More than one million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have now taken out Bounce Back loans. The news underlines the popularity of this element of the government’s Covid-19 support for businesses. SMEs that have yet to borrow should consider doing so.
The scheme offers loans of up to £50,000 to any business that has suffered some form of detrimental impact during the pandemic. In practice, that is likely to be almost every business. The loans are available from 11 private sector banks, with the government guaranteeing the debt if borrowers default, and carry an interest rate of just 2.5% a year. A firm pays no interest or charges in the first 12 months.
Many businesses have therefore taken Bounce Back loans to provide themselves with a safety net. With so much uncertainty about the second half of the year, the cash can provide vital reassurance, even if it is not needed right now. Firms that never need to draw down on the funds can then repay the money before incurring interest or charges.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The scheme is also worth considering if you’ve already borrowed less than £50,000 from the alternative Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), which carries more expensive charges. You can’t have a Bounce Back loan and CBILS finance at the same time, but you can use the former to refinance the latter, cutting the cost of borrowing. There is still time to arrange a Bounce Back loan; the scheme is scheduled to remain in place until 4 November.
-
MoneyWeek Readers' Choice Awards Winners – 2025The MoneyWeek Readers' Choice Awards 2025 celebrate the products and services that help you make, keep and spend your money. Here are this year's winners.
-
UK growth: opportunities amid tariff turbulenceIain McCombie, joint manager of the Baillie Gifford UK Growth Trust, explains how adaptable UK companies in growth-driving sectors can prosper over the long term despite international trade restrictions.
-
'Rachel Reeves' plan to force pension funds into UK assets won't work'Opinion Hustling pension fund cash into British assets sounds like a good idea. It would be better to make Britain an attractive place to invest, says Matthew Lynn
-
Supersonic travel: How China could 'leapfrog' US and Europe's commercial aviation industryOpinion Innovation in commercial aviation has been stuck for 60 years. A commercial supersonic jet might be back on the market soon, but will China get there first?
-
How British businesses can tackle Trump's tariffsThe majority of British businesses are likely to take a hit from the chaos caused by Trump’s tariffs to reorder global trade. Companies in the firing line face some difficult decisions, says David Prosser
-
Trump wants to colonise Mars – will it happen?Donald Trump wants to plant the US flag on Mars. Could humans really live there?
-
Why are energy bills so expensive in the UK?Electricity bills in the UK are higher than in any comparable rich country. Some blame the net-zero zealotry of the government for that. What is really to blame for high energy bills?
-
Will Putin invade Europe? Why investors know Russia is a paper tigerOpinion Markets are right to ignore talk of Putin invading Europe, says Max King.
-
Why French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been banned from running for officeMarine Le Pen, presidential candidate and leader of France's right-wing National Rally party, has been barred from standing by the country's judges.
-
Five years on: what did Covid cost us?We’re still counting the costs of the global coronavirus pandemic – and governments’ responses. What did we learn?
