Pub business loans — How long does approval usually take?

Quick summary: Initial responses from lenders and brokers matched by UK Business Loans usually arrive within a few hours to one business day. Exact approval and funding times depend on the product: merchant cash advances and invoice finance can be hours to 48 hours; unsecured loans typically 24–72 hours (funds 1–7 days); asset or fit-out finance 2–10 working days; bridging 24 hours to several weeks; commercial mortgages 4–12+ weeks. Submit a short, no‑obligation enquiry to get a Free Eligibility Check and a rapid, tailored response from pub finance specialists.

Typical approval times at a glance

Below is a quick reference timeline you can use to set expectations. These are typical ranges — actual times vary by lender, loan size and documentation.

Loan type	Typical decision time	Typical funding time (after decision)
Initial lender/broker response	Within hours — usually same business day	—
Merchant cash advance / short-term cashflow	Hours to 48 hours	Same day to 48 hours after paperwork
Unsecured business loan / working capital	24–72 hours	1–7 working days (once documents clear)
Asset finance / fit-out finance	2–10 working days	After supplier invoice / inspection
Invoice finance	Same day to 3 days	Immediate against invoices once facility set up
Bridging / short-term secured	24 hours to 4+ weeks	Quick if valuation/legal straightforward
Commercial mortgage / large secured loans	4–12+ weeks	After legal completion and valuation

Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check

How UK Business Loans speeds up the process

We don’t lend — we introduce. That role allows us to focus on matching your pub with the lenders and brokers most likely to act quickly and favourably. Typical step-by-step flow:

1. Complete a short enquiry form (takes under 2 minutes).
2. We match your request to specialist pub lenders and brokers based on product, loan size and security.
3. Matched partners contact you (often within hours) with an indicative quote.
4. If you choose to proceed, you complete a full application and supply documents; lenders perform checks, valuations and credit searches as required.
5. Offer, legal work (if required) and drawdown.

Because we match to specialists who understand pubs — leases, licensing, typical cashflow seasonality — you avoid generic referrals and reduce back-and-forth queries that slow most applications.

Free Eligibility Check — Start Your Enquiry

Typical approval timelines by loan type — focused on pubs

Merchant cash advance / short-term cashflow

Decision: hours to 48 hours. Funding: same day to 48 hours after you sign paperwork. These products are revenue‑based, require minimal historical accounts and are often the fastest way for a pub to secure short-term cash.

Unsecured business loans & working capital

Decision: 24–72 hours for smaller amounts (from about £10,000 upwards). Funding: typically 1–7 working days once documents and checks are complete. Established pubs with clear trading accounts and clean director credit histories are processed fastest.

Asset finance — equipment, fit-out finance

Decision: 2–10 working days depending on asset type and supplier contract. Funding: paid to supplier on receipt of invoice, or to your account after inspection. Lenders may require supplier quotes or valuations which adds 2–5 days in many cases.

Invoice finance

Decision: same day to 3 days. Funding: immediately available against approved invoices once the facility is set up. Best where pubs supply invoices (e.g., events, wholesale supply lines) and need to free up cash quickly.

Bridging loans / refinance

Decision: from 24 hours (light-touch bridge) to several weeks (complex security or cross-border elements). Funding: can be very quick if valuation and legal are straightforward, but expect delays where property issues or lease consents are needed.

Commercial mortgages / large secured lending

Decision & funding: typically 4–12+ weeks. These require property valuation, formal legal searches and lender committee approval — the most common cause of extended timescales.

Example: a busy city-centre pub needing £25,000 of working capital might receive initial contact within hours and funds within 5 working days; a leasehold purchase backed by a commercial mortgage will commonly take several months.

Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check

What affects approval speed for pub loans?

• Loan amount & product type: larger, secured loans take longer than small unsecured facilities.
• Security required: unsecured = faster; property security = valuation & legal delays.
• Quality of accounts: up‑to‑date management accounts, VAT returns and good bookkeeping speed decisions.
• Credit history: both business and director histories can influence timing and terms.
• Leasehold issues & landlord consent: landlord permission can add days or weeks — crucial for leasehold pubs.
• Licences & regulatory checks: alcohol licences and planning can be reviewed by lenders for longer-term loans.
• Valuations & surveys: property-backed loans need surveys which add time.
• Lender capacity & time of year: lenders’ workload (and seasonal demand) can affect response times.
• Completeness of application: the more complete your paperwork, the fewer follow-up questions and the faster the decision.

Speed-up checklist — prepare these to get a faster decision

• 2 years’ filed accounts or recent management accounts if you don’t have 2 years.
• Last 3 months’ business bank statements.
• Copy of lease or property ownership documents and any rent/repayment history.
• Proof of ID and recent address for directors.
• Alcohol licence and any relevant local authority documents.
• Supplier quotes or invoices for equipment / fit-out projects.
• Clear summary of why the funds are needed and expected benefit (e.g., refurb to increase covers, seasonal cashflow smoothing).

Free Eligibility Check — Get Started

How to speed up approval — practical tips for pub owners

Practical steps that commonly shorten approval and funding times:

1. Have your documents ready — see the checklist above.
2. Speak to lenders/brokers who specialise in pubs: they understand lease, licensing and trading seasonality so they underwrite faster.
3. Start landlord consent conversations early for leasehold pubs.
4. Use deals that accept digital ID and e‑signatures to cut postal delays.
5. Be transparent about turnover, VAT and any historical arrears — surprises cause delays.
6. Consider staged funding: a short-term facility while a larger secured product is arranged.

Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check

What to expect after you get an initial quote

An initial contact or indicative quote is not a formal offer. Typical next steps and timings:

• Indicative quote: quick, non-binding rates and fees based on summary info.
• Full application: you submit detailed documents and the lender may do a soft credit check (or no check at this initial stage).
• Underwriting & checks: lender reviews accounts, conducts credit searches (hard checks only if you agree), orders valuations if needed.
• Conditional / formal offer: sets out terms; you accept and legal work begins for secured loans.
• Drawdown: funds released after conditions are satisfied — timing varies by product.

Common delays occur at valuation, landlord consent, and unexpected legal title issues. Being proactive in these areas reduces the risk of delay.

Real example timelines (anonymised)

Example A — Local community pub, £15,000 working capital: enquiry → broker contact in 2 hours → soft checks and management accounts requested → formal offer in 48 hours → funds in bank on day 5.

Example B — Mid-size pub chain refurb, £150,000 asset finance + invoice facility: enquiry → specialist asset broker contacted within 24 hours → supplier quotes requested → staged funding arranged: part via asset finance (10 working days) and invoice finance set up same week to cover working capital during fit-out.

Free Eligibility Check — Start Your Enquiry

FAQs

Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?

No — submitting an enquiry through UK Business Loans for an initial, no‑obligation eligibility check will not affect your credit score. Lenders may run a credit check only if you proceed with a full application.

How quickly will a lender contact me after I submit a form?

Often within hours; typically within one business day. More complex requests can take longer for the right specialist to respond.

Do landlords slow the loan process?

Yes — landlord consent for leasehold pubs is a common source of delay. Start that conversation early and provide your landlord with clear information about the lender’s request.

Can newly opened pubs get finance quickly?

Options exist — merchant cash advances and specialist lenders can provide short‑term finance quickly. For larger, long-term loans, a stronger trading history generally reduces cost and speeds approval.

What documents are needed for a fast decision?

Two years’ accounts (or management accounts), 3 months’ bank statements, copy of lease, alcohol licence, proof of ID and supplier quotes where relevant.

Do you only work with FCA‑regulated lenders?

UK Business Loans introduces a wide panel of lenders and brokers; we are an introducer and not a lender. Submitting a form is free and has no obligation.

Why choose UK Business Loans

• We are an introducer — not a lender — focused on matching pubs with the best-suited lenders and brokers.
• Free, no‑obligation quotes and a short enquiry that won’t affect your credit score.
• We work with partners experienced in hospitality and pub finance — this sector knowledge speeds approvals.
• Secure handling of your data — we only share information with selected partners to match your funding needs.

For more detail about funding options specifically for pubs, see our industry page on pubs business loans.

Next steps — Get a Free Eligibility Check

Ready for a fast, no‑obligation quote? Complete our short enquiry form — it takes under two minutes. We’ll match your pub with finance specialists who often respond within hours.

Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check

No obligation. Free quote. Enquiry does not affect your credit score.

1. How long does approval and funding usually take for pub business loans?
Typical times vary by product — merchant cash advances and invoice finance can fund in hours to 48 hours, unsecured loans usually take 24–72 hours for a decision and 1–7 working days for funds, asset/fit‑out finance 2–10 working days, bridging from 24 hours to several weeks, and commercial mortgages commonly 4–12+ weeks.

2. Will submitting an enquiry through UK Business Loans affect my credit score?
No — submitting the short, no‑obligation enquiry for a Free Eligibility Check does not affect your credit score; lenders may only run credit checks if you proceed with a full application.

3. What types of finance can UK Business Loans connect my pub to?
We introduce pubs to a wide range of finance including merchant cash advances, unsecured business loans and working capital, invoice finance, asset and fit‑out finance, bridging loans and commercial mortgages.

4. How quickly will a lender or broker contact me after I submit the enquiry form?
Matched lenders or brokers typically contact you within hours and usually within one business day to provide an indicative quote.

5. What documents should I have ready to speed up a pub loan decision?
Prepare two years’ filed accounts or recent management accounts, three months’ business bank statements, lease or ownership documents, alcohol licence, proof of ID, and supplier quotes or invoices where relevant.

6. Can newly opened pubs or businesses with limited trading history get finance quickly?
Yes — specialist lenders and merchant cash advance providers can often offer short‑term or revenue‑based funding quickly, though larger secured loans usually require stronger trading history.

7. Does UK Business Loans charge a fee or obligate me to proceed?
No — our service is free and no‑obligation; we are an introducer that matches you with relevant lenders and brokers but do not lend or charge you for the initial matching service.

8. Are the lenders and brokers you introduce FCA‑regulated?
We work with a panel of reputable partners and brokers who operate under FCA guidelines where applicable, and we only share your details with selected, trusted partners.

9. How can I speed up the approval process for a pub loan?
Have documents ready, engage lenders/brokers who specialise in pubs, start landlord consent early for leasehold sites, use digital ID and e‑signatures, and be transparent about turnover and arrears.

10. What should I expect after receiving an initial, indicative quote?
An initial quote is non‑binding — next steps typically include a full application, document submission, underwriting and checks (and valuations/legal for secured loans), followed by a conditional or formal offer and drawdown once conditions are met.