Speed that matches how businesses actually move

A high street bank application typically takes 2 to 6 weeks from first conversation to drawdown — sometimes longer if the case is referred to a credit committee. Alternative lenders can issue a same-day decision and pay out within 24 to 48 hours. When you are buying stock, covering payroll, replacing a vehicle or jumping on a time-sensitive opportunity, that difference is the deal.

A friendly broker doing the heavy lifting

With a bank, you are usually pushed through an online portal or sent to a branch relationship manager who only has access to that one bank's products. With our brokerage you get a single named expert who already knows the appetite of every lender on our 100+ panel, packages your case properly first time and chases the lender on your behalf. No queueing, no being passed around, no jargon.

Multiple product types, not just a term loan

Banks tend to default to one product — a secured term loan or an overdraft. The alternative market gives you genuine choice: unsecured business loans, revenue-based finance, merchant cash advance, invoice finance, asset finance, VAT and tax loans, short-term bridges and revolving credit facilities. Your broker matches the product to the problem rather than forcing the problem to fit one product.

More flexibility for less-than-perfect credit

Banks rely heavily on credit scoring and policy rules — one missed payment, a recent CCJ or a thin trading history is often enough to be declined automatically. Specialist alternative lenders underwrite the full picture: current trading, bank turnover, sector, contracts in place and the story behind any historic issues. It means a much higher proportion of UK SMEs can access funding, even after a bank "no".

Far fewer documents

A bank business loan pack regularly runs to forecasts, business plans, 2 years of full accounts, management accounts, debt schedules and personal asset and liability statements. Many of our lenders will issue a decision on just 6 months of business bank statements (or a 60-second Open Banking link) and basic director ID — with some offering instant decisions on no documents at all up to certain limits.

When a bank still wins

Banks are usually the right call for very large facilities (£500k+), commercial mortgages, or businesses with strong accounts that have time to wait and want the lowest possible headline rate. For everything else — speed, accessibility, choice and a real human in your corner — alternative finance through a broker is generally the better fit.