What information do I need to provide for a Quick Quote?
Short answer
For a Quick Quote you should provide clear business identification, the purpose and amount of finance you need, recent financials, information about security and directors, and a preferred timescale. Providing accurate, concise details helps our AI match your enquiry to the most suitable lenders or brokers. Submitting the right documents and answers speeds up eligibility checks and increases the quality of responses you receive.
Business identity and contact details
Start with the basics: company name, registered number, and trading name if different. These details allow lenders and brokers to check eligibility and confirm your trading history quickly.
Include your business address, correspondence address (if different), and the primary contact’s name, job title, email and direct phone number. A named contact reduces delays and helps brokers clarify details without repeated email chains.
State your business structure clearly — limited company, partnership or LLP — and confirm whether the business has traded for at least 12 months. Many specialist commercial lenders prefer established, asset-rich SMEs, so being upfront about structure and trading age ensures realistic matching.
Purpose of funding, amount and term
Explain why you need finance: working capital, equipment purchase, vehicle or fleet, fit-out, sustainability upgrade, invoice finance, or refinancing existing facilities. Lenders match differently depending on the use of funds, so a clear purpose is essential.
Specify the exact amount required and whether this is a single purchase or rolling requirement. Also indicate a preferred term or repayment profile — for example, 36 months for asset finance or an overdraft-style facility for short-term working capital.
If your need is asset-related, name the asset type and approximate value. For equipment purchases, linking to an example or quoting a supplier estimate helps; you can also visit our equipment finance page for more detail: equipment finance.
Financial performance and documents
Recent financial information is the most important set of data you can provide for a Quick Quote. Typically lenders request the latest 1–3 years of filed accounts, or management accounts if you do not have full-year accounts yet.
Include turnover, gross profit, net profit, and EBITDA where available, and confirm the business’s VAT status. If you trade seasonally, explain seasonality and provide 12 months of bank statements to show cashflow patterns.
Upload or be ready to send PDFs of: filed accounts, management accounts, business bank statements for the past 3–6 months, VAT returns (if applicable) and a recent aged debtor and creditor listing. These documents enable faster preliminary affordability and eligibility checks.
Security, credit profile and existing finance
Tell us whether you can offer assets as security, such as equipment, vehicles, stock, or commercial assets. Some products require security; others are unsecured but may need stronger financials or personal guarantees.
Disclose any existing finance arrangements, including outstanding loans, HP agreements, leasing contracts or invoice finance facilities. Listing creditor names, balances and monthly repayments helps avoid duplicate approaches and gives brokers a clear refinancing picture.
Be honest about your credit history: county court judgments (CCJs), defaults, or recent insolvency events should be stated. Many commercial lenders will consider applications with historical issues, but disclosure avoids wasted time and potential misrepresentation.
Directors, timetables, privacy and next steps
Provide basic director details for each majority shareholder: full name, date of birth, residential address and percentage ownership. Lenders use these details for identity checks and affordability assessments.
State your desired timescale: can you wait several weeks for a paper-heavy lender, or do you need a decision in days? If speed matters, flag it; brokers can prioritise fast-decision lenders or short-term bridging solutions.
We handle your data securely and only share it with lenders or brokers relevant to your enquiry, and only with your consent. Best Business Loans is an independent introducer and does not provide loan capital; submitting a Quick Quote is free and non-binding.
Quick checklist (one-screen summary)
Company name and registration number, trading and correspondence addresses, and a named contact. Purpose, amount and preferred term of the loan, plus asset details if applicable.
Latest filed accounts or management accounts, 3–6 months of business bank statements, VAT returns if relevant, and an aged receivables or payables summary. Details of existing finance, security you can offer, and director identity information.
Practical tips to improve your Quick Quote response
Be concise and consistent — use the same figures across fields and documents to avoid confusion. Inconsistent amounts or mismatched names slow down lender assessment and can trigger additional checks.
Label uploaded files clearly (for example “2023_accounts_CompanyLtd.pdf” or “June2025_bankstatements.pdf”) and avoid sending photos of documents where possible. Clear, searchable PDFs help AI matching and human underwriters review faster.
If your enquiry is for a specific product, mention preferences (invoice finance, asset refinance, hire purchase, etc.). For asset purchases, include supplier quotes and delivery lead times so lenders can accurately size funding proposals.
How our AI matching uses your information
Our AI analyses the combination of company profile, financial strength, asset security and credit history to shortlist suitable funding routes and providers. The more accurate and complete your submission, the better the match and the fewer unnecessary applications.
We prioritise lenders and brokers actively lending in your sector or to companies of your size and asset mix. This reduces time spent approaching providers who cannot help and speeds up likely matches to a workable decision in principle.
After matching, selected lenders or brokers may conduct soft credit searches or request additional verification; these steps are usually flagged in advance and are intended to refine terms rather than commit you to a contract.
Compliance, fairness and transparency
Best Business Loans does not lend directly and acts as an introducer to regulated and non-regulated providers where appropriate. We present options fairly, but we do not guarantee rates or approval.
We comply with relevant UK advertising, FCA and ASA guidance by being clear, fair and not misleading in our communications. Any commercial recommendation will include clear next steps and disclosures about who will contact you and why.
If you prefer not to share certain personal details online, you can start with a minimal Quick Quote and provide documents on request. However, a fuller submission usually shortens the time to a meaningful response.
What happens after you submit a Quick Quote?
We run an initial AI match and introduce your enquiry to selected lenders or brokers who may be able to help. These third parties will contact you to request any missing information and to discuss potential terms and suitability.
Some lenders may offer a Decision in Principle quickly based on the details provided, while others require further documentation and underwriting. You remain in control and can accept, decline or ask for alternatives at any stage.
If you need help completing the form or want to discuss the right finance type before submitting, our UK support team can guide you by email at hello@bestbusinessloans.ai. We can also explain eligibility for schemes such as the Growth Guarantee Scheme where relevant.
Key takeaways
Provide clear company identity, contact details and business structure to start. Explain the funding purpose, amount and term, and attach recent accounts and bank statements for better matches.
Disclose security, existing finance and any credit issues honestly to avoid wasted time. Include director details and a realistic timescale so brokers can prioritise suitable lenders.
Submitting a complete Quick Quote improves speed and quality of responses; Best Business Loans matches you to lenders and brokers but does not provide loans directly. Start your enquiry now to get matched quickly and securely.
Ready to get your Quick Quote? Click the Quick Quote button on our site, complete the short form and let our AI match your enquiry to the most relevant lenders and brokers. It’s free, secure and non-binding.