptor.
The test: Can you ring these people for a gut check? Do they ever say “Are you sure?” and mean it? If so, that’s your boardroom. Remember, the best advice is often free, but you need to ask.
Never feel daft for asking “What do you think?” The right advisor would rather field a silly question than see you struggle later. A pint or a breakfast butty is still the best payment for tough love.
2. Work Out What Funding You Actually Need
Here’s where most people leap before they look. Don’t just chase headlines or sign up for a loan because it’s “new for 2024.” Start with two key questions:
- What problem is the funding solving?
- Is this a short-term fix, a long-term investment, or a cushion for future wobbles?
Here’s a quick guide:
| Funding Type | Good For | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|
| Grants | Specific, short-term needs; not repayable | Can vanish overnight; slow to process; often require proof or “match” funding. |
| Working Capital Loans | Smoothing over cashflow gaps, paying the bills between invoices | Repayment terms may be short; check fees. |
| Asset Finance | Buying tools, vans, IT kit, machinery | Asset is used as security. Missed payments mean you lose the gear. |
| Commercial Loans | Buying a property or big business investments | Tends to be longer term, needs a solid business plan and sometimes extra security. |
Don’t just apply here, there, and everywhere. Map your actual need to the right tool.
If you’re unsure what fits, bring up your funding idea in your 5-Star Team chat. Someone will almost always ask a question you wouldn’t have thought of, saving a lot of “paperwork regret.”
3. Find the Right Funder for You
It’s old news: the high street banks have made life tricky. But there’s good news in the wide range of lenders that don’t have a blue, red, or black logo. The trick is knowing where to look and what to say.
Checklist before applying:
- Are they used to funding businesses of your size?
- Do they “get” your sector or are they just ticking boxes?
- What’s their turnaround like (ask your finance broker or local business group)?
- Read the small print: sometimes the hidden fees outlast the cash injection.
And don’t think small. After the last recession, “specialist lenders” mushroomed. Some focus on trades, cafés, or creative businesses. The more niche, the more likely they are to get your challenges.
Cringe at the idea of selling yourself? Practice explaining your funding need to a friend or partner first, and ask for honest feedback. If they don’t get it in two minutes, neither will the lender.
4. Get Your Ducks (and Documents) in a Row
Funders, whether for a grant or a loan, want clarity. Too many business owners trip up by lobbing in creased bank statements or sending spreadsheets that only make sense if you were there at their creation.
Here’s what to prepare, and what most lenders like to see:
- Recent business accounts (last 1–3 years, if possible)
- Up-to-date cashflow forecast (even if it’s back of an envelope style, as long as it’s neat)
- Evidence of business activity (contracts, bookings, invoices, pipeline)
- ID and proof of address for all owners/directors
- Business plan (short and to the point, showing where you’re going and why the money matters)
Keep a folder (physical or cloud-based). When opportunity knocks, having everything in one place makes you “first come, first served.”
Templates not your thing? Find a friend or local accountant who can check your paperwork before you submit. It cuts down on the “we need more info” email chains.
5. Communicate Clearly and Honestly
You know your business best, but stress or nerves have a nasty habit of turning facts into waffle. When talking to funders, your story matters:
- State what your business does, for whom, and why you’re confident in the future.
- Be honest about the impact of lockdown and what’s changed since then.
- Make it clear: “If I had X, I could do Y, which would bring in Z.”
- Spell out what’s great about your team or your product, but don’t promise the world, or say what you think they want to hear.
If you can explain it simply, you’re more likely to get your ‘yes’.
Avoid buzzwords and empty projections (“unprecedented”, “pivot”, “agile solutions”). Stick to plain English and real numbers, even if they’re humble. Lenders prefer honest plans over pie-in-the-sky.
6. Keep Adapting as You Grow
Lockdown, credit crunch, energy crisis, every disaster has a business story behind it. The winners aren’t always those with the most money, but those who adjust. Every three months, ask:
- Have your targets shifted?
- Is the funding you got actually working for you?
- Has your market changed (again)?
- Is your 5-Star Team still the right mix?
Check in with your advisors, review your finances, and don’t be afraid to swap tactics.
Print out your funding plan, stick it inside your till, cashbox, or laptop bag. Glance at it monthly. If it’s no longer feeling right, chat things through before your next big spend.
What Most People Miss
People easily forget that funding isn’t the end goal. What matters is your ability to adapt, innovate, and keep your edge. An advisory “board” goes beyond box-ticking; it can be your safety net and your launchpad. The key isn’t grabbing every grant or racing to repay every loan; it’s knowing when to say yes, when to pause, and when to change course.
You’ll also notice that most “big” growth stories started with chats in the pub, kitchen table brainstorms, or a blunt phone call from a friend who’s been through the mill. Those are often the avenues where the best ideas for grants, new sales tactics, or clever pivots take shape, rather than expert panels or glossy guides.
The Bigger Picture
Sort your funding, sort your team, and suddenly, business becomes a bit less frantic. The time you used to spend firefighting can now go into training your team, smoothing out customer service, or dreaming a bit bigger. This is how you move from “keeping the lights on” to scaling up, branching out, or just getting your Saturday mornings back.
You get a credibility boost as well. Businesses that get through choppy waters—especially local independents that hold their ground—often become the first choice for new customers, staff, and future investors. Word spreads when you have your ducks in a row and you’re ready to grow, and that momentum can quickly lead to more opportunities.
Here’s the big thing: none of this needs to be lonely or bewildering. Once you start asking for targeted advice, and getting it, it’s hard to imagine working any other way.
Wrap-Up
If you only remember three things: pick your support squad wisely, match your funding to your real needs (not the latest trend), and explain your case clearly to the people with the money. And keep asking questions—daft ones, basic ones, future ones. Businesses don’t grow by magic; they grow by adaptation.
Want more helpful systems like this? Join Pixelhaze Academy for free at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the easiest way to find business grants in my area?
A: Start at your local council and regional enterprise partnership, who usually keep updated lists. Also check local business Facebook groups (sometimes that’s where grants pop up first).
Q: Do I need to have a formal business plan to get a loan?
A: Most lenders will want to see one, but it can be short and simple. Stick to what you do, who buys from you, and how the funding will help grow (or steady) the business.
Q: I’m not great at spreadsheets—does that mean I’ll miss out?
A: Not at all. Plenty of tools out there can help, but a handwritten, logical plan works fine as long as the numbers tally and the story makes sense.
Q: How much does it cost to ask a finance broker for help?
A: Many brokers only get paid if you take up a loan through them, and some will talk basics over a free coffee. Always check fees upfront.
Q: My business looks different after the lockdown—is that a problem?
A: As long as you’re honest with funders and can show you’ve adapted wisely, you’ll be fine. In fact, many lenders want to see agility (just don’t hide the tough bits).
Jargon Buster
Working Capital:
Cash you need to run the business day to day: wages, bills, stock.
Asset Finance:
A way to buy big items (like vans, machinery or IT) by spreading payments, using the thing itself as security for the loan.
Commercial Loan:
A bigger, long-term loan, often used for property or large investments. You’ll need a clear plan.
Grant:
Free money (within limits), usually tied to specific business activities, conditions, or sectors.
Finance Broker:
A matchmaker between businesses and lenders. They can introduce you to funders you’d never hear about otherwise.
Cashflow Forecast:
A simple prediction (weekly, monthly, quarterly) of what money comes in and what goes out.
5-Star Team:
A loose group of trusted advisors from different backgrounds—paid, unpaid, or mates—who help you sense-check business decisions.
If you want more straight-talking guides like this one, or just fancy feeling less alone while working through post-lockdown business challenges, check out the Pixelhaze Academy. It’s free to join and packed with advice for real businesses, run by people who’ve been in the same boat.