Small Business Loans: Fast, Transparent Funding Matches for UK SMEs

Summary: Fast Business Loans connects UK limited companies and SMEs with lenders and brokers for business loans from £10,000 upwards. We are not a lender and we do not provide financial advice — we make quick matches so you can compare options, get a free eligibility check and hear from suitable providers fast. Complete a short enquiry and we’ll introduce you to brokers and lenders who best fit your sector and funding need. Get Started – Free Eligibility Check

Quick snapshot:

• Funding range: £10,000 and upwards
• Enquiry time: under 2 minutes
• No obligation; free eligibility check
• Match with lenders/brokers who know your sector

Jump to How it works · Learn more about small business loans

How our small business loan matching service works

Fast Business Loans simplifies the search for business finance. We do one thing well: match your business to lenders and brokers who can offer funding that suits your needs. Here’s the typical journey:

1. Complete a short enquiry — tell us the amount you need, what it’s for, basic company details and a contact method. It takes under two minutes. (Get Started – Free Eligibility Check.)
2. Intelligent matching — our team selects lenders and brokers from our panel who have experience in your industry and the product you need.
3. Rapid contact — expect a call or email from a matched provider, usually within hours on business days. They’ll discuss indicative terms and next steps.
4. Compare and decide — review offers, check costs and decide which provider to proceed with. There is no obligation to accept an offer.

Submitting an enquiry is for matching only — it is not an application. If you choose to progress with a lender, they will carry out their own due diligence and provide full terms.

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What UK small businesses can fund with tailored loans

Small business finance can support countless commercial needs. Typical uses our partners provide include:

• Working capital and cashflow bridging to cover payroll or seasonal shortfalls
• Buying stock or raw materials ahead of peak trading
• Equipment, machinery and vehicle purchases via asset finance
• Refurbishments, shop fit-outs and premises upgrades
• Expansion projects, new hires or opening additional sites
• Refinancing or consolidating existing business debts to improve monthly cashflow
• Sustainability projects such as solar PV or EV chargers

Funding sizes vary by lender and product. Through our panel you can access solutions for needs from £10,000 up to multi‑million lending for larger commercial projects.

Get a free eligibility check — tell us the purpose and amount and we’ll match you with the best providers.

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Who we help: from early-stage SMEs to established companies

We introduce finance to a wide range of UK limited companies across sectors. Examples include:

• Start-ups & growing SMEs — working capital, asset finance and invoice funding to scale operations.
• Established companies — refinance, expansion capital and commercial development funding.
• Franchise owners — fit-out finance and working capital tailored to franchise models.
• Sector specialists — construction, hospitality, manufacturing, transport, healthcare and more — matched to lenders who understand those industries.

We can also introduce options for businesses with imperfect credit histories. While we don’t guarantee approval, our network includes lenders and brokers who assess each case on its merits.

Check your eligibility in minutes — no credit impact

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Types of small business finance we can introduce

Our partners offer a broad range of products. Below are common categories and when they’re typically used.

Business loans (secured & unsecured)

Fixed-term finance for growth, working capital or one-off projects. Amounts and terms vary; secured loans often provide lower rates.

Revolving facilities and overdrafts

Flexible access to funds for ongoing cashflow management. Good for variable working capital needs.

Invoice finance

Release cash tied up in unpaid invoices to improve liquidity and cover day-to-day costs.

Asset & equipment finance

Purchase or lease machinery, vehicles or technology with repayments linked to asset life.

Merchant cash advance / revenue-based finance

Repayments linked to card takings — useful for hospitality and retail with predictable sales patterns.

Short-term bridging and VAT/tax funding

Temporary finance to smooth timing gaps or meet a tax liability ahead of cash receipts.

Note: Fast Business Loans is an introducer — we do not provide advice. You should review lender terms carefully and consider independent professional advice where appropriate.

Get matched with suitable finance options

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Why UK SMEs choose Fast Business Loans

• Speed: a short enquiry connects you quickly to relevant providers.
• Time-saving: we remove the need to contact many lenders yourself.
• Sector-aware matching: we pair your business with lenders/brokers familiar with your industry.
• No-obligation: free to use and you decide whether to proceed.
• Human support: real people help explain next steps and what documentation is likely required.
• Privacy: we only share your details with matched partners who can help.

“Fast Business Loans put us in touch with a broker who understood our seasonal cashflow — we had an offer within 48 hours.” — anonymised client example

Compare lender options — start here

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Eligibility snapshot: what lenders typically consider

While criteria differ across providers, common factors include:

• Trading history and incorporation date
• Annual turnover and recent profitability or management accounts
• Bank statements showing cashflow trends
• Existing debt levels and repayment performance
• Security or collateral availability for secured lending
• Director guarantees or personal involvement in some cases

Be honest in your enquiry — it helps us match you to lenders who are likely to consider your case. Submitting our enquiry does not affect your business credit score. Providers may run credit or identity checks only if you decide to proceed with an application.

Find out if you’re eligible — free eligibility check

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Preparing your enquiry: documents & next steps

Having the right information ready speeds up responses. Typical items include:

• Company registration number and trading start date
• Recent accounts or management accounts (12–24 months where available)
• Business bank statements (last 3–6 months)
• ID and proof of address for directors
• Details of the funding purpose (cashflow, equipment, refinance)
• Invoice schedules for invoice finance requests

Tip: tidy, up-to-date bookkeeping reduces follow-up requests and shortens time to offer.

Ready to start? Get your free quote now

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Comparing small business loan offers fairly

When you receive offers, compare like-for-like on these key factors:

• Total cost: total repayable over the term, not just the headline rate.
• Interest & APR: note whether rates are fixed or variable.
• Fees: arrangement, facility, and early repayment fees can change the economics.
• Repayment schedule: monthly, daily (merchant cash advance), or seasonal repayment options.
• Security & covenants: what is required and how it affects your business long-term.

If you’re unsure which offer is best, consider seeking independent financial advice before committing. Fast Business Loans introduces you to providers — the final decision and contract is between you and the lender/broker.

Compare options — get started

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Case snapshots: fast funding outcomes

1. Regional manufacturer — £150,000 asset & working capital

Challenge: new contract required extra raw materials and a CNC machine. Solution: matched to an asset finance provider and a short-term working capital lender. Outcome: indicative offers within 48 hours, funding drawn in 10 days once paperwork completed — allowed contract fulfilment without turning down work.

2. Hospitality group — £75,000 seasonal stock & refurbishment

Challenge: refurbish two sites ahead of summer season. Solution: matched to a specialist hospitality lender offering seasonal repayment profiles. Outcome: drawdown in under a week; improved revenue in peak season covered repayments.

These examples are illustrative only — results vary by case, documents and lender processes. No outcome is guaranteed.

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Why acting now matters for your business

Delaying funding can mean missed opportunities — a contract you can’t fulfil, stock you can’t buy at a discount, or a development window that passes. Proactively exploring finance options gives you a clearer picture of costs and flexibility so you can plan with confidence.

Get matched with lenders today

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Important information & our commitment to transparency

Fast Business Loans is an introducer — we do not lend and we do not give regulated financial advice. Our service is free for businesses. When you submit an enquiry we use the information to match you with lenders or brokers who may contact you with indicative terms.

Your personal and company data is shared only with matched providers who may be able to assist. We may receive commission from partners if you proceed, but you are under no obligation to accept any offer. Always read provider terms carefully and consider independent advice where appropriate.

For full details see our privacy policy and terms & conditions.

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Small Business Loans FAQs

How quickly can I receive a loan through Fast Business Loans?

Once you submit a short enquiry, matched providers typically respond within hours during business days. Funding speed depends on the lender’s due diligence — some facilities complete in days, others take weeks.

Will submitting the enquiry affect my credit score?

No. Completing our enquiry form is a soft/introduction process and does not impact your business credit score. Lenders may perform formal credit checks only if you proceed with an application.

What minimum loan amount is available?

We work with partners who arrange funding from £10,000 and upwards.

Do you charge businesses to use your service?

No. Our introduction service is free for businesses. We may receive commission from partners if you proceed with a funded offer.

Can you help businesses with previous refusals?

Yes — because our panel contains a range of lenders and brokers, we often find alternative routes for businesses declined elsewhere. We cannot guarantee approval.

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1) Is Fast Business Loans a lender? – No; we connect UK limited companies and SMEs with suitable lenders and brokers and do not provide loans or financial advice.

2) How does your small business loan matching service work? – Complete a two‑minute enquiry (not an application), we match you to sector‑relevant lenders/brokers who contact you quickly with indicative terms so you can compare and decide with no obligation.

3) Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score? – No, your enquiry is for matching only and won’t impact your business credit score, with credit checks only occurring if you proceed with a specific provider.

4) How quickly can I get funding? – Matched providers usually respond within hours on business days, and subject to due diligence and documents, some facilities can complete in a few days while others take longer.

5) What loan amounts are available? – Our partners arrange funding from £10,000 upwards, including multi‑million facilities for larger commercial projects.

6) What interest rates and fees should I expect? – Rates and costs vary by product, security and risk profile, so compare total repayable, APR and any arrangement or early‑repayment fees across offers you receive.

7) Can you help if I’ve been declined elsewhere or have imperfect credit? – Yes, our panel includes lenders and brokers who assess cases on their merits, though approval isn’t guaranteed.

8) What are typical eligibility criteria? – Lenders commonly consider trading history, turnover and profitability, bank statements, existing debt, security/collateral and sometimes director guarantees.

9) What documents should I prepare to speed things up? – Recent accounts or management accounts, 3–6 months of business bank statements, director ID and proof of address, company details and a clear funding purpose (plus invoice schedules for invoice finance) are typically requested.

10) Do you charge businesses to use your service? – No, our matching service is free for businesses, and while we may receive commission from partners if you proceed, you’re under no obligation to accept any offer.