Will an Eligibility Check or Quick Quote Affect My Credit Score (Soft vs Hard Checks)?
Short answer — in plain terms
An eligibility check or Quick Quote carried out by Best Business Loans is normally a soft credit check and will not affect your personal credit score.
A hard search only happens when a lender makes a formal application or credit decision, and that can appear on a credit file and may have an impact in certain circumstances.
What we mean by eligibility checks and Quick Quotes
A Quick Quote or eligibility check is an initial assessment to see which lenders or brokers might be suitable for your business.
At Best Business Loans we use your information to match you with relevant providers rather than submit full loan applications on your behalf.
Because this matching stage is preliminary, most providers accept soft searches at that point to avoid leaving a visible footprint.
The difference between soft and hard credit checks
A soft check (or soft search) looks at credit information without revealing the lender’s identity to other parties, and it does not show on public credit records used by other lenders.
Soft checks are typically used for pre-qualification, affordability estimates and eligibility checks where no contractual agreement is being taken.
A hard check (or hard search) is used when a lender is processing a formal application; it is visible to other lenders and can be recorded on your personal credit file.
How searches affect business versus personal credit
Business credit checks and personal credit checks are distinct, and their effects differ.
Commercial credit searches on a company credit file do not always affect a director’s personal credit score unless a personal guarantee or director-level credit check is required.
If a lender requests a personal credit search (for example where a personal guarantee is needed), a hard search may be recorded and can influence personal credit metrics.
When a Quick Quote may trigger a hard search
Most Quick Quotes / eligibility checks use soft searches, but there are exceptions where a lender or broker asks for a hard search at an early stage.
This may happen for higher-risk sectors, large facilities, or where a lender needs to verify identity and repayment history in detail before offering terms.
We make clear when an introduction could lead to a formal application and obtain your consent before we pass your details to any provider who might perform a hard search.
How Best Business Loans handles checks and your consent
We will always explain if a partner requires a hard credit search and we will not proceed without your permission.
Our AI-driven matching typically uses soft eligibility checks to identify suitable lending routes before any formal approach is made.
Submitting a Quick Quote on our platform does not automatically create a hard search; you remain in control throughout the process.
Practical guidance: what to do next
If you are concerned about credit impact, tell us when you submit your Quick Quote and we will prioritise providers who use soft searches.
Check whether the funding requires personal guarantees, as these are a frequent reason lenders insist on hard searches of directors’ personal credit files.
For green or sustainability projects, for example, you can also review specialised funding routes such as sustainability loans (see our sustainability loans page) to find providers with appropriate criteria.
Common questions business owners ask
Will multiple soft checks harm my credit?
No — soft checks do not count toward the hard-search total and are not visible to other lenders, so they do not lower a personal credit score.
How long does a hard search stay on my file?
Hard searches normally remain on a credit file for 12 months and can be visible to lenders for that period, though some systems weight recent searches more heavily.
Can too many hard searches hurt my chances of future finance?
Yes — multiple hard searches in a short time can signal higher risk to lenders, potentially making offers less favourable.
Some lenders, however, treat multiple enquiries within a short “rate-shopping” window as a single event for consumer credit scoring; practices vary by credit reference agency.
How we help you avoid unnecessary hard searches
Transparent matching and explicit consent
We show you when a recommended lender or broker normally carries out a soft check and when a hard check may be required.
Before we connect you to a provider who might perform a hard search, we ask you to confirm that you want us to progress to that stage.
Smart filtering by sector and product
Our AI filters potential providers by the finance type, sector, and facility size so you are introduced only to those likely to approve your business in principle.
This reduces the number of unnecessary formal applications and therefore avoids avoidable hard searches on personal or business credit files.
Best practice checklist before you submit a Quick Quote
- Confirm whether you are comfortable with providers performing a soft check only at eligibility stage.
- Ask if a loan will require a personal guarantee — this usually triggers a personal hard search.
- Keep records of which providers you’ve allowed to run hard searches and why.
- Consider targeting specialist products, such as sustainability loans, where matching criteria may help you avoid repeated hard searches — see our sustainability loans page for details.
Important compliance and transparency notes
Best Business Loans is an independent introducer and does not supply loans directly.
We do not make credit decisions and we do not charge you to submit a Quick Quote on our platform.
We will only share your information with vetted lenders and brokers relevant to your enquiry, and we ask for your explicit consent before any partner performs a hard credit search.
Summary — Key takeaways
- Eligibility checks and Quick Quotes are typically soft searches and do not affect credit scores.
- Hard searches are used for formal applications and can show on personal credit files, especially when personal guarantees are involved.
- Best Business Loans aims to limit hard searches by using soft checks during matching and by securing your consent before formal applications.
- If you need help choosing a route that minimises credit impact, submit a Quick Quote and our system will match you to suitable lenders or brokers.
About the author and our expertise
Best Business Loans is a UK-based introducer that combines AI matching with a network of lenders and brokers to help established businesses explore funding.
Our team has practical lending and brokerage experience and a focus on transparency, data security and helping you avoid unnecessary credit impact.
Ready to check your options? Complete our Quick Quote now — it only takes a few minutes and uses soft checks to protect your credit record while we match you to suitable providers.
Disclaimer: Best Business Loans provides an introduction service and does not provide regulated lending products. We compare options and connect you to lenders and brokers but do not guarantee offer outcomes. For personalised legal or financial advice, consult an authorised advisor.