Business loans help businesses out when they run into cash flow problems. Business loans can be used to borrow anything from a few thousand to just over a million pounds. The repayment term for the loan can vary from 6 months to over ten years. The loan can be unsecured, such as a personal loan, or secure against an asset owned by the business or business-owner. Interest rates depend on various factors including the financial health of the business, credit history of the directors and whether the loan is secured or not. There are also a number of ways businesses can borrow without taking out a loan including overdrafts, credit cards, and government grants and schemes.