Business Loans for UK SMEs – Compare Options with Fast Business Loans

Summary: Fast Business Loans helps UK companies seeking £10,000 and above find the right business finance by matching your enquiry — free and without obligation — to suitable lenders and brokers. We’re an introducer (not a lender). Complete a short enquiry and we’ll connect you with partners who can provide personalised quotes. Get started with a Free Eligibility Check and see options quickly.

• Fast matching to lenders & brokers
• No obligation, no fee to use our service
• Typical response within hours for many enquiries

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How Our Business Loan Matching Works

We make finding business finance simple. Tell us about your business and funding need; we use that information to match you with lenders and brokers best placed to help — quickly, and without affecting your credit file.

1. Tell us about your business

Complete a short enquiry (takes under 2 minutes). We ask for basic business details and the amount you need. Submitting an enquiry does not affect your credit score.

2. We shortlist suitable partners

We match your case to lenders and brokers on our panel who typically deal with businesses like yours and with the loan sizes you need.

3. Discuss tailored offers

Matched partners contact you directly to request documents, clarify details and present offers. Each lender sets its own terms and conditions.

4. Choose and proceed when ready

Review the options, compare quotes and proceed only with the offer that suits your business. There’s no obligation to accept any quote.

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What Is a Business Loan and When Does It Help?

A business loan is capital provided to a company to support operations, investment or growth. Loans can be secured or unsecured, short-term or long-term, and are structured to meet specific business needs.

Everyday funding scenarios

• Bridging cash flow gaps during seasonal peaks
• Buying equipment or vehicles (asset finance)
• Refurbishment, fit-out or expansion projects
• Refinancing or consolidating existing business debt
• Investment in sustainability (e.g., solar, EV chargers)

If you want to explore mainstream business loan options in more depth, see our pillar page on business loans.

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Business Loans We Can Help You Access

We match businesses to a broad range of commercial finance solutions. Typical lending sizes start from £10,000 and can reach several million depending on the lender.

Key considerations

• Eligibility varies: trading history, turnover and director profile matter.
• Secured loans usually offer lower rates but may require business or property security.
• Matching to the right lender increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.

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Why UK Businesses Choose Fast Business Loans

We connect businesses quickly to lenders and brokers so you can focus on running the business — not searching for finance.

• Speed: quick enquiry and fast matches
• Sector expertise: we link you to partners who understand your industry
• Transparency: no hidden fees and no obligation to proceed
• Secure handling of your data

Experience, expertise, trustworthiness

Our team vets partners and tracks performance so your enquiry reaches those most likely to help. We aim for clear, fair and not misleading communications at every stage.

“Fast Business Loans helped us quickly find a lender who understood our seasonal cashflow. The process was straightforward and saved us weeks of searching.” — illustrative testimonial

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Are You Eligible? What Lenders Usually Look For

Each lender sets their own criteria. Below are common factors lenders review when considering business loan requests.

Business profile

• Trading history (most lenders prefer at least 12 months)
• Turnover and profit trends
• Sector and customer concentration

Directors & owners

• Personal credit history and experience
• Residency and identification

Security & guarantees

• Secured loans often require business assets or property
• Some lenders may request personal guarantees

Documentation checklist

• Recent business accounts or management accounts
• Bank statements (typically 3–6 months)
• VAT returns, business plan or cashflow forecast (where relevant)

Check Your Eligibility in 2 Minutes

How Much Could a Business Loan Cost?

Loan cost depends on type, term, security and credit profile. Lenders set interest rates and fees individually — below is an overview to help you compare options.

Typical cost components

• Interest rate — fixed or variable (quoted as rate and often as APR)
• Arrangement or facility fees
• Broker fees (if any) and early repayment charges

Illustrative Example – Not a Quote

Example: £100,000 unsecured loan over 3 years at a representative rate of 9% with a 2% arrangement fee.

• Annual interest approx: £9,000
• Arrangement fee: £2,000 (one-off)
• Monthly repayment (approx): £3,360

This example is illustrative only. Actual rates and fees are set by lenders after full assessment.

We do not charge businesses to use our service — any broker or lender fees will be disclosed by those parties.

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Fast Business Loans for Different Sectors

We work with partners that specialise across many industries. Matching to a sector-specialist improves the quality and speed of responses.

Construction & Trades

Funding needs: materials, plant hire, payroll bridging. Specialist lenders understand project cycles and retentions.

Retail & E‑commerce

Funding needs: stock, seasonal peaks, website expansion and POS upgrades.

Hospitality & Leisure

Funding needs: refurbs, equipment, seasonal working capital.

Manufacturing & Engineering

Funding needs: machinery purchase, capital investment, supply chain finance.

Healthcare & Care Providers

Funding needs: equipment finance, working capital, property expansion.

For each sector we aim to connect you to brokers or lenders with relevant experience.

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Application Timeline: What to Expect

Timescales vary by loan type and how quickly you can supply documents. Many businesses receive responses within 24–48 hours.

Typical timeline

• Day 0 — Submit enquiry (no credit impact)
• Day 1–3 — Lenders/brokers contact you; documents requested
• Day 3–10 — Offers reviewed, underwriting completed, funds released (where applicable)

Urgent funding may be possible via specialist lenders; tell us your timing on the enquiry form.

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Common Questions About Business Loans with Fast Business Loans

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Responsible Finance & Compliance Commitments

We follow clear principles to ensure communications are fair, clear and not misleading. While we are an introducer, we encourage transparent lending and expect partners to present full terms and costs.

• Clear information about costs and terms
• No pressure selling — the decision is yours
• We protect personal data and limit sharing to relevant partners
• We recommend independent advice if you are unsure

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Ready to Explore Your Business Loan Options?

If your business needs £10,000 or more, complete our short enquiry and we’ll match you to the lenders and brokers most likely to help. It’s free, quick and obligation-free.

Get Started – Free Eligibility Check (takes under 2 minutes)

Footer disclaimer: Fast Business Loans is an introducer and does not lend, underwrite or provide regulated financial advice. We introduce UK businesses to a panel of lenders and brokers who determine terms, fees and decisions. Submitting an enquiry does not affect your credit score. If unsure about suitability, seek independent financial advice. See our Privacy Policy for data handling information.

– What is Fast Business Loans and are you a lender?
Fast Business Loans is a UK introducer that matches SMEs with suitable lenders and brokers; we are not a lender and do not provide regulated financial advice.

– Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?
No—our Free Eligibility Check is a soft enquiry that doesn’t impact your credit score, and lenders only run checks if you proceed to a formal application.

– How much can I borrow through Fast Business Loans?
Our partners typically offer business finance from around £10,000 up to several million, subject to lender assessment and your circumstances.

– What types of business finance can you help me compare?
We match UK businesses with unsecured and secured business loans, asset and equipment finance, invoice finance, cashflow/short‑term loans, and commercial mortgages/development finance.

– How quickly can I get matched and receive funds?
Many enquiries receive lender/broker responses within hours, with funding often possible in 3–10 days depending on the product and documents provided.

– What are the usual eligibility criteria for UK business loans?
Lenders commonly look at trading history (often 12+ months), turnover, profitability, sector, credit profile, and available security or personal guarantees.

– What documents will I likely need to provide?
Typical requirements include recent accounts or management accounts, 3–6 months of business bank statements, VAT returns, and sometimes a business plan or cashflow forecast.

– Do you charge fees, and what costs should I expect from lenders?
Our matching service is free to use, while interest rates, arrangement fees, any broker fees, and potential early repayment charges are set and disclosed by the lender/broker.

– Can you help start-ups or businesses that were declined elsewhere?
Yes—because we work with a broad panel, some partners can consider start-ups and a decline from one lender doesn’t rule out others.

– Is the enquiry a loan application and am I obliged to proceed?
No—the enquiry is a quick, no‑obligation matching step (not a formal application), and you only proceed if you’re happy with a lender’s offer.