Retailers’ Business Loans: Do UK Business Loans Only Work with FCA‑Regulated Lenders and Brokers?

A plain, honest answer for retail owners seeking stock, POS, or shop-refit finance — plus how to get a free eligibility check.

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Microcopy: We are an introducer — not a lender. No obligation, no cost. Details you provide help us match your business to suitable lenders or brokers who will contact you.

TL;DR — Quick answer (120–180 words)

Short answer: No — and also yes. UK Business Loans is an introducer, not a lender. We prioritise FCA‑regulated lenders and brokers where a product falls within FCA regulation (for example consumer-facing point‑of‑sale credit or buy‑now‑pay‑later) because those products must meet FCA rules. However, many retail funding options are purely commercial (asset finance, commercial mortgages, some invoice finance and specialist commercial lenders) and sit outside the FCA’s consumer credit perimeter. In those cases we may match you with specialist non‑FCA commercial providers — but we will always make their status clear before you proceed. We run partner checks, review credentials and share your details only with relevant, trusted providers.

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Why retailers ask this question

Retailers worry about reputation, scams and legal protections. When you’re inviting a third‑party lender onto your premises or integrating checkout finance for consumers, it’s natural to want assurance the partner is legitimate and compliant.

Common retail finance needs include stock finance, merchant cash advances (MCAs), POS buy‑now‑pay‑later, equipment & asset finance, and shop refit or fit‑out loans. Each product can sit in a different regulatory space — that’s why this question comes up so often.

Here’s what you need to know — and how we protect you. Get Quote Now

The regulatory reality: FCA scope & commercial lending

What the FCA regulates — consumer credit vs commercial finance

The Financial Conduct Authority regulates firms conducting regulated activities such as consumer credit, certain payment services and retail investment activities. If a product is offered directly to consumers (for example store finance to a retail customer), the firm offering that credit will generally fall within the FCA’s consumer credit rules.

By contrast, many B2B (business‑to‑business) finance products — for example commercial mortgages, many asset finance arrangements, bespoke private investor deals, and some invoice finance lines — can be outside the FCA’s consumer credit perimeter. That doesn’t mean those lenders are less credible, but the regulatory framework differs.

Examples relevant to retailers

• Usually FCA‑regulated: consumer-facing POS credit, BNPL offered to consumers via your checkout, any finance marketed to the public as consumer credit.
• Often outside FCA perimeter: commercial asset finance (equipment, fixtures), commercial mortgages, many invoice finance products, some merchant cash advances (MCA providers vary).

Always check the FCA Register for any firm offering a regulated product. For guidance see the FCA Perimeter Guidance Manual (PERG) and the FCA Register (external links open in a new tab).

FCA Perimeter Guidance | FCA Register

How UK Business Loans handles partners & compliance

We’re an introducer — what that means

We do not lend and we do not provide regulated financial advice. Our role is to take a short set of details from your business and introduce you to lenders or brokers who may provide an appropriate product. That introduction is a conduit — the lender or broker you speak to will be the entity who assesses and (if applicable) offers finance.

Partner due diligence & quality checks

We carry out a range of checks before including a firm on our panel, including:

• Verification of identity and UK location
• Review of professional credentials and trading history
• Public record checks (company filings, adverse notices)
• Evidence of client outcomes and customer feedback
• Assessment of fair treatment and complaint handling procedures

Providers that fail our checks or show persistent negative signals are removed from the network.

When we prioritise FCA‑regulated partners

For regulated consumer‑facing products (e.g., offering credit directly to a retail customer), we prioritise and prefer to introduce FCA‑authorised lenders or FCA‑regulated brokers. For commercial‑only solutions we may introduce specialist non‑FCA lenders; if we do, we will make their regulatory status and the commercial nature of the product clear before you engage.

Important: UK Business Loans is an introducer — not a lender and not FCA‑authorised. Always check any lender or broker on the FCA Register if you are taking a product that may be regulated.

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What this means for retailers — practical guidance

Which retail finance types are usually FCA‑regulated?

• POS/checkout finance and BNPL offered to consumers
• Store credit marketed to private individuals

Which are usually commercial-only?

• Asset finance for shop equipment (espresso machines, refrigeration)
• Commercial mortgages and property finance
• Invoice finance and many working capital facilities
• Merchant cash advances (provider-dependent — ask)

Practical checks retailers should make

• Ask whether the lender is FCA‑authorised for the product type and request their FCA registration number.
• Request full written terms, cost disclosures and (where relevant) APR or equivalent cost illustrations for consumer-facing offers.
• Ask for case studies or references from similar retailers and expected turnaround times.

Get Quote Now — Free, no‑obligation lender matches for retailers

How we match retailers to the right lender/broker

1. Complete a short enquiry form (takes ~2 minutes).
2. We automatically match your needs to suitable lenders and brokers in our panel.
3. A matched lender or broker contacts you to discuss options and next steps.

Typical response time: often within hours, usually within 24–48 hours, depending on the request complexity.

Your information is shared securely and only with selected partners who can help. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Start Your Enquiry — Takes 2 minutes

Example retailer scenarios (mini use cases)

1. High‑street clothing shop — short‑term stock finance

Need: seasonal inventory to capitalise on demand. Likely matches: invoice finance, stock finance or short-term business loans. These are usually commercial arrangements.

2. E‑commerce retailer — POS buy‑now‑pay‑later at checkout

Need: consumer financing at point of sale. Likely matches: FCA‑regulated consumer credit providers or regulated brokers — we prioritise FCA partners for these products.

3. Café / bakery — refit and equipment purchase

Need: new ovens and counter refit plus working capital. Likely matches: asset finance (commercial), equipment finance or a medium‑term business loan.

Get Quote Now — Tell us which scenario matches you

Frequently asked questions

Do you only introduce FCA‑regulated firms?

No. We prioritise FCA‑regulated firms for regulated consumer products, but many commercial finance providers fall outside FCA consumer credit rules. We will always state a partner’s regulatory status up front.

Will contacting you affect my credit score?

No. Submitting our enquiry form does not affect your credit file. Lenders or brokers may carry out formal credit checks later if you apply for finance.

Is the introduction service free?

Yes — it’s free for retailers. We receive a fee from partners only when they choose to engage after we introduce a qualified lead. You do not pay UK Business Loans to use our matching service.

How quickly will I hear from lenders?

Often within hours; typically within 24–48 hours depending on complexity and time of day.

What if I’m unsure about a partner’s regulatory status?

Ask the provider for an FCA number (if they claim to be authorised) and check it on the FCA Register. If you have doubts, tell your UK Business Loans contact and we’ll clarify partner credentials.

Final reassurance & primary call to action

Key point: We are an introducer — not a lender and we do not provide regulated advice. For products that fall within FCA regulation, we prioritise FCA‑authorised partners and will always make partner status clear before you proceed.

Get Your Free Quote — Free Eligibility Check 2 minute form. No obligation.

Additional resources & internal links

• Home
• How it Works
• Types of Business Finance
• Privacy Policy
• Terms
• Contact

If you run a retail shop and want a tailored introduction, start with our quick enquiry. We’ll match you to lenders and brokers who specialise in retail — from stock finance to POS solutions. For more industry‑specific insight, see our retailers guide on retailers shop business loans.

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About the author

Written by the UK Business Loans content team — experienced in UK SME finance introductions since 2016. We specialise in matching retailers with lenders and brokers who understand shop‑level cashflow, stock cycles and consumer checkout finance.

1. How does UK Business Loans match my business to lenders and brokers?
Complete a short enquiry form and we instantly match your needs to trusted UK lenders and brokers who will contact you — we only introduce, not lend.

2. Will submitting an enquiry affect my business credit score?
No — completing our enquiry form is a soft, no‑obligation step and will not affect your credit file (lenders may run checks later if you apply).

3. Is UK Business Loans free to use?
Yes — our matching and introduction service is free for businesses; we receive a fee from partners only if they engage after an introduction.

4. Do you only introduce FCA‑regulated lenders and brokers?
We prioritise FCA‑authorised firms for consumer‑facing products (e.g., POS BNPL), but many commercial finance providers operate outside the FCA perimeter and we will always disclose a partner’s regulatory status.

5. What types of business finance can you help me find?
We can connect you to business loans, asset and equipment finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages, merchant cash advances, POS/BNPL providers, fit‑out and stock finance, and more.

6. How quickly will lenders or brokers contact me after I submit an enquiry?
Typically you’ll hear from matched lenders or brokers within a few hours and usually within 24–48 hours depending on complexity.

7. What information does the enquiry form ask for and is it an application?
The two‑minute enquiry form asks basic business details, funding amount and purpose to help us match you — it is not a loan application.

8. Can I be matched to lenders if I have bad credit or limited trading history?
Yes — some partners specialise in lending to businesses with imperfect credit or limited trading history and we’ll match you to appropriate options.

9. Can you help retailers get POS/BNPL, stock finance or shop refit funding?
Yes — we match retailers to FCA‑regulated consumer credit providers for POS/BNPL and to specialist commercial lenders or brokers for stock, refit and asset finance, with regulatory status made clear.

10. How do I verify a lender’s FCA authorisation and compare their terms?
Ask the provider for their FCA registration number and check it on the FCA Register, and request full written terms, cost disclosures and APR or equivalent illustrations before proceeding.