Business Loans — Are There Any Fees for Business Owners?
Short answer: No — UK Business Loans does not charge business owners to use our matching service. We are an introducer: complete a Free Eligibility Check and we’ll match your business with lenders and brokers who will contact you with quotes. (You are under no obligation to accept any offer.)
Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check
Summary: The fee answer in plain English
No — you do not pay UK Business Loans to use our service. Our role is to connect your business with lenders and brokers who can provide finance. We earn revenue via the lender/broker side of the marketplace when a completed, qualified enquiry is passed to them. That model keeps the service free and simple for business owners. Lenders or brokers you speak to later may charge fees as part of their product (arrangement fees, broker fees, valuation fees etc.) — those are separate and disclosed by the lender/broker when they provide a quote.
Why that matters: you can get multiple fee-free, no-obligation quotes through our Free Eligibility Check and then decide which offer — if any — you want to accept.
Start Your Free Enquiry — Get a Quote
How our service works — a simple 4-step process
Step 1 — Complete a short enquiry
Fill in our short enquiry (business name, contact, phone/email, sector, amount required — from £10,000 upwards). It takes around 2 minutes.
Step 2 — We match you
We match your details to experienced lenders and brokers who specialise in your sector and funding need.
Step 3 — Lenders/brokers contact you
Matched firms will contact you (usually by phone or email) with potential options and indicative costs. This is a no-obligation conversation — you choose whether to progress.
Our Business Finance Matching Process
Step 1
Complete Your Details
It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.
Step 2
We Match Your Business
With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.
Step 3
You Get Free Quote + Advice
You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.
Complete Our 1-Minute Enquiry Form Now – Get a No-Obligation Quote
Step 4 — You decide
If you accept an offer, you progress directly with the lender or broker. Any fees connected to the loan are disclosed by them in the quote or terms.
Get Started — Free Eligibility Check
Our Business Finance Matching Process
Step 1
Complete Your Details
It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.
Step 2
We Match Your Business
With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.
Step 3
You Get Free Quote + Advice
You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.
Why we don’t charge business owners
We operate as an introducer and lead-referral platform. Our business model is straightforward: lenders and brokers pay for qualified leads that match their criteria. Because they cover the cost of that lead generation, we can offer our matching service to businesses free of charge.
- Impartial matching — we put you in touch with firms that fit your needs, not those that pay the most.
- No upfront fee to you — our service remains cost-free for business owners.
- Data privacy — we only share your information with selected partner lenders/brokers with your consent.
Do lenders or brokers ever charge you?
Yes — while UK Business Loans does not charge business owners, lenders and brokers may include fees as part of their product or service. Common examples include:
- Arrangement fees: one-off fees added by lenders when the loan is set up.
- Broker fees: some brokers charge a fee for arranging finance (this may be disclosed as a fixed fee or a percentage of the facility).
- Valuation, legal or search fees: for asset finance or property lending these can be charged by the lender.
- Early repayment or exit fees: penalties for repaying a facility before an agreed term.
- Service or maintenance fees: ongoing administration charges on some facilities such as invoice finance or merchant cash advances.
How to spot or handle these fees:
- Ask for a full breakdown of costs in writing — including arrangement fees, interest rate, APR and any ongoing charges.
- Ask your broker whether they charge a fee and whether it’s payable up-front or on completion.
- Compare total cost over the life of the loan, not just headline rates.
Common fee scenarios by loan type
Business loans (secured or unsecured)
Typical fees include arrangement fees (often a percentage of the facility) and early repayment charges. Always ask about APR and any security requirements that might create extra costs (e.g., legal fees).
Complete Our 1-Minute Enquiry Form Now – Get a No-Obligation Quote
Asset finance / equipment finance
Look out for documentation fees, finance interest on deferred payments, and balloon or final payments on hire-purchase/lease arrangements.
Invoice finance
Providers charge service fees and discount rates. Check whether fees are fixed or vary by invoice age or borrower credit risk.
Commercial mortgages & property lending
Valuation costs, legal fees, arrangement fees and possibly exit fees are common. Ask who pays solicitor fees and whether searches or surveys are included.
Short-term or alternative funding (merchant cash advance, bridging)
These products can carry higher effective APRs and service fees. Get a full example illustrating total repayment across the term.
For more background on business loan types and their typical costs, see our guide to business loans.
(Internal reference: business loans)
How to avoid unexpected charges — 6 practical tips
- Ask for a full written cost breakdown (interest, fees, APR, insurance requirements).
- Check whether the broker charges a separate fee or is paid by the lender.
- Compare the total cost over the loan term, not just the monthly repayment.
- Confirm any early repayment charges and how they are calculated.
- Read the credit agreement and the key facts document before signing.
- Use our service to obtain multiple quotes so you can compare fees and terms fairly.
What to expect when you complete our enquiry form
After you submit the Free Eligibility Check:
- We’ll match your enquiry to the most relevant lenders/brokers in our panel.
- Matched firms typically contact you within hours during business times with an initial discussion and indicative quote.
- You’ll be told who is contacting you and the basis for the match. You remain in control at all times — there’s no obligation to accept any offer.
- If you progress, the lender/broker will provide a full written quote and terms, including any fees.
Our Business Finance Matching Process
Step 1
Complete Your Details
It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.
Step 2
We Match Your Business
With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.
Step 3
You Get Free Quote + Advice
You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay UK Business Loans to use the site?
No. Our matching service is free for business owners. We only make revenue from the lender/broker side when a completed enquiry is passed to them.
Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?
No — completing our initial enquiry does not affect your credit score. Lenders may perform credit checks later if you choose to progress with an application; they will notify you before doing so.
Can I use UK Business Loans with imperfect credit?
Yes. We work with a broad panel, including lenders and brokers who specialise in cases where credit history is less than perfect. A quote is not a guarantee of approval.
Who pays your fee?
Lenders and brokers pay for qualified leads. You, the business owner, do not pay UK Business Loans to be matched.
Is my information secure?
Yes. We only share your information with selected partner lenders and brokers with your consent. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Final CTA & next steps
Ready to see what finance options are available to your business? Complete our short enquiry (takes under 2 minutes) and get matched with lenders and brokers who can provide free, no-obligation quotes. We’ll pass your enquiry to the firms best suited to your needs and they’ll contact you with their proposals.
Legal & small print
UK Business Loans is an introducer and lead-referral platform. We are not a lender and do not provide regulated financial advice. We do not charge business owners for using our matching service. Any fees or charges are set and disclosed by the lender or broker you choose to work with. Always request a full written breakdown of fees and terms before accepting any offer. See our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions for full details.
What other businesses say
“Fast, simple and free — we had three options within a day and chose the best fit for our expansion.” — J. (construction firm)
“Clear advice and transparent fees from the broker we were introduced to. No pressure at any point.” — M. (food & hospitality)
1. Do I pay to use UK Business Loans to find a business loan? — No — our matching service and Free Eligibility Check are completely free for business owners; we earn from lenders/brokers, not you.
2. Will submitting an enquiry for a business loan affect my credit score? — No — completing our initial enquiry is not a formal application and does not affect your credit score, though lenders may carry out checks later if you proceed.
3. How quickly will lenders or brokers contact me after I submit the enquiry? — Matched lenders/brokers typically contact you within hours during business times to provide indicative options and costs.
4. What loan amounts can I search for via UK Business Loans? — Our panel covers business loans from around £10,000 up to multi‑million facilities, depending on lender criteria and your needs.
5. Can I get a business loan if I have imperfect or poor credit? — Yes — we work with lenders and brokers who specialise in cases with less‑than‑perfect credit, although quotes are not guarantees of approval.
6. Are the lenders and brokers you introduce regulated by the FCA? — Yes — we partner with reputable, FCA‑regulated brokers and lenders who must follow applicable rules and treat customers fairly.
7. What kinds of fees might lenders or brokers charge for a business loan? — Typical fees include arrangement fees, broker fees, valuation/legal/search fees, early‑repayment penalties and ongoing service charges, so always ask for a full written breakdown including APR.
8. Is the enquiry form a formal loan application or just a matching tool? — It’s just a Free Eligibility Check used to match your business with suitable lenders/brokers — it’s not a formal application and carries no obligation to accept offers.
9. How can I avoid unexpected charges when comparing business loans? — Ask for a complete written breakdown of interest, APR, arrangement and broker fees, confirm early‑repayment terms, and compare total cost over the loan term before accepting any offer.
10. If I accept a lender’s offer, how long before I receive funding? — Timescales vary by product and provider — some short‑term loans can fund in days, while asset finance or commercial mortgages may take several weeks as valuations and legal work are completed.