Do you help start-ups, sole traders, or franchises with refinance?
Short answer: what we do and the immediate answer
Directly: Best Business Loans does not currently support refinance for start-ups, sole traders, or franchises.
We are an independent introducer that helps established UK trading companies find refinance providers and brokers, but we do not lend ourselves.
Why start-ups, sole traders and franchises are treated differently
Most commercial refinance lenders evaluate applications on business trading history, turnover, profitability and security or assets available as collateral.
Start-ups often lack the minimum trading history lenders demand, which increases perceived risk and reduces refinance options.
Sole traders blend personal and business credit, and that commingling can complicate lender underwriting and the structuring of commercial refinance.
Franchises introduce other variables such as franchisor approval, trading agreements and brand-specific covenants that lenders must assess separately.
How lenders typically assess refinance eligibility
Lenders usually look for at least 12–24 months of trading history, stable cash flow, management accounts, and clear ownership structures.
They will also consider tangible assets, debtor profiles (for invoice finance), and any existing charges or security on the business.
Credit scores of directors and the business, recent performance trends and sector risk (for example hospitality versus manufacturing) all influence refinance outcomes.
Because these criteria disadvantage early-stage firms and unincorporated sole traders, those groups are often excluded from standard commercial refinance products.
Practical alternatives and routes for excluded business types
If you are a start-up, sole trader or franchisee, there are legitimate alternative finance routes worth exploring.
Start-ups: consider specialist start-up lenders, equity or convertible finance, seed investors, or revenue-based funding where appropriate.
Sole traders: explore small business loans designed for sole traders, unsecured business credit cards, personal-to-business lending, or speak to brokers who accept sole trader cases.
Franchisees: ask your franchisor if there are preferred lenders, or speak to commercial brokers experienced in franchise finance; some lenders make bespoke decisions where franchisor support reduces risk.
How Best Business Loans can help (and what we won’t do)
We match established limited companies and suitable trading businesses with lenders and brokers using AI-driven profiling.
We do not provide loans, and we are not a lender or broker ourselves; we act as an introducer to trusted finance professionals.
For start-ups, sole traders or franchisees we will be transparent if we cannot match you to an appropriate product via our platform.
H4: What we can do for excluded applicants
We can provide guidance on likely eligibility, outline alternative finance types, and—where appropriate—introduce specialist brokers who handle non-standard cases.
If you are an established business seeking refinance you can learn more about refinance options here: Refinance.
To move forward we encourage completing our Quick Quote form so we can assess your eligibility and suggest next steps.
Steps you can take now and a practical checklist
Step 1: Verify your business structure and gather key documents such as 12–24 months of accounts, management accounts, and bank statements.
Step 2: Separate personal and business finances where possible, and formalise company structures to improve lender confidence.
Step 3: Improve cash flow visibility by organising debtor records, getting aged debtor reports, and, if applicable, reviewing stock and assets that could be used as security.
Step 4: Consider short-term alternatives like invoice finance, asset finance or a bridging facility while you build the trading history lenders want.
Step 5: Submit a Quick Quote via our platform for an eligibility check and to be connected to suitable brokers or lenders.
How to decide whether to submit a Quick Quote
If your business is a registered limited company with a trading history and established cash flow, submitting a Quick Quote is a practical next step.
If you are a start-up, sole trader or franchisee, you can still submit details and we will reply honestly about likely outcomes and alternatives.
Completing the Quick Quote takes a few minutes and helps our AI match you with the most appropriate providers or signpost specialist brokers.
We will never charge for the Quick Quote and we only share your information with lenders or brokers relevant to your enquiry.
Key takeaways
Best Business Loans does not currently support refinance for start-ups, sole traders, or franchises in the typical commercial refinance channel.
Established UK limited companies with trading history and appropriate security are the primary group we help with refinance.
If you fall into an excluded category we can still provide guidance, suggest alternative finance options, and refer you to specialist brokers where appropriate.
To check eligibility quickly, submit our Quick Quote online and receive tailored next steps and introductions to lenders or brokers.
Want to check now? Complete a Quick Quote to get an eligibility check and rapid guidance from our AI matching system and support team.