Are you regulated by the FCA, and do you follow FCA guidance?

The short answer

No — Best Business Loans is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We operate as an independent introducer that helps established UK businesses explore suitable funding providers, products and brokers.

Yes — we voluntarily follow relevant FCA guidance for financial promotions, alongside ASA/CAP advertising rules and Google’s financial services policies. Our aim is to ensure all information we publish is clear, fair and not misleading, so you can make informed decisions.

Our regulatory position and what we do

BestBusinessLoans.ai is a matching and introduction platform, not a lender or a broker. We do not arrange finance, issue credit, give regulated financial advice, or make lending decisions.

Our role is to help you understand potential business finance routes and to connect you with suitable UK lenders or brokers who may be able to help. You remain in control and can decide whether to engage with any provider we introduce.

Many commercial finance arrangements for companies and LLPs fall outside consumer credit regulation. We focus on established businesses and do not currently support start-ups, sole traders, franchises, property finance, or commercial mortgages.

Because we are not carrying on a regulated activity that requires FCA authorisation, we do not appear on the FCA Register. Where a finance journey involves a regulated activity, this is handled by the appropriately authorised provider you choose to engage.

We may receive an introducer fee or commission from a provider if you go ahead. This does not affect the terms you are offered, and we aim to disclose this transparently when requested or when required by our partners’ rules.

How we apply FCA “clear, fair and not misleading” in practice

Although we are not FCA-regulated, we model our communications on the FCA’s core financial promotions standard: clear, fair and not misleading. This helps ensure you receive balanced, useful, and proportionate information.

In practical terms, we commit to the following across our site and adverts. We avoid unrealistic claims, guarantee language, and selective presentation of benefits without relevant caveats.

• We signpost that we are not a lender and do not provide finance directly.
• We avoid guarantees of approval, rates, or timescales, as outcomes vary by provider.
• We use plain UK English and explain product types in everyday terms.
• We include relevant eligibility notes and typical factors lenders assess.
• We encourage you to read provider terms, fees, and risks before committing.

Where we use examples, they are illustrative and not a promise. Any rate or fee examples are subject to status, underwriting, sector, loan purpose, security and the provider’s policies at the time.

We align our approach with relevant FCA Handbooks in spirit, including CONC (Consumer Credit), MCOB (Mortgages and Home Finance), ICOBS (Insurance), COBS (Conduct of Business) and BCOBS (Banking), as far as they inform good promotional practice for commercial audiences.

We connect you with reputable, regulated providers

We work to introduce you only to reputable UK finance providers and brokers. Where authorisation is required for the activity they undertake, they should be authorised and regulated by the FCA or operating under the appropriate permissions.

We conduct reasonable checks on the partners we list or introduce. This includes confirming FCA authorisation status where relevant, reviewing their proposition fit, and focusing on providers actively lending to UK businesses in the current market.

When a lender participates in government-backed schemes such as the Growth Guarantee Scheme, they should be accredited by the British Business Bank. Your provider will explain scheme eligibility, guarantees, and borrower responsibilities before you proceed.

Some business finance types are unregulated, especially for limited companies and LLPs. Where regulation does not apply, we still promote best-practice standards on transparency, costs, and fair presentation of risks and benefits.

If a financial promotion requires approval under FSMA section 21, that approval must come from an authorised person. We do not approve financial promotions for others and will only publish or distribute material we reasonably believe is compliant or exempt.

Advertising, data protection, and complaints

We follow the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising (CAP Code) and Broadcast Advertising (BCAP) rules, supported by the Advertising Standards Authority. We take account of ASA guidance for financial advertising, including the need for prominent qualifications.

We comply with Google’s financial services ad policies, focusing on providing adequate information, avoiding harmful claims, and respecting local rules in the UK. Where Google requires verification, we cooperate with those processes.

Your privacy matters to us. We handle your data securely and share it only with relevant finance professionals for the purpose of responding to your enquiry. We do not sell your data and we encourage you to review provider privacy notices when you engage with them.

If you have a concern about our content or service, you can contact hello@bestbusinessloans.ai and we will do our best to resolve it quickly. If your concern relates to a specific lender or broker, they will have their own complaints procedure you can follow.

If you wish to report a misleading financial promotion in the UK, you can notify the FCA using their online reporting form. The ASA also provides routes to complain about advertising you believe is non-compliant.

What this means for your journey with Best Business Loans

Our platform is designed to simplify how established UK businesses discover finance options. You get a faster route to relevant providers, with no obligation to proceed and no hidden fees for submitting an enquiry.

Here is how the journey typically works from an FCA-compliance perspective. You remain in control at every step, and providers explain terms before you commit.

1. Submit a Quick Quote or Eligibility Check with your business details and funding needs.
2. Our AI reviews your profile against available options and sector appetite.
3. We introduce you to suitable lenders or brokers, prioritising reputable and authorised firms where required.
4. You review information directly from the provider, including costs, security, risks and obligations.
5. You decide whether to proceed, request a Decision in Principle, or decline.

We support a wide range of commercial use-cases, including cashflow, equipment, vehicles, fit-out and refinancing. If you are in manufacturing or engineering, you may also find our industry guidance helpful.

For example, see our overview of engineering business loans for common funding routes and considerations. Sector context can help you ask the right questions when you speak with a provider.

Important regulatory information and disclaimers

Information on this website is for general guidance only and is not advice. Nothing here constitutes an offer or an invitation to engage in a regulated activity.

Finance is subject to status, underwriting, affordability and provider criteria. Rates, fees, and terms vary by provider, sector, loan purpose, security and market conditions.

Best Business Loans does not accept applications from start-ups, sole traders, franchises, property finance, or commercial mortgages. Our focus is on established UK businesses and non-property commercial finance.

We do not guarantee the lowest rate, approval, or speed. We aim to introduce you to suitable providers, and you should consider independent professional advice if you are unsure.

Updated: October 2025.

Frequently asked questions

Are you regulated by the FCA?
No. We are an independent introducer and do not carry out activities that require FCA authorisation. Where a regulated activity is involved, authorised providers handle that stage.

Do you follow FCA guidance?
Yes. We voluntarily align to the FCA’s “clear, fair and not misleading” standard for financial promotions and consider relevant Handbook guidance, alongside ASA/CAP rules and Google’s policies.

Are the lenders and brokers you introduce FCA-authorised?
Where authorisation is required for their activities, they should be authorised. We conduct reasonable checks, including FCA Register lookups for relevant firms.

Is your service free for businesses?
Yes. It is free to submit an enquiry. If you proceed with a provider, we may receive an introducer fee or commission, which does not impact your offered terms.

What will a provider discuss with me?
The provider will explain product details, fees, security, risks, eligibility, and any government-backed scheme rules where relevant. Always read documents carefully before you sign.

How do I get started?
Complete a Quick Quote or Eligibility Check. Our AI will match you to suitable providers and you choose which introductions to pursue.

Key takeaways

• Best Business Loans is not FCA-regulated; we are an introducer, not a lender or broker.
• We voluntarily follow FCA financial promotion principles and the ASA/CAP Codes.
• We connect established UK businesses with reputable providers suited to their needs.
• You stay in control, compare options, and decide whether to proceed with any provider.
• It is free to submit an enquiry, and there is no obligation to go ahead.

Next steps: Check eligibility in minutes

If you are ready to explore finance for your company, start with a free Quick Quote or Eligibility Check. It takes a couple of minutes and does not obligate you to proceed.

We will match your profile with suitable lenders or brokers, then you can review terms and decide what is best for your business. Smart UK business finance, powered by AI — with clarity and compliance front and centre.

Get your free Quick Quote now.