Do I need a broker to arrange business finance, or can I go direct?

You can absolutely go direct. The question is what you give up by doing so.

Going to one lender gets you one lender’s view. If they decline, or their terms are poor for your situation, you are back to the start. Different lenders also have very different appetites: some like a particular sector, some will not touch it, some price the same deal quite differently.

A broker earns its place in three ways:

• Market access. We compare across the wider market rather than a single balance sheet. FundingLinks works with more than 100 UK lenders across invoice finance, loans and the adjacent products.
• Positioning the deal. We know which lenders suit which profiles, so your application goes to the ones most likely to say yes on sensible terms, rather than being scattered around and racking up declines.
• Doing the legwork. We package the application, handle the back and forth, and present you with options to choose from.

On cost, be clear before you commit. FundingLinks is an independent broker, not a lender, and we are usually paid a commission by the lender when your facility completes. If any fee would apply to you, we agree it with you in writing before you proceed.

Going direct can be the right call if you already have a strong relationship with a lender who suits your need. For most businesses comparing the market, a broker saves time and widens the options.