What Is Commercial Finance?

Commercial finance is a broad category of funding designed for business needs that are larger or more complex than standard small business loans. It commonly covers lending for commercial property purchases and development, large equipment and machinery, bridging short-term funding gaps, refinancing existing facilities, asset-based lending and invoice or cashflow solutions for established companies.

Why it matters: the right commercial finance can unlock expansion, accelerate projects, improve working capital and make major capital purchases possible without draining operating cashflow.

How Fast Business Loans Supports Your Commercial Funding Journey

Fast Business Loans is an introducer — we don’t lend and we don’t give regulated financial advice. Instead, we take a few details about your business and match you with the most suitable lenders or brokers in our panel so you can compare real offers fast.

Our simple 4-step matching process

1. Complete a short enquiry: basic business and funding details — this takes around 2 minutes and does not affect your credit score.
2. We match you: we use your information to select lenders and brokers who understand your industry and funding need.
3. Rapid responses: partners typically contact you the same day to discuss options and request any supporting documents.
4. Compare and decide: review proposals and proceed directly with the lender or broker that best fits your needs. There is no obligation to accept any offer.

Get Your Free Eligibility Check to begin — no cost, no obligation.

Commercial Finance Solutions Available Through Our Network

Through our broker and lender panel we can introduce businesses to a range of commercial finance products. Exact lending criteria and terms vary by provider; our role is to find the best matches so you can get realistic offers quickly.

• Commercial mortgages — purchase or refinance commercial property. Typical sizes: from £50,000 to multi‑million, terms 5–25 years; usually secured against property.
• Term loans (secured & unsecured) — medium-term capital for growth or consolidation. Typical sizes: £10,000 upwards.
• Bridging finance — short-term funding to bridge purchase or development timing. Often arranged within days for time-sensitive deals.
• Development finance — staged funding for property development projects; typically underwritten on GDV and project experience.
• Asset finance — fund machinery, vehicles, plant or IT via hire purchase or leases; preserves working capital.
• Invoice finance & discounting — unlock cash tied up in unpaid invoices to improve liquidity.
• Refinance & consolidation — restructure existing borrowing to lower payments or simplify facilities.

For a detailed overview of commercial lending products and when they’re typically used, see our commercial finance pillar page: commercial finance.

Commercial Finance Eligibility — What Lenders Typically Assess

Lenders each have their own underwriting rules, but most will consider the following core areas:

Common criteria

• Business trading history and track record (company accounts or management accounts).
• Annual turnover and profitability or projected cashflow for development projects.
• Existing debt commitments and affordability.
• Security or collateral available (property, equipment, debentures) if required.
• Director credit profiles and personal guarantees where appropriate.

Don’t worry if you’re unsure about one of these items — make an enquiry and we’ll match you to partners who serve a wide range of circumstances. Remember: enquiries are free and won’t affect your business credit file.

Check Your Eligibility in Minutes

Understanding Commercial Finance Costs

Costs and pricing depend on product type, lender risk appetite and security provided. Typical elements include:

• Interest rates: fixed or variable. Secured finance often has lower rates than unsecured facilities.
• Arrangement and set-up fees: one-off fees charged by lenders or brokers to arrange the facility.
• Valuation and legal fees: especially for property-secured lending.
• Broker fees: some brokers charge clients directly, others are paid by lenders — we’ll flag any known fees during the matching process.

Fast Business Loans does not charge businesses to use our service — we are remunerated by our partners when an introduction results in a completed transaction. We’ll help you understand typical ranges and ensure partners disclose fees so you can compare like-for-like.

Specialist Sector Support Across the UK

Our panel includes brokers and lenders who specialise across many sectors. Common industries we help:

• Construction & Trades — working capital, plant hire and project finance.
• Commercial Property & Development — acquisitions, bridging and development finance.
• Manufacturing & Engineering — asset and equipment finance for production upgrades.
• Hospitality & Leisure — refurbishment, fit-out and seasonal cashflow facilities.
• Retail & E‑commerce — stock and growth capital.
• Healthcare & Care Homes — premises, equipment and expansion funding.
• Sustainability & Green Projects — funding for energy upgrades, EV chargers and retrofit projects.

If your business operates in a specialist niche, we’ll try to match you with brokers who have relevant experience.

Talk to a Commercial Finance Specialist Today

Real Businesses, Real Outcomes

Below are anonymised mini case studies illustrating how our introductions have helped UK businesses secure commercial funding.

• Construction contractor: needed £150k for plant & materials; matched with a specialist asset finance broker who arranged hire purchase within 10 days — business avoided payment delays on a major site.
• Developer: required short-term bridging of £750k to complete a purchase before refinancing with a commercial mortgage; bridging arranged in week, refinance completed three months later.
• Manufacturer: upgraded production line with £320k asset finance; monthly cost spread and tax-efficient ownership structure improved cashflow.

Clients report that being matched with experienced lenders reduced time spent sourcing quotes and improved the relevance of proposals.

Preparing for Your Commercial Finance Enquiry

Having the right documents ready speeds the process. Typical checklist:

• Recent company accounts (or management accounts) and bank statements.
• Details of the funding requirement: amount, purpose, timescale.
• Details of assets to be used as security (property, plant, stock).
• Business plan or project summary for development or growth funding.
• Cashflow forecasts if available.
• Director ID and ownership structure.

Even if you don’t have everything at hand, submit a short enquiry and we’ll match you with partners who can advise on next steps.

Upload Your Details Securely

Why Work With Fast Business Loans?

• Speed: quick matching cuts the time it takes to start conversations with lenders.
• Choice: access to a broad panel of brokers and lenders who work across commercial finance types.
• Free and no obligation: you are under no obligation to proceed with any offers you receive.
• Sector experience: partners who understand industry-specific risks and opportunities.
• Privacy: we only share your details with relevant partners based on your enquiry.

Get Matched With Trusted Lenders

Commercial Finance FAQs

Are you a lender or a broker?

Fast Business Loans is an introducer — we connect businesses to lenders and brokers but do not lend or provide regulated financial advice.

Does it cost anything to enquire?

No. Submitting an initial enquiry through our form is free and carries no obligation.

Will the enquiry affect my credit score?

No — the initial enquiry and matching process do not result in a credit search. Lenders may run credit checks later if you decide to proceed.

How quickly can funding be arranged?

Timescales vary by product: bridging can be arranged within days, asset finance in a week or two, commercial mortgages and development finance may take longer. Your matched partner will provide realistic timings.

What loan sizes are available?

We arrange introductions for commercial finance from around £10,000 upwards. Many partners also handle multi‑million facilities.

Can I apply if I’ve been turned down before?

Possibly — different lenders and specialist brokers consider applications differently. A new match may find an alternative route to funding.

How is my data protected?

Your information is held securely and only shared with relevant partners to help match your enquiry. See our privacy policy for full details.

Ready to Explore Your Commercial Finance Options?

Get a fast, free eligibility check and we’ll match your business with lenders or brokers who are most likely to help. It only takes a couple of minutes to start.

Start Your Enquiry — Free Eligibility Check

No obligation. We only share your details with relevant partners who can help with your request.

Important Information

Fast Business Loans is a trading style of Fast Business Loans and acts as an introducer only. We are not a lender and do not provide regulated financial advice. When you proceed with any partner introduced by us, that partner may perform credit searches, request supporting documentation, and provide terms. We cannot guarantee outcomes: any finance offers depend on lender underwriting and your individual circumstances. All promotions and communications are intended to be clear, fair and not misleading.

For full details on how we use your data and partner selection, please review our privacy policy and terms of use.