How does Best Business Loans get paid?

Best Business Loans typically receives introduction or referral fees from lenders or brokers for connecting them with businesses. You as a business owner do not pay Best Business Loans a fee to use our matching service.

Do introduction fees change the options I see?

Introduction fees can create potential conflicts of interest with any introducer, but Best Business Loans uses AI matching, broad panels, fee transparency and manual checks to minimise fee-driven bias and prioritise suitability.

Will I be charged more if a lender pays a fee?

Not necessarily. Rates and costs are driven by the lender's criteria, loan type and market factors. You should always ask any lender or broker you speak to for a full breakdown of costs and commission.

How do you get paid and do introduction fees affect the options you show?

Short answer

Best Business Loans is paid by the lenders and brokers we introduce to — typically via introduction or referral fees, or agreed partner payments. These fees do not change the fact we aim to match your business to relevant providers, and we operate safeguards to reduce any fee-driven bias in the options we show you.

We do not lend, we do not provide regulated financial advice, and we clearly disclose our introducer status so you can make an informed choice.

How Best Business Loans is paid

Best Business Loans is an independent introducer that connects UK businesses with lenders and brokers who may be able to help. We receive payment from our partner lenders or brokers for qualified introductions, which is common practice across comparison and lead-generation platforms.

These payments are typically one-off referral fees, fixed lead fees or agreed partner commissions and are paid by the provider after you accept an introduction or progress an application. You are not charged by Best Business Loans to use the matching service, and any lender or broker fees they charge are separate from our introducer arrangements.

Could introduction fees influence the options you show?

Any business that receives commercial referral income faces a potential conflict of interest, because higher-fee partners could be more commercially attractive to the introducer. We recognise that risk and design our processes to reduce the effect of fees on recommendations.

Our safeguards include algorithmic matching that prioritises lender suitability and lending appetite ahead of commission, a broad panel of funders and brokers to avoid over-reliance on a few high-fee partners, and manual oversight from experienced specialists. We continually monitor outcomes, lender availability and feedback so the system favours successful matches, not highest-paying partners.

What introduction fees mean for your cost and choice

An introduction fee paid to us is normally a commercial arrangement between Best Business Loans and the provider and does not automatically raise the cost of your finance. Lenders set pricing based on risk, sector, loan type and market conditions rather than the introducer’s fee structure.

However, brokers sometimes charge commission that is disclosed within your lender quote or broker terms; this can affect the final effective rate or fees. That is why we encourage businesses to ask for a clear breakdown of lender interest, arrangement fees, broker commission and any other charges before deciding.

Practical example

A broker might charge 1% commission on a £100,000 facility as payment for arranging the loan, while the lender charges 6% interest and a separate arrangement fee. The introducer fee paid to the platform is typically covered by the broker or lender and does not always appear separately on your customer bill.

How we reduce bias and keep matches relevant

We use a combination of AI-driven matching and human checks to make sure the options presented are relevant to your business: sector, asset type, credit profile and lender appetite are the main drivers of suitability. The algorithm weights lender criteria and appetite highly, so funding availability and fit come before partner commercial terms.

We also require partner onboarding checks, performance and compliance reviews, plus regular updates on which funders are actively lending in particular sectors. If a lender’s behaviour or pricing appears to be consistently unfair or non-competitive, we review its place on the panel and flag this to our team and to users where necessary.

Transparency and disclosures

We make it clear up front that we receive fees from partners and that we are not an FCA-authorised lender or adviser. You will be introduced to regulated lenders or brokers where appropriate, and any regulated financial promotion must comply with FCA rules and be clear, fair and not misleading.

How to protect your interests and proceed with confidence

When you receive introductions, ask the lender or broker to confirm: the full cost breakdown, whether any commission or broker fees apply, and who is paying any third-party introducer fee. If you are uncertain, request a Decision in Principle or indicative quote that shows total charges and repayment terms.

Use our Quick Quote to start — it’s free, confidential and designed to match you with relevant providers quickly. If you want to learn more about the kinds of finance we help with, see our business finance overview here: business finance.

Checklist: questions to ask every provider

Who is my counterparty — lender or broker — and are they FCA-authorised for the product I’m considering? Ask this early so you know whether the quote is a regulated financial promotion.

What are the total fees and charges, including arrangement fees, interest rate, broker commission and any early repayment penalties? Ask for the figures to be written in a quote or term sheet.

Does the quote include any commission disclosure and, if so, how much of that commission affects the price I pay? This helps you understand if broker commission is embedded in your cost.

Key takeaways

Best Business Loans is paid by lenders and brokers for introductions, but that does not mean our matching is driven solely by fees. We use AI matching, a broad panel, partner vetting and manual checks to prioritise lender suitability and active lending appetite.

Introduction fees are normal industry practice, and they don’t automatically make your finance more expensive, but you should always ask for a full cost breakdown and disclosure of any commissions. Our service is free to use and aims to get you relevant options quickly so you can compare fairly.

Start with a Quick Quote to see who may be able to help, and always check price, terms and regulator status before agreeing to proceed. If you have questions about fees or transparency, contact our team at hello@bestbusinessloans.ai for clarification before you commit.

Regulatory and compliance note

Best Business Loans is an introducer and is not FCA-authorised to provide regulated advice. We operate with transparency and follow advertising and financial promotion best practice so that information is clear, fair and not misleading. Always verify regulator status and request written terms when you engage directly with any lender or broker.