How is my data used and who will you share it with?
At a glance: how we use your data and who we share it with
We use your information to understand your business, assess potential eligibility, and intelligently match you with relevant finance providers in our network. We share only the data necessary to enable introductions to appropriate lenders or brokers and to operate our service securely. We never sell your data, and you are in control of your preferences at every stage.
When you submit a Quick Quote or eligibility enquiry, we process the details you provide alongside limited third‑party checks to help identify suitable finance routes. We may also use your data to keep you informed about your enquiry, request supporting information, and send relevant updates with your consent or where lawful. Any decision to apply for finance rests with you, and any lender’s decision is theirs alone.
What information we collect
Information you provide: contact details, company information, funding needs, sector, turnover, and trading history. Optional supporting details may include existing finance commitments and business plans related to your request. We do not seek special category data (such as health or biometrics) and ask that you do not include it.
Information from third parties: open business data (Companies House), anti‑fraud signals, and validation services to confirm details you submit. We do not perform a hard credit search, but partners may do so later with your consent.
Cookies and analytics
We use cookies and analytics to improve site performance, understand usage patterns, and support fraud prevention. You can adjust non‑essential cookie preferences at any time. For enquiries, essential cookies help our forms function properly and keep your session secure.
How we use your information (lawful bases and AI)
We process your information to deliver our service, including intelligent matching, secure introductions, and support communications. This includes assessing which finance types may suit your business and which providers are actively lending in your sector. Our aim is to save you time while improving your chances of finding suitable finance options.
Our lawful bases under UK GDPR
Contractual necessity: to process your enquiry, introduce you to relevant providers, and help move your request forward. Legitimate interests: to operate, secure, and improve our platform, and to prevent misuse or fraud. Consent: for certain marketing communications and some optional cookies or data uses.
Legal obligation: to comply with applicable laws, regulatory requests, or to assist in fraud prevention when required. Where partners perform regulated checks, they do so under their own lawful bases and policies. We encourage you to read their privacy notices before proceeding.
Matching, profiling and automated decision support
We use AI‑assisted logic to compare your business profile with lender and broker criteria. This helps shortlist providers based on sector, trading history, funding purpose, and indicative eligibility signals. It is designed to reduce noise and focus only on relevant options.
We do not make lending decisions and we do not approve or decline applications. No decision with legal or similarly significant effects is made about you solely by our automated tools. Where partners use automated assessments, they will inform you separately and offer appropriate safeguards.
Communications and updates
We contact you about your enquiry, request documentation, and send status updates. Where permitted, we may send helpful insights related to business finance. You can opt out of non‑essential messages at any time without affecting the service related to your current enquiry.
Who we share your data with (and who we don’t)
We share your information only with trusted providers who are relevant to your enquiry and the type of funding you request. This includes lenders, brokers, and specialist finance firms who can consider your business for finance. We limit what we share to what is necessary for an introduction or assessment.
Lenders, brokers and finance specialists
We introduce you to carefully selected providers active in your sector and funding type. They may request further information, perform credit checks with your consent, and provide tailored offers. Terms, rates, and approvals are set by the provider you choose to engage with.
We support many UK sectors including construction, logistics, retail, healthcare, and manufacturing. For example, you can learn more about sector‑specific options on our page for manufacturing business loans. This helps ensure your data goes only to providers who understand your industry.
Credit reference and fraud prevention agencies
Best Business Loans does not conduct hard credit searches. However, finance providers may use credit reference agencies (CRAs) and fraud prevention services when you proceed. They will explain those checks, obtain consent where required, and record searches as necessary.
Service providers and security partners
We use reputable service providers for secure hosting, email delivery, analytics, and platform functionality. These partners process data on our behalf under data protection agreements. We do not allow them to use your information for their own marketing.
Regulators and legal obligations
We may share information when legally required, such as responding to lawful requests from authorities, preventing fraud or financial crime, or enforcing our terms. We do not sell personal data and we do not share it indiscriminately. All sharing is purpose‑driven, proportionate, and controlled.
Retention, storage, transfers and security
We retain enquiry data only for as long as needed to deliver our service, meet legal obligations, and resolve any queries. Typical retention is up to six years for business records, unless a shorter or longer period is required by law or necessary for dispute resolution. If you withdraw your enquiry, we will minimise ongoing retention to what is legally or operationally necessary.
International transfers
Where a service partner or provider is located outside the UK, we use recognised safeguards like UK adequacy regulations, Standard Contractual Clauses, or equivalent protections. We assess suppliers for security posture and data protection standards. Our goal is to keep your data protected regardless of location.
How we protect your information
We use encryption in transit, hardened hosting environments, access controls, and monitoring to help protect your data. Staff access is limited and role‑based, and we train our team on data protection and security. We continuously improve our controls to reflect evolving risks and best practice.
Accuracy and minimisation
We seek only the data we need to perform effective matching and introductions. We rely on you to provide accurate, up‑to‑date details and we will correct inaccuracies when identified. Data minimisation helps reduce risk and keeps processing fair, clear and not misleading.
Your rights, choices and how to contact us
UK data protection law gives you rights over your personal information. You can request access, correction, deletion, restriction, or portability in applicable contexts. You can also object to processing based on legitimate interests, and withdraw consent for marketing at any time.
Marketing and preferences
You are always in control of optional communications. Unsubscribe links are included in emails, and you can contact us to adjust preferences. Opting out of marketing will not affect operational messages about your current enquiry.
Cookies and analytics choices
You can manage non‑essential cookies via your browser or our consent tools. Essential cookies that support security and form functionality will remain active to provide the service. Analytics helps us improve the site for business users without collecting unnecessary personal data.
How to get in touch
Questions, rights requests, or complaints: hello@bestbusinessloans.ai. If you are unhappy with our response, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk. We will cooperate fully with the ICO and any lawful regulatory requests.
Important compliance notes
Best Business Loans does not offer loans directly and does not provide financial advice. We act as an independent introducer and connect you with relevant finance providers who are responsible for their own decisions and regulatory compliance.
All communications aim to be clear, fair and not misleading in line with FCA, ASA and Google policies. Eligibility, rates and terms depend on your circumstances and the provider’s criteria, and no outcome is guaranteed.
Next step: Ready to explore your options? Complete the Quick Quote to receive an eligibility‑led introduction to relevant providers. It’s fast, secure and with no obligation to proceed.
Frequently asked questions
Do you sell my data? No. We never sell personal data. We share information only to deliver the service you request and to introduce you to relevant providers.
Will you run a credit check on my business? We do not run hard credit checks. Lenders or brokers may run soft or hard checks later, with your knowledge and consent, under their own policies.
Can I ask you to stop sharing my data? Yes. You can contact us to pause an enquiry or limit further sharing. If we have already introduced you to a provider, you should also contact them to manage your data directly.
Who do you share my data with? Only with relevant lenders, brokers and trusted service providers needed to operate our platform. We do not share with unrelated third parties for their marketing.
Are you FCA regulated? We are an introducer that helps connect UK businesses with suitable finance providers. Regulated activities, where applicable, are carried out by the authorised firms we introduce you to, under their own permissions and responsibilities.
Updated October 2025
Key takeaways
- We use your data to match you with suitable UK finance providers and support your enquiry.
- We share only what is necessary, never sell data, and you control your preferences.
- We do not make lending decisions; partners will assess eligibility and terms independently.
- You have strong rights under UK GDPR, including access, correction and objection.
- Complete a Quick Quote to receive relevant provider introductions with no obligation.