Loans for self-employed people from 8.2% APR

Self-employed and looking for a personal loan? You can check eligibility with Zable in minutes. We look at your credit score as well as using Open Banking to review incomings and outgoings. Most people get their money within an hour of being approved. Use the calculator to see what your monthly repayments could look like. Checking your eligibility is a soft search, so it won't affect your credit score.

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Get your loan

Checking your eligibility won’t affect your credit score

Representative example:

Borrowing£7,500

Over3 years

Monthly Repayment£251.09

Total to pay£9,039.24

Representative APR13.3% APR

Interest rate8.5% p.a. (fixed)

Loan fee£450

Why choose Zable for a loan

Borrow up to £25,000

We offer personal loans from £1,000 up to £25,000 so you can apply to borrow the amount that works best for your circumstances.

Decision in minutes, funds within the hour

Apply online and most approved customers get their money in less than an hour. No paperwork, no phone calls, no waiting weeks for a decision.

We look at more than your credit score

By securely sharing your bank data through Open Banking, you let us see your actual income and outgoings. That's useful if your earnings vary month to month.

How to get a loan with Zable in 3 steps

Applying for a loan with Zable is easy:

Quick eligibility check
See your personalised rate in minutes without affecting your credit score.
Choose your loan
Select a loan amount from £1,000 to £25,000 and repayment term from 1 to 5 years that fits your needs.
Receive your funds
When you’re finished with your application, money is then sent directly to your bank account, usually within the hour.

Apply online

Illustration showing the three easy steps to a loan

Can I get a personal loan if I'm self-employed?

Yes. Being self-employed doesn't disqualify you from getting a personal loan in the UK. Lenders will look closely at how stable your income is and whether you can afford the repayments, but it doesn't stop them lending to you. The right loan depends on your wider financial situation, not just your job situation. Things that determine your ability to get a loan include:

Income stability. How consistent your earnings have been over the past one to three years.
Affordability. Your regular outgoings, existing debts, and how much disposable income you have each month.
Credit history. Your past borrowing and repayment record, the same checks that apply to any applicant.

Zable uses Open Banking, as well as your credit history and personal details. With your permission, we securely view your recent bank transactions to confirm your real income and regular outgoings. That matters if you're newly self-employed, your income varies between months, or your most recent earnings are stronger than previous years. It's an extra source of evidence, not a replacement for the standard checks. You still need to meet our affordability and credit criteria.

What can I use a self-employed loan for?

A personal loan from Zable can be used for most personal expenses, including:

Consolidating debt into a single monthly payment
Home improvements or renovations
A car, a wedding, or other large planned purchases

What you can't use it for is business spending: stock, equipment, hiring, or working capital. Personal loans are for personal use only. If you need money to run or grow your business, you can consider applying for a business loan instead.

Can I get a loan if I'm self-employed with bad credit?

It's possible. Bad credit makes approval harder and usually means a higher APR if you are approved, but it doesn't always rule you out. Zable considers applicants across a range of credit scores, and Open Banking can help by giving us more information on your financial situation.

If your credit score is the main blocker, it's worth trying to improve it before you apply. See our pages on loans for bad credit and how to increase your credit score.

Don’t forget that checking your eligibility for a loan will not impact your credit score and cannot be seen by other lenders. It does not guarantee you’ll be accepted for a loan, but will indicate the terms you would be offered.

Self-employed loans FAQs

Can I get a loan if I've just become self-employed?

It's possible but harder. Most lenders prefer at least one to two years of self-employed earnings before they'll consider you. Zable looks at your wider financial situation through Open Banking, which can help if your trading history is short but your current income is steady.

What documents do I need to apply for a self-employed loan?

Lenders may ask for your last one to two years of SA302 tax calculations, recent personal and business bank statements, and proof of ID and address. Zable's application is online and uses Open Banking to verify income, so doesn’t require paper documents.

Can I get a self-employed loan with no proof of income?

You'll always need to provide evidence of your income in some way. That doesn't have to be a payslip or filed accounts. Bank statements showing regular income, or Open Banking access to your account, can both serve as proof. A loan with zero income verification isn't realistic in the regulated UK market, and any product offered without affordability checks should be approached with caution.

Can I use a personal loan for business expenses?

No. Standard personal loans are for personal use only, and using one to fund business costs usually breaches the loan agreement. If you need money for your business, you may wish to consider a business loan or a government-backed Start Up Loan.