Why good documentation matters

Lenders and brokers make fast first impressions. A well-organised, annotated document pack helps underwriters and brokers assess affordability, security and repayment prospects quickly — shaving days or weeks off turnaround and improving the chance of competitive offers. As an introducer, UK Business Loans connects your client to lenders and brokers who can quote — but we do not provide loans or regulated financial advice. The short enquiry you submit is only used to match the business to the most suitable providers.

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Quick summary: the essential document pack

At a glance, most lenders want:

• Statutory accounts (last 2–3 years)
• Recent management accounts (month-by-month where possible)
• 12-month cashflow forecast with assumptions
• Business bank statements (typically 3–6 months)
• VAT returns, payroll summaries (RTI), CT600/tax records
• Companies House filings, incorporation docs, shareholder register
• Director ID and proof of address for KYC
• Aged debtor/creditor reports and major contracts or invoices

If you have these ready as clear, searchable PDFs you’ll dramatically speed the process. Start your free eligibility check.

Who will review these documents?

Documents may be reviewed by:

• High‑street and challenger banks (stricter, slower underwriting)
• Specialist lenders (asset finance, invoice finance — focus on trading & collateral)
• Independent brokers and introducers (they shortlist suitable lenders)
• Underwriters and credit committees (final decision-makers)

Expect different lenders to require different levels of detail: banks often ask for historic tax compliance and full accounts, while asset-based lenders prioritise asset schedules, invoices and debtor concentrations.

The core documents every lender expects

Company financials

• Statutory accounts — last 2–3 years’ audited/unaudited accounts (balance sheet, profit & loss, notes). Lenders use these to assess historical performance and capital structure.
• Management accounts — the most recent 3–12 months, ideally month-by-month with commentary on material variances.
• Cashflow forecast — credible 12‑month forecast showing receipts, payments, loan repayments and headroom. Provide best, base and downside scenarios where possible.
• Bank statements — typically the last 3–6 months of business bank statements (12 months for major property finance). Highlight unusual cash movements and reconciliations.
• Aged debtor & creditor reports — sales ledger ageing, major customers, concentration risks and recent collections performance.

Tax & HMRC records

• Corporation tax computations and CT600 (most recent filings)
• VAT returns and evidence of VAT registration (last 12 months)
• PAYE/RTI payroll summaries and employer liabilities if applicable
• Directors’ SA302 or personal tax returns where lenders require director affordability information

Business & trading documents

• Business plan or a clear lending-purpose statement: what the funds are for, how they’ll be repaid.
• Recent contracts, order book evidence, recurring revenue contracts and major purchase orders.
• Samples of recent invoices, proof of delivery/works completed for invoice/asset finance deals.
• Asset register (vehicles, plant, equipment) with valuations and any hire‑purchase agreements.

Identification & corporate documents

• Certificate of Incorporation and current Companies House filings (confirmation statement/CS01 and latest accounts filing)
• Articles of association and shareholder register
• Director(s) passport or driving licence and recent proof of address (for KYC/AML)
• Board minutes or shareholder resolution approving the borrowing (for loans above certain thresholds)

Security & property documents

• Title deeds, mortgage statements, valuations and survey reports for property-backed loans
• Leases and landlord consents where premises are leased
• Details of existing charges, debentures or other security arrangements

Credit & compliance checks

• Recent credit reports (company and directors) if available and any written explanations for CCJs, defaults or previous insolvency proceedings
• Copies of correspondence with HMRC if there are outstanding enquiries or payment plans

Accountant-prepared supporting items

• Accountant’s covering letter summarising trading position, working capital needs and reason for funding.
• Bank reconciliations and key working papers (stock reconciliations, material one‑offs explained).
• Signed statements or confirmations where requested by a lender.

Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check — with a tidy pack most lenders or brokers can give an indicative response within hours and a decision in days, depending on product and security.

Documents by loan type — what changes depending on the product

Bank term loans & overdrafts

2–3 years’ statutory accounts, 6–12 months bank statements, up-to-date management accounts, 12‑month cashflow forecast and a clear purpose statement.

Asset finance / equipment loans

Quotes or invoices for the equipment, supplier details, asset valuations, and company accounts. VAT evidence may be requested.

Invoice finance

Sales ledger, debtor ageing, recent invoices and proof of goods/services, plus details of any disputed invoices and customer creditworthiness.

Commercial mortgages & bridging

Full property pack (title, survey/valuation, planning history), historic accounts, proof of deposit and details of any existing charges.

Start-ups & early-stage funding

Detailed financial projections, business plan, director personal finances and any evidence of trading (pilot sales, letters of intent).

Documents by legal status

Requirements vary by business structure:

• Limited companies — Companies House filings, accounts, director IDs.
• Partnerships / LLPs — Partnership tax return, partnership agreement, partner IDs.

Prepare the structure-specific filings and ID documents before approaching lenders to avoid delays.

How accountants should prepare the pack — step-by-step

1. Reconcile and tidy bank accounts — clear unexplained items and produce bank reconciliations.
2. Create a 1-page executive summary / cover letter stating the funding amount, purpose, security and suggested repayment profile.
3. Build a 12‑month cashflow forecast with assumptions and a downside case; label sources (e.g., debtor collections) clearly.
4. Annotate management accounts to explain one-off items (director drawings, capital injections, spell out related party transactions).
5. Convert documents to searchable PDFs, name files clearly (e.g., “2024_Management_Accounts_CompanyX.pdf”), and compress into a single zip if required.
6. Get client consent to share documents with lenders/brokers and redact non-essential personal data where appropriate.

Pro tip: include an index page so underwriters can jump to critical items quickly.

Common red flags lenders spot — and how to fix them

• Persistent unarranged overdrafts or multiple bounced payments — fix by demonstrating plan to stabilise cashflow and evidence of improved collections.
• Large unexplained cash withdrawals — provide reconciliations and signed director explanations.
• Late or missing VAT / PAYE submissions — settle arrears and produce correspondence showing agreed payment plans.
• Customer concentration — show diversification plans or provide contract length/creditworthiness evidence for key clients.

Timeline & what to expect after submission

With a solid pack: initial lender/broker response is often within hours to a couple of working days; an indicative offer may follow within days; full credit approval and legal documentation (especially for secured loans) can take 2–6 weeks depending on valuations and solicitor timelines. Poor or incomplete packs significantly extend these timescales.

How UK Business Loans helps accountants and their clients

UK Business Loans is an introducer: we match businesses to lenders and brokers who specialise in the type of finance required. Completing our short enquiry is not a loan application — it simply lets us understand the business and match them to suitable partners. We aim to save accountants time and improve outcomes by directing clients to lenders that understand their sector and the nuances of accountant-prepared packs.

If you’d like help matching a client quickly, Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check. For guidance on working with accounting firms and financial introductions see our sector page for accountants business loans.

FAQs

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Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check. No obligation. The enquiry form is for matching purposes and is not a loan application; submitting it does not affect credit ratings. We will only share documents with your consent.