Seven official startup funding services, each with a best use and a limitation

No tool is best for every startup. This list covers seven free public-authority services that were live-checked on 4 September 2026. Inclusion requires a primary service page, a distinct funding task and relevance to an England-based company. There is no paid placement, and the order follows the funding journey rather than a score.

What to take away

No single tool suits every startup, so pick the service that controls or informs your current funding task.
A listing or search result is general information, not an offer, eligibility decision or approval.
Save each result with its search date because filters, terms and listings change over time.
Combining result counts from different tools would create a false market total.

1. British Business Bank Finance Finder

The Finance Finder asks about purpose, amount, duration, profitability, assets, business stage, sector and location to present possible finance types.

Best use: learning which broad debt or equity routes may fit, such as Start Up Loans from the British Business Bank. Limitation: a result shows possible routes, but each provider sets its own terms.

2. Find a Grant

Find a Grant at https://www.gov.uk/find-government-grants searches government grant opportunities and links their published details. For example, an Innovate UK Smart grant competition can appear there.

Best use: building an initial shortlist from current official listings. Limitation: search results need manual checks for applicant, location, activity, dates, cost and contribution. A listing does not guarantee complete market coverage or an award.

3. DBT finance and support finder

The government's finance and support service filters schemes by support type, stage, industry and other published fields. For example, it can surface Start Up Loans and Innovate UK competitions.

Best use: finding grants, loans, equity and wider support, including some English regional schemes. Limitation: the live provider page still controls availability and terms.

4. Innovate UK Innovation Funding Service

The innovation funding service lets UK-based businesses and research organisations search, apply, submit, track and manage relevant applications. For example, Smart Grants is one competition managed through the service.

Best use: official Innovate UK competition work. Limitation: each competition has its own scope, documents, dates and funding rules; the account interface does not make a project eligible.

5. Companies House search

Companies House search at https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/ provides filed identity, officer, status and document information. For example, you can check a company's confirmation statement or annual accounts.

Best use: checking the legal entity behind an investor, lender, adviser or supplier and reconciling company filings. Limitation: filed information is not a credit, competence or fraud assessment and does not replace statutory books.

6. FCA Register

The FCA Register records firms, individuals and permissions within its scope. For example, you can check whether a firm has permission to hold client money.

Best use: verifying identity, status and specific permissions where regulated activity may be involved. Limitation: a registered firm is not approved for every service or group entity. Scope and permission questions need qualified interpretation.

7. HMRC advance-assurance service

HMRC's advance-assurance guidance explains the online process and required information for relevant venture-capital schemes. For example, the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and Enterprise Investment Scheme are relevant schemes.

Best use: preparing and submitting a company request for HMRC's view on specified scheme conditions. Limitation: assurance is based on information supplied, is not general endorsement, does not indicate performance and does not decide whether an investor qualifies.

Selection method

Choose the service that controls or informs the current task, then preserve its result with the date and source. Private software may improve workflow, but it cannot replace the authoritative scheme, regulator or company record.

Two-stage service check

Does the service cover company, route and location?

Yes

Open the individual programme, provider or entity record

Choose the service that controls the current task

Where a choice involves regulated activity, tax or material financial risk, obtain suitably qualified advice.

The list deliberately excludes general spreadsheets, CRMs and commercial data rooms. Their suitability depends on product edition, configuration, contract and company data, which require a separate dated comparison.

Before you act

Confirm the service covers your company, route and location.
Open the individual programme, provider or entity record.
Verify the live terms on that record.
Save an export or note with the search date.
Cross-check identities rather than copying old exports.
Get qualified advice for regulated, tax or material financial risk.

Common questions

What does the British Business Bank Finance Finder actually give me?

It asks about purpose, amount, duration, profitability, assets, business stage, sector and location, then presents possible finance types. Treat it as a starting point for learning which broad debt or equity routes may fit.

Can I rely on a grant listing as proof I will get funding?

No. Find a Grant searches government grant opportunities and links their published details, which helps build an initial shortlist from current official listings. Results still need manual checks for applicant, location, activity, dates, cost and contribution.

What does HMRC advance assurance mean for my startup?

It is HMRC's view on specified venture-capital scheme conditions, based on the information you supply. The guidance explains the online process and required information, so use it to prepare and submit a company request for relevant schemes.