Is there any fee to submit an enquiry, and how are you paid?
Short answer
Submitting an enquiry to Best Business Loans is completely free for your business. We are an independent introducer and do not charge businesses to use our Quick Quote, Decision in Principle or eligibility-check services.
We are paid by the lenders or brokers we introduce you to, typically via introduction or commission arrangements, and only in line with transparent, commercial agreements with those providers. Any fees charged by a lender or broker for their services will be disclosed to you by that provider before you agree to a deal.
Is there any cost to submit an enquiry?
It costs nothing for a UK business to complete our online Quick Quote form and submit an enquiry. Our matching service, AI analysis and the initial introductions we make are offered to businesses at no charge.
We will never ask you to pay Best Business Loans to run eligibility checks or to forward your details to lenders and brokers. If a third party asks you for a payment to receive an introduction, please contact us immediately so we can investigate.
If you decide to proceed with a lender or broker after an introduction, that provider may have its own fees or charges which they must explain to you clearly before you sign any agreement. We require our partner providers to disclose all lending fees, broker fees and commission structures when they present any offer to you.
How Best Business Loans is paid
Best Business Loans operates as an introducer and is remunerated by lenders or brokers for qualifying introductions, successful applications or completed transactions. The most common models are a single introduction fee, a commission on completed lending, or a recurring commission while a facility remains active.
These payments come from the lender or broker and do not increase the price you pay the provider unless the provider explicitly explains otherwise. We do not mark up lender rates or add hidden charges on top of the sums quoted by the finance provider you choose.
Where relevant, we will also explain whether our payment is dependent on the finance being completed, or if we receive a smaller fee for a lead that does not proceed to completion. We encourage lenders and brokers in our network to be open about how they reward introducers so you can see any potential conflicts of interest.
What fees might you encounter from lenders or brokers?
Lenders and brokers each have their own fee structures which can include arrangement fees, broker fees, early repayment charges or ongoing platform fees. Any such fees are the responsibility of your chosen lender or broker, and they must be disclosed to you before you accept an offer.
Brokers sometimes charge a broker fee for advisory work; other times their income comes entirely from commission paid by lenders when a deal completes. If you are introduced to a broker through us, the broker should tell you at the earliest opportunity whether they intend to charge you directly or whether they will be paid by the lender.
Lenders may also charge product-specific costs such as valuation fees, documentation fees or guarantor-related charges, depending on the product. Always ask for a clear fee schedule and a breakdown of the total cost of credit before committing to a facility.
Transparency, consent and regulatory status
We operate in accordance with the principle that financial promotions and adverts must be clear, fair and not misleading. Best Business Loans is not a lender and does not provide regulated lending advice, so we act as an introducer only and are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to give regulated advice.
We will always tell you when a provider is an FCA-regulated firm and when a broker or lender must comply with FCA rules. Where a provider is regulated, they are bound by the FCA’s requirements to disclose costs, risks and eligibility conditions to you before a contract is agreed.
By submitting an enquiry you explicitly consent to us sharing your business and contact details with selected lenders and brokers who may be able to help. You can withdraw consent at any time by contacting hello@bestbusinessloans.ai or using the unsubscribe option in our emails.
What happens after you submit an enquiry and how to proceed
After you submit a Quick Quote, our AI-driven system analyses your business profile and matches you to the most relevant lenders or brokers in our network. We then introduce you to those providers who will either contact you directly or ask for further information to provide a formal offer or Decision in Principle.
You remain in control at every stage: you choose which introductions to pursue, and you decide whether to instruct a broker or accept a lender’s terms. If you move forward with a lender or broker, they will confirm any fees they charge and the exact nature of the commission we receive, where applicable.
To get started, complete our Quick Quote form and receive an Eligibility Check from our AI system. For examples of funding types we commonly match, see our business loans overview here: business loans.
Key points to remember
- Submitting an enquiry to Best Business Loans is free for businesses in the UK.
- We are paid by the lenders or brokers we introduce you to, usually via commission or referral fees.
- Lender or broker fees are separate and must be disclosed to you before you sign any agreement.
- We are an introducer, not an FCA-authorised lender or adviser; regulated providers will disclose regulated information where applicable.
- You control whether to proceed after receiving introductions and offers.
Frequently asked compliance and practical questions
Will your enquiry affect my credit file?
Initially, an enquiry submitted to Best Business Loans will not affect your business credit file because we provide information to lenders or brokers as an introducer. Some lenders perform a soft credit check for eligibility and others may request a hard search later in the process; the lender must tell you when they intend to do this.
Can I ask who pays you for a particular introduction?
Yes — you can ask at any time and we will provide the name of the provider and the nature of the commercial arrangement where permitted. Providers sometimes use multiple payment models, and we aim to disclose whether our income is a commission, referral fee or other form of payment.
Why transparency matters and how we protect your interests
Transparent disclosure of fees and payment arrangements protects your ability to compare offers and make an informed decision. We require partners to supply clear cost information before you commit to any product so that you can assess the total cost of finance and any broker charges.
We also maintain data-handling standards and will only share your details with finance professionals relevant to your enquiry. If a lender or broker introduces unexpected fees or does not disclose their charge model, please tell us and we will follow up on your behalf.
Next steps — start your free Quick Quote
If you want a free, no-obligation check to see which providers might be able to help, complete our Quick Quote form now. It takes a few minutes and will quickly show the types of finance that may suit your business and the providers likely to consider your application.
If you prefer a conversation first, our UK support team is available by email at hello@bestbusinessloans.ai to clarify the process and explain how we are paid. We want you to feel confident that submitting an enquiry carries no obligation or hidden charge from Best Business Loans.
Author & Company details
Best Business Loans is an independent UK-based introducer helping established businesses find commercial finance. We do not lend money, and we do not provide regulated financial advice.
Contact: hello@bestbusinessloans.ai. Registered business details and a full list of our partner providers are available on request.