Do lenders introduced by UK Business Loans comply with FCA guidelines? (Cashflow Loans)

Summary: When you use UK Business Loans to find cashflow finance, we act as an introducer — not a lender — and match your business to lenders and brokers. Where FCA rules apply we make a best‑effort to work with partners who have appropriate permissions or who meet clear transparency and conduct standards. For B2B cashflow lending some providers may operate outside the FCA’s consumer credit remit; when that is the case we still check identity, company information, commercial reputation and clear terms. Start a free eligibility check to see who can help your business. Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check

Short answer

Yes — in short: we introduce businesses to lenders and brokers whose conduct we review. Where FCA regulation applies (for example when a partner carries out regulated consumer credit activities or acts as an FCA-authorised intermediary) we check and record the firm’s permissions. For business-to-business cashflow lending a number of lenders operate outside the FCA’s consumer-credit remit; for those providers we carry out alternative checks focused on company identity, reputation, clear contractual terms and complaint handling. If you want us to match you to potential cashflow loan providers, Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

How UK Business Loans works

UK Business Loans is an introducer. We do not lend money or give regulated financial advice. Our simple process:

• Complete a brief online enquiry (takes around 2 minutes).
• We match your request to lenders and brokers in our panel who specialise in cashflow and commercial finance.
• Matched partners contact you with quotes and next steps.
• You compare offers and choose the provider you prefer — the business relationship is directly between you and the lender or broker.

Our matching is free and no‑obligation. We commonly handle enquiries for loans of £10,000 and above. Start your enquiry — Free Eligibility Check.

What the FCA requires — plain summary for businesses

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) sets rules to ensure financial promotions are clear, fair and not misleading, and that firms carrying out regulated activities are authorised and supervised. Key points in plain English:

• Financial promotions must be fair, clear and not misleading.
• Firms carrying out regulated activities (consumer credit, retail banking, investments) must be authorised by the FCA and listed on the FCA Register.
• Business-to-business (B2B) lending often sits outside the FCA’s consumer credit rules — though promotions and advisory conduct still need to be honest and transparent.
• Being on the FCA Register gives you a way to verify a firm’s permitted activities and to check for regulatory history.

For full guidance see the FCA’s webpages on financial promotions and the FCA Register (external links). If you’d like help verifying a firm, we can assist as part of your enquiry. Free Eligibility Check.

How we vet and onboard lenders & brokers

We apply a multi-stage vetting process to partners before we introduce them to businesses:

1. Identity & legal checks: company registration, directors, business address and basic identity verification.
2. Regulatory checks where relevant: for partners that say they hold FCA permissions we validate the firm on the FCA Register and record their Firm Reference Number (FRN) and permitted activities.
3. Commercial reputation: trade references, market tenure and client feedback where available.
4. Documentation & transparency: we request sample terms, fee schedules and complaints handling policies to ensure partners offer clear terms to customers.
5. Contractual agreements: partners agree to our code of conduct on transparency, data protection and complaint escalation.
6. Ongoing monitoring: periodic re-checks, customer feedback monitoring and removal from our panel for any serious concerns (e.g. undisclosed fees, sanction history).

We do not guarantee outcomes, but these checks help us reduce risk and promote clear treatment of customers. If you want a partner specifically authorised by the FCA, tell us in your enquiry and we will prioritise FCA-authorised brokers/lenders where available. Get Started — Free Eligibility Check.

Cashflow loans — regulatory nuances

“Cashflow loans” covers a range of short-term business finance: unsecured term loans, merchant cash advances, invoice finance, overdrafts and short-term bridging. Important regulatory nuances:

• Many cashflow products supplied exclusively to limited companies and larger businesses fall outside the FCA’s consumer credit controls.
• However, sole traders or micro-businesses can sometimes be treated as consumers for regulatory purposes — this page is focused on limited companies and commercial borrowers (we do not handle sole trader consumer finance here).
• Even where FCA consumer credit rules do not apply, transparency matters: you should be given clear information on fees, interest, repayment schedules, security requirements and default consequences.

Before you sign anything, ask for the full repayment schedule, total cost of borrowing (including fees), and whether finance will involve personal guarantees or charges over assets. You can also read more about types of cashflow solutions on our cashflow loans overview page for more detail: cashflow loans. Free Eligibility Check.

How you can check a lender’s FCA status (step-by-step)

Simple checklist to verify a firm:

1. Ask the firm for their FCA Firm Reference Number (FRN).
2. Search the FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk and confirm the firm’s name, FRN and permissions.
3. Check whether the permissions cover the activity being offered (consumer credit vs commercial lending).
4. Request sample loan documentation and a clear fees schedule.
5. Search for independent reviews and check for resolved/ongoing complaints.

Suggested questions to ask a broker or lender:

• “Can you give me your FRN and confirm what permissions you hold?”
• “What fees and charges will apply and can I see the full repayment schedule?”
• “Will you require personal guarantees or asset security?”
• “Will you perform a credit search and is it hard or soft?”

If you’d like, we can check partner details for you as part of the matching process. Start Your Enquiry.

What happens after you submit the enquiry

Once you submit our short enquiry form:

• We review your details and match you to suitable lenders or brokers (typically those who handle business loans of £10K+).
• Matched partners contact you by phone or email to discuss terms and next steps — this is a voluntary, no-obligation conversation.
• Initial matching does not affect your credit score. Lenders may perform soft checks initially and will tell you if a hard credit search is needed later.
• Your data is only shared with partners relevant to your enquiry and is handled according to our privacy policy.

Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check and we’ll match you quickly to potential cashflow providers.

Red flags and when to be cautious

Be cautious if you encounter:

• Requests for upfront fees before you receive a written offer or contract.
• Unclear or inconsistent answers about fees, APR or repayment dates.
• A firm that cannot provide a company registration number, address or contact details.
• Pressure to sign quickly without time to review documents or seek legal advice.
• A lender or broker that refuses to confirm whether they are introducing you to another firm or providing the funds directly.

If you suspect a misleading financial promotion, you can report it to the FCA. If something doesn’t feel right with a partner we introduced, contact us immediately so we can investigate.

Mini case study — cashflow loan match (anonymised)

Situation: A limited company in construction needed a £60,000 short-term cashflow facility to cover materials and labour.

Process: After submitting an enquiry we matched the business to two panel members: an established commercial lender (clear term loan with no personal guarantees required) and an FCA-authorised broker who sourced invoice finance options. The business compared net costs, repayment timing and security. Outcome: The company accepted an unsecured 12‑month term facility suited to their cycle and drew funds within 10 working days. The client reported clear documentation and transparent fees throughout.

Want similar support? Get Started — Free Eligibility Check.

Frequently asked questions

• Are all lenders you introduce FCA‑regulated? — Not necessarily. Where FCA regulation applies we will tell you and provide the firm’s FRN. Some commercial lenders serving exclusively B2B customers operate outside consumer credit rules but are still assessed for transparency and conduct.
• Is UK Business Loans a lender? — No. We are an introducer connecting your business to lenders and brokers.
• Does submitting an enquiry affect credit scores? — No. The enquiry itself does not affect your credit score.
• Do you handle loans under £10,000? — We focus on business finance requests from around £10,000 and upwards.
• Will partners ask for personal guarantees? — Some lenders may require them. Always ask and review written terms before proceeding.
• How fast will I hear back? — Often within hours during business days; sometimes within minutes from active partners.
• Do you charge businesses? — No — our introduction service is free to businesses.

Final summary & next steps

UK Business Loans acts as your bridge to lenders and brokers for cashflow loans of £10,000 and above. Where FCA rules are relevant we check permissions and record FRNs; where lending sits outside consumer credit regulation we use robust identity, transparency and reputation checks to reduce risk. Always ask prospective providers for an FRN if you want to verify FCA status, and ask to see full loan documentation before you sign. Ready to explore options? Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

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Important: UK Business Loans is an introducer — we are not a lender or an authorised financial adviser. We connect businesses with lenders and brokers and provide information to help you choose. Submitting an enquiry is free and does not affect your credit score. Lenders or brokers may carry out credit checks if you proceed; they will explain whether those checks are soft or hard.

1. Are the lenders you introduce FCA-regulated? — Where FCA regulation applies we confirm partners’ permissions and FRNs, though some B2B cashflow lenders operate outside consumer-credit rules and are vetting-tested for transparency and conduct.

2. Is UK Business Loans a lender or authorised financial adviser? — No — we are an introducer that matches UK businesses to brokers and lenders and do not lend money or provide regulated advice.

3. Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score? — No — completing our free eligibility check is a soft, no‑obligation enquiry that does not affect your credit score, although lenders may perform checks later if you proceed.

4. What loan amounts can I request through UK Business Loans? — We typically match businesses seeking finance from around £10,000 up to multi‑million commercial facilities, depending on lender capacity.

5. How quickly will I hear back and how fast can I get funds? — Matched lenders or brokers often contact you within hours on business days and drawdown times range from days to weeks depending on product and due diligence.

6. What types of cashflow and business finance do you connect me with? — We connect businesses to unsecured term loans, merchant cash advances, invoice finance, overdrafts, asset and equipment finance, and other commercial funding solutions.

7. Will lenders ask for personal guarantees or security on cashflow loans? — Some lenders may require personal guarantees or charges over assets, so always request written terms and confirm any security requirements before signing.

8. How do I check a lender or broker’s FCA status? — Ask for their Firm Reference Number (FRN) and verify the firm name, FRN and permitted activities on the FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk.

9. Do you charge businesses to use UK Business Loans? — No — our introduction and matching service is free for businesses and carries no obligation to accept any offers.

10. Who can apply — are start-ups, sole traders and limited companies eligible? — We support a wide range of UK businesses including limited companies, sole traders, LLPs, start‑ups and SMEs, though some cashflow products are aimed specifically at incorporated businesses.