Refinance Loans — What Documents You’ll Need for a Business Refinance Enquiry

Quick summary: If you’re enquiring about refinancing business debt with UK Business Loans, having clear, up-to-date financial and identity documents ready will speed matching and improve lender responses. Typical essentials include 2–3 years of company accounts (or the latest management accounts), 6–12 months of business bank statements, ID and proof of address for directors, details of existing borrowing, and valuations for any assets being refinanced. Ready to proceed? Complete a Free Eligibility Check: Get Quote Now.

Quick answer: what documents you’ll typically need

If you’re refinancing business debts — whether to reduce costs, consolidate borrowing, release equity or change terms — having the right documents ready speeds lender responses and improves the quality of offers. Below are the most common documents lenders/brokers request when assessing a refinance enquiry:

• Company accounts (2–3 years of statutory accounts or latest management accounts)
• Business bank statements (6–12 months)
• Proof of ID & address for directors (passport/UK driving licence + recent utility bill)
• Details of existing borrowing (loan agreements, outstanding balances, repayment history)
• Asset valuations where the refinance is secured against property, machinery or vehicles
• Management accounts / forecasts and a short statement of purpose for the refinance

Get a Free Eligibility Check — it’s quick, no obligation and helps us match you to lenders or brokers who specialise in refinance solutions for companies seeking £10,000 and up.

Why lenders and brokers ask for documents

Documents prove five key things lenders need to assess refinance requests:

• Trading performance: accounts and bank statements show revenue, profitability and cashflow.
• Affordability: ongoing cashflow and personal statements show ability to meet repayments.
• Security value: valuations for assets proposed as security.
• Credit history: existing loan agreements and any arrears or CCJs.
• Ownership & structure: Companies House records and director information confirm who owns and controls the business.

Well-prepared documentation speeds underwriting, reduces follow-up requests and often secures better terms and faster decision times. Note: UK Business Loans introduces businesses to lenders and brokers; lenders/brokers make the final lending decisions and may require additional documents specific to their underwriting rules.

Full document checklist — required vs helpful vs optional

Essential documents (what you’ll usually need)

• Company statutory accounts (last 2–3 years) — Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet and notes. If you file abbreviated accounts, have full management accounts ready.
• Recent management accounts — most recent month or quarter if statutory accounts are older than 6–12 months.
• Business bank statements (6–12 months) — all pages; lenders use these to verify cashflow and unusual transactions.
• Director(s) personal bank statements (3–6 months) — where directors provide personal guarantees or personal finances are relevant.
• Proof of ID & address for directors — passports or driving licences, plus a recent utility/TV/internet bill or bank statement (dated within 3 months).
• Details of existing borrowing — loan agreements, lender contact details, current balances, monthly repayments and security documents (if any).
• Companies House documents — company registration number and recent company filing summary (many lenders will check this themselves but providing a copy helps).
• Valuations for secured assets — RICS valuation for property or professional valuations for plant & machinery; for vehicle finance include current mileage and service history if available.
• VAT returns & PAYE records — if relevant to cashflow and employment costs.

Ready to start? Submit your details for a Free Eligibility Check: Get Quote Now.

Highly recommended documents (make your application stronger)

• 12–24 months of management accounts and a 12-month cashflow forecast — shows trends and future affordability.
• Brief business plan or refinance purpose statement — why you’re refinancing, expected savings or investment uses.
• Lease or rent agreements (if property is involved) and tenancy schedules for rental income-based valuations.
• Contracts, purchase orders or evidence of pipeline work (especially important for construction or contract-based sectors).
• Insurance documents tied to any assets used as security.

These documents help brokers and lenders understand your business context and often widen the number of lenders prepared to quote.

Optional / case-by-case documents

• Supplier statements or debtor ageing schedules (for invoice finance or working capital refinance).
• Historic HMRC correspondence or tax payment plans (if relevant or if there are disputes).
• Evidence of other guarantees or third‑party security.
• CCJ paperwork or court judgement details — disclose any, as transparency speeds assessment.

Providing optional documents upfront can speed underwriting and broaden lender options — but you can still start the enquiry without every optional item.

Practical tips for preparing documents

Format & presentation

• PDFs are preferred. Scan multi-page documents into single PDFs and name files clearly (e.g. Accounts_2023_UKBusinessLtd.pdf).
• Don’t redact essential information like dates, amounts or names — redaction can trigger extra checks.
• If you have password-protected files, provide the password in your secure message to the broker/lender.

Timing

• Upload essential documents with your initial enquiry where possible. Management accounts or valuations can be supplied later if unavailable immediately.
• If you’re short of paperwork, still start the enquiry — tell us what’s missing and when it will be available. Many lenders will accept management accounts in place of statutory accounts for recent businesses.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Missing pages in bank statements or accounts.
• Mismatched names (company name on accounts vs bank account).
• Using screenshots rather than full statement PDFs (screenshots are often rejected).

How we match you: UK Business Loans uses your enquiry and documents to match your business with lenders and brokers who specialise in refinance. This matching increases your chances of timely, relevant quotes. Ready to be matched? Free Eligibility Check.

What happens after you submit documents & enquiry

1. Acknowledgement: we confirm receipt and may ask a few clarifying questions.
2. Matching: we introduce you to lenders or brokers best placed to help your refinance need (often within 24–48 hours).
3. Lender/broker review: they will review documents and may request additional paperwork or clarifications.
4. Indicative offer: you may receive indicative terms quickly; a full underwriting decision follows once all checks are complete.
5. Completion: if you accept an offer, the lender handles formal application, due diligence and funding.

Timelines: first contact often within hours during business days; underwriting may take 3–21 days depending on complexity. Credit checks: initial matching via UK Business Loans does not usually trigger a credit search. Lenders may perform soft or hard searches later — ask them which type they will run.

Sector-specific notes

Construction

Include contracts, staged payment certificates, retention schedules and evidence of ongoing projects. Lenders will want clarity on pipeline and payment terms.

Sustainability & renewables

Provide installation quotes, equipment specs, EPCs and any grant or incentive paperwork. Clear evidence of projected savings or income boosts lender confidence.

Commercial property

Attach tenancy agreements, rent rolls, recent RICS valuation and service charge details. Lenders focus on loan-to-value and rental income stability.

If your sector isn’t listed, our panel of brokers and lenders has wide experience — tell us your sector in the form so we can match you to specialists.

Privacy, introducer statement and data handling

UK Business Loans introduces businesses to lenders and brokers — we do not lend directly and do not provide regulated financial advice. Your enquiry and documents are used only to match you with suitable lenders/brokers and will be shared securely with selected finance partners to progress your refinance request. Submitting an enquiry is free and does not commit you to proceed. In most cases an initial enquiry will not affect your credit score; lenders may perform soft or hard searches later — you should ask them which check they intend to run.

See our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions for full details.

Frequently asked questions

Which documents are absolutely required for a refinance enquiry?

Essential docs are typically 2–3 years of company accounts (or current management accounts), 6–12 months of business bank statements, ID & proof of address for directors, copies of existing loan agreements, and valuations for secured assets.

Will applying affect my credit score?

Submitting an enquiry via UK Business Loans generally won’t affect your credit score. Lenders or brokers may do soft or hard credit searches later—ask them before they perform a hard search.

How quickly will I hear back after I submit documents?

We usually match enquiries within 24–48 hours and lenders/brokers often make first contact within hours during business days. Full underwriting times vary by case and can take 3–21 days.

Do you charge to submit a refinance enquiry?

No. UK Business Loans provides free, no-obligation introductions. Individual brokers or lenders may charge fees during the application process — confirm fees with them before proceeding.

My statutory accounts are late — can I still apply?

Yes. Many lenders consider applications from late-filing companies, especially when management accounts and bank statements are provided with a clear explanation.

I’m an early-stage company with no full accounts — what should I provide?

Provide management accounts, cashflow forecasts, contracts or invoices showing incoming revenue and director personal statements. We’ll match you with lenders experienced in early-stage finance.

Ready to start your refinance enquiry?

Get a free, no-obligation eligibility check and be matched to lenders and brokers who specialise in refinance solutions for companies seeking £10,000 and up. Complete a short form now: Get Quote Now.

Further reading & internal links

• About Us
• How It Works
• Contact Us
• Privacy Policy
• Refinance loans: more detail

For a deeper guide on refinance options and product types, see our dedicated refinance loans resource on refinance loans.

– What documents do I need to refinance a business loan?
Typically you’ll need 2–3 years of company accounts (or recent management accounts), 6–12 months of business bank statements, ID and proof of address for directors, details of existing borrowing and valuations for any assets used as security.

– Will submitting a refinance enquiry with UK Business Loans affect my credit score?
Making an initial enquiry via UK Business Loans usually does not affect your credit score, though individual lenders may run soft or hard searches later—ask them which they will use.

– How long does a business refinance application take from enquiry to funding?
We usually match enquiries to lenders or brokers within 24–48 hours; full underwriting and funding typically take anywhere from 3 to 21 days depending on complexity.

– How much can I refinance through UK Business Loans?
Our lender network handles refinance and business loans from around £10,000 up to multi‑million pound facilities depending on your circumstances and asset security.

– Can start‑ups or early‑stage businesses apply for a refinance or business loan?
Yes—start‑ups can apply using management accounts, cashflow forecasts, contracts or invoices and director statements, and we’ll match you with lenders experienced in early‑stage finance.

– Is UK Business Loans a lender and do you charge to submit an enquiry?
No—we are an introducer that connects you to regulated lenders and brokers, and submitting an eligibility enquiry is free and no obligation.

– What’s the difference between secured and unsecured refinancing for a business?
Secured refinancing uses assets (property, plant, vehicles) as collateral requiring valuations and affects loan‑to‑value, while unsecured refinance relies on cashflow and credit without asset security but may have higher rates.

– What should I do if my statutory accounts are late or incomplete?
You can still apply—provide recent management accounts, bank statements and a clear explanation for late filings so lenders can assess affordability and trading performance.

– How should I prepare and format documents for a refinance enquiry?
Scan multi‑page files to searchable PDFs, include all pages (no screenshots), name files clearly, and upload essential documents with your initial enquiry where possible.

– How does UK Business Loans match my business to the best refinance lenders or brokers?
We use your enquiry details, required loan amount, sector and uploaded documents to quickly introduce you to vetted lenders and brokers who specialise in your industry and refinance needs.