Reviewed by
Billy Lang, Director
FCA Registration No: 835008
Pick the right deeper page
“New business” covers a lot of ground. The eligibility framing, evidence, and tax treatment differ materially by structure. Pick the path that fits how you trade.
Limited company
Newly incorporated, no filed accounts
Director-guarantee disclosure, 1.5 vs 3-month initial-rental rule, what we accept in lieu of accounts.
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Sole trader
Lease in your name, business use noted
SA302 + bank statements accepted. Tax content kept at signposting depth.
Read more
Under 12 months
Self-employed under 12 months
No filed accounts yet — bank statements, contracts, invoices accepted instead.
Read more
Umbrella audience page
Self-employed leasing
For all self-employed cohorts — sole traders, contractors, freelancers, partners.
Read more
What new businesses share
Common ground, regardless of structure
- Soft credit check via Creditsafe at the eligibility stage
- Filed accounts not required for the first 12 months
- Bank statements, contracts and invoices accepted as evidence of trading
- Decisions based on full circumstances — not just a trading-history threshold
- Personal guarantee normal for newly incorporated limited companies
All applications are subject to status. We do not offer guaranteed approval.
A real example
Placeholder — awaiting real case study
Anonymised approval — newly formed business
Short paragraph describing one real customer (no name) — the structure of their new business, what we accepted as trading evidence, and the vehicle / term they ended up with. Client to supply.
Frequently asked questions
Can a brand-new business lease a vehicle?
Yes — new businesses across all structures (sole trader, partnership, LLP, limited company) can lease with us. The eligibility framing differs by structure, but the principle is the same: we use a soft credit check via Creditsafe at the eligibility stage and look at the wider picture, not just trading history.
What if I haven't filed accounts yet?
Newly formed businesses typically haven't. That's expected. We accept bank statements, signed contracts and recent invoices in lieu of filed accounts for the first 12 months of trading.
Do I need a personal guarantee?
For limited companies that are too young to stand on their trading history, yes — a director's personal guarantee is normal. Sole traders and partnerships don't have a separate legal entity to guarantee, so the lease is in your name with business use noted.
How does the soft credit check work?
A soft credit check via Creditsafe is used for identity, address and fraud-prevention checks at the eligibility and quote stage. It does not normally affect your credit score the same way as a full lending application search. If something needs further review, a hard search may be required — but only with your permission.
All applications are subject to status.
Eligibility framing differs by trading structure. See the dedicated pages above for the specifics. First Flexi Lease is a trading name of Oak First Investments Ltd. FCA Registration No: 835008. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Tell us about your business
Soft credit check via Creditsafe takes minutes — and we'll tell you which of our products fits your structure honestly.
