Business Loans for UK SMEs – Compare Your Options Fast
Summary: Fast Business Loans connects UK companies seeking funding of £10,000 and up with suitable lenders and brokers. We’re an introducer — not a lender — and we help you compare options quickly with a free, no-obligation eligibility check. Submit a short enquiry and we’ll match you to partners who can provide tailored quotes and next steps.
Our Business Finance Matching Process
Step 1
Complete Your Details
It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.
Step 2
We Match Your Business
With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.
Step 3
You Get Free Quote + Advice
You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.
Start Your Free Eligibility Check
• No obligation • Secure enquiry • Typical responses in days
1. When Does a Business Loan Make Sense?
Business loans are suitable when you need predictable finance to achieve a specific objective. Typical triggers include growth plans, bridging cash-flow gaps, purchasing equipment, refinancing expensive debt, or investing in premises or sustainability projects. If you’re looking for funding from £10,000 upwards, a loan may be the right route.
Common scenarios:
Our Business Finance Matching Process
Step 1
Complete Your Details
It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.
Step 2
We Match Your Business
With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.
Step 3
You Get Free Quote + Advice
You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.
- Working capital for seasonal peaks or delayed receivables
- Asset purchases — machinery, vehicles, IT systems
- Refurbishment or fit-out costs for new or existing premises
- Consolidating multiple credit lines to reduce monthly commitments
- Investment in energy-efficiency or green upgrades
Get tailored quotes – it takes under 2 minutes
Complete Our 1-Minute Enquiry Form Now – Get a No-Obligation Quote
2. How Fast Business Loans Connects You With the Right Lender
We simplify the search for business finance by matching your enquiry to lenders and brokers from our panel who best understand your sector and funding need. Our role is to introduce you to potential providers — we do not supply the funds ourselves or provide regulated financial advice.
- Enquiry: You complete a short, secure enquiry form describing your business and funding needs.
- Match: We match your details to lenders and brokers that specialise in your sector and requested product.
- Response: Matched partners contact you directly to discuss options and may request further documents to provide quotes.
- Decide: You compare offers and choose the lender or broker that best suits your business.
At the enquiry stage you’re simply sharing information — this does not impact your credit score. If you choose to proceed with a lender, they may run credit checks as part of their affordability and underwriting process.
Complete Our 1-Minute Enquiry Form Now – Get a No-Obligation Quote
3. Compare Popular Business Loan Options
Our partner panel can introduce you to providers offering a range of commercial finance solutions. Below is a quick comparison to help you understand options commonly available.
| Loan Type | Typical Use Case | Possible Terms | Indicative Amount Range | Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unsecured Business Loan | Short-term working capital, growth | 1–5 years | £10,000–£250,000 | Usually no asset security; may require personal guarantee |
| Secured Loan / Commercial Mortgage | Property purchase, long-term investment | 5–25 years | £50,000–£5m+ | Commercial property or business assets |
| Invoice Finance | Unlock cash tied in unpaid invoices | Ongoing facility | £10,000–£2m+ | Debtor ledger assigned |
| Asset (Equipment) Finance | Buy or lease machinery, vehicles or IT | 1–7 years | £10,000–£1m | Asset-backed |
| Merchant Cash Advance | Retail & hospitality quick cash against card takings | Flexible / daily repayments | £10,000–£250,000 | Repaid from future card sales |
| Sustainability Loans | Energy upgrades, EV chargers, solar | 3–10 years | £10,000–£1m+ | Varies |
Exact terms and rates depend on lender appetite, your sector, trading history and whether you can offer security. Brokers in our network can tailor discussions to find the most competitive options for your situation.
Tell us what you need – we’ll shortlist lenders
Complete Our 1-Minute Enquiry Form Now – Get a No-Obligation Quote
4. Eligibility and Documentation Checklist
Preparing key documents speeds up the matching and application process. Typical information lenders request includes:
- Company name, registration number and address
- Trading history (months/years trading)
- Recent turnover and profit figures (management accounts)
- 3–12 months of business bank statements
- Details of directors and major shareholders (IDs may be required)
- Information on existing debt and monthly repayments
- Details of assets you may offer as security (if applicable)
- Purpose of the funding and projected use of proceeds
Don’t worry if you don’t have everything ready — brokers can guide you on what’s essential for initial enquiries and what can be provided later.
5. Understanding Costs, Rates, and Repayments
Costs vary significantly between products and providers. Factors that influence pricing include credit profile, sector risk, loan term, loan-to-value, whether security is offered, and the speed of funding required.
Our Business Finance Matching Process
Step 1
Complete Your Details
It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.
Step 2
We Match Your Business
With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.
Step 3
You Get Free Quote + Advice
You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.
Complete Our 1-Minute Enquiry Form Now – Get a No-Obligation Quote
Our Business Finance Matching Process
Step 1
Complete Your Details
It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.
Step 2
We Match Your Business
With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.
Step 3
You Get Free Quote + Advice
You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.
Common cost elements:
- Interest rate (fixed or variable)
- Arrangement or origination fees
- Broker fees (if applicable) — often payable by lender rather than borrower
- Early repayment or settlement fees
- Valuation or legal costs for secured facilities
Repayments can be monthly, weekly or tailored to seasonal cashflow. Always compare the total cost of borrowing, not just headline rates, and ask partners to illustrate representative examples for your situation.
6. Sector-Specific Business Finance Support
Different industries face unique funding challenges. We match you with partners who understand your sector so you avoid unsuitable offers.
Construction
Short-term facilities for materials, retentions, and bridging between jobs.
Hospitality & Leisure
Seasonal working capital, refurbishments and equipment finance tailored to trading patterns.
Retail & E‑commerce
Stock finance and invoice solutions to manage supply chain cycles.
Manufacturing & Engineering
Asset-backed finance for machinery and longer-term investment funding.
Sustainability Projects
Funding for solar, heat pumps, EV chargers and other energy-saving investments.
If your industry isn’t listed, we still likely have partners who can help — tell us about your business and we’ll match you appropriately.
7. Preparing a Strong Application: Practical Tips
Five practical tips to improve your chances of a swift and competitive response:
- Know your numbers — have up-to-date accounts and bank statements ready.
- Be clear on the purpose of the funding and how it will benefit the business.
- Provide realistic cashflow projections where relevant.
- Be transparent about historic credit issues — many lenders consider context.
- Respond promptly to partner queries to keep the process moving.
Even if you’ve been turned down before, a different lender or specialist broker may have the right appetite for your case.
8. Responsible Borrowing & Transparency
Fast Business Loans is committed to clear, fair and not misleading information. We encourage responsible borrowing — only take finance you can afford to repay. Final loan terms, affordability checks and suitability assessments are carried out by the lender or broker you choose to proceed with.
Important: Fast Business Loans is an introducer service. We do not provide regulated financial advice. All finance is subject to lender approval, status and terms.
View our privacy policy and terms of use for details on how we handle your data.
9. Why UK Companies Choose Fast Business Loans
- Speed — quick enquiry and fast matches to suitable partners.
- Wide panel — access to lenders and brokers across many specialist niches.
- No cost — the service is free to use and carries no obligation to proceed.
- Human support — real people available to explain next steps.
- Sector expertise — we match you with partners who understand your trade.
“Construction firm in Manchester secured £75,000 working capital within five days after being matched through Fast Business Loans.”
10. Ready to Get Your Business Loan Options?
Getting started is straightforward:
- Complete our short enquiry form (under 2 minutes).
- We match you to lenders and brokers who fit your needs.
- Receive quotes and decide which offer to pursue — no pressure, no obligation.
11. Business Loan FAQs
Is Fast Business Loans a direct lender?
No. We are an introducer service that connects UK businesses with lenders and brokers. We do not lend money or provide regulated financial advice.
How long does the matching process take?
After you submit the enquiry, we typically match you within hours on business days. Matched partners usually contact you shortly after to discuss options.
What loan sizes can I enquire about?
We handle funding requests from around £10,000 upwards. Lenders on our panel can support a wide range of amounts depending on sector, security and trading profile.
Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?
No. Completing our initial enquiry does not impact your credit score. Lenders or brokers may perform credit checks later with your consent if you progress an application.
Can companies with adverse credit apply?
Yes. Many partners specialise in helping firms with historic credit issues or irregular trading. Eligibility depends on affordability and lender criteria.
Do I need to offer security to get a business loan?
Security requirements vary. Some lenders provide unsecured facilities for established businesses, while larger loans often require asset security or guarantees.
How does Fast Business Loans protect my data?
We only share your details with selected lenders and brokers that match your enquiry. Data is handled securely and in line with our Privacy Policy and UK data protection laws.
1) What is Fast Business Loans — are you a direct lender?
Fast Business Loans is a free UK introducer service that matches your business with trusted lenders and brokers; we are not a lender and we do not provide regulated financial advice.
2) Is the eligibility enquiry an application, and will it affect my credit score?
No — the enquiry is an information-only eligibility check that won’t impact your credit score, with any credit searches only carried out later by a lender with your consent.
3) How quickly will I be matched and receive quotes?
Most enquiries are matched within hours on business days, and partners typically contact you the same day to discuss quotes and next steps.
4) What loan amounts and terms can I compare?
Our panel supports funding from around £10,000 up to £5m+ with terms from short‑term working capital to 25‑year commercial mortgages, depending on product and security.
5) What types of UK business finance do you cover?
You can compare unsecured business loans, secured loans/commercial mortgages, invoice finance, asset and equipment finance, merchant cash advances, and sustainability loans.
6) Who is eligible for a UK business loan through your partners, and what documents are needed?
Eligibility depends on trading history, turnover, credit profile, sector and available security, and lenders typically ask for company details, recent accounts and bank statements, director IDs, existing debts and the purpose of funds.
7) Do you support start-ups or businesses with adverse credit?
Yes — many partners specialise in start-ups and firms with historic credit issues, with approvals based on affordability and lender criteria.
8) Do I need security or a personal guarantee?
Requirements vary by product and amount; smaller loans may be unsecured but often need a personal guarantee, while larger facilities commonly require asset security.
9) What interest rates, fees and repayment structures should I expect?
Pricing varies by product, risk, term and security and can include interest, arrangement/broker/valuation/legal fees and possible early settlement charges, with repayments monthly/weekly/seasonal or via card takings for merchant cash advances.
10) Does it cost anything to use Fast Business Loans, and am I obliged to proceed?
No — our service is free to use and there’s no obligation to proceed after your free eligibility check.