Business loans in Aberdeen
CoreFi arranges business loans and working capital for Aberdeen limited companies, both unsecured and secured. We approach a whole-of-market panel to match SMEs across the energy supply chain, engineering, trades and professional services to lenders that price the sector fairly. We are a broker, not a lender.
A business loan gives an Aberdeen company a lump sum to repay over an agreed term, used for working capital, growth, a new contract or bridging a seasonal gap. CoreFi arranges it as a broker, going to a whole-of-market panel rather than one lender, which matters when a company's income moves with project cycles and long payment terms.
Much of the local SME base trades in and around the energy sector: subsea and inspection firms, fabrication and engineering businesses in Altens and Tullos, offshore logistics operators near the harbour and Dyce, and the recruiters, consultants and professional services that support them. That order-book-led, sometimes lumpy pattern of trade is exactly what the right lender needs to understand, and what a good broker helps make legible.
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Tell us about the business and the need
Share what your Aberdeen company does, how much you need, what for and over roughly what term. Recent accounts or management figures help us judge lender appetite early.
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We approach the market
We match your case to lenders on our whole-of-market panel that understand your sector and the North East economy, weighing unsecured and secured options, and return indicative terms.
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You choose and we support
You pick the route that fits. We help package the case and manage it through to the lender's decision, staying involved until funds are drawn.
The Aberdeen SME base we work with
The businesses that come to us for a loan reflect the North East economy. A fabrication or machining firm in Altens funding a larger contract before the client pays; a subsea or inspection company bridging the gap between winning work and being paid on extended terms; a recruitment agency placing contractors offshore that has to fund payroll long before invoices settle; a professional services or consultancy practice smoothing cash flow through a quiet stretch. Increasingly we also see energy transition and renewables businesses gearing up for wind and hydrogen work where the order book looks different and lenders need to follow the change. Because we understand how these firms actually trade, we can frame a loan request in terms a lender recognises, rather than leaving a healthy but cyclical business looking risky on a form.
Unsecured and secured business loans
Business loans come in two broad forms. An unsecured loan is not tied to a specific asset and is assessed mainly on the trading company's performance and affordability, which can suit a firm that wants funds quickly without pledging property. A secured loan is backed by an asset such as property or plant, which can unlock a larger sum or a longer term but brings the security into the lender's assessment. Which is realistic depends on your accounts, the amount, the purpose and what security is available. There are also revolving facilities and working capital lines that suit businesses with recurring gaps rather than a one-off need. Terms, rates and limits vary sharply by lender and by case, so everything we outline early is indicative and illustrative until a lender formally prices the deal.
Why whole of market matters for SME lending
Appetite for business lending in Aberdeen is uneven, partly because a lot of local trade is tied, directly or indirectly, to a cyclical sector. A high street lender may be cautious about a firm whose income moves with energy project cycles, while a challenger bank or a specialist lender may understand that pattern and price it fairly. Because we work across a whole-of-market panel, we can compare lenders on rate, term, security and flexibility, and steer your request towards those genuinely likely to say yes on sensible terms. We will also be honest when a loan is not the best answer and, say, invoice finance would ease the cash flow gap more cheaply. The aim is funding that fits how your North East business actually trades, not a product pushed off a single desk.
Frequently asked questions
What can an Aberdeen business loan be used for?
Common uses include working capital, funding a new contract, buying stock or equipment, hiring ahead of growth or bridging a seasonal or project-cycle gap. Whether a specific request is fundable, and on what terms, is for the lender to decide. Early figures are indicative only.
What is the difference between an unsecured and a secured business loan?
An unsecured loan is not tied to a specific asset and is assessed mainly on your trading and affordability. A secured loan is backed by an asset such as property or plant, which can unlock a larger sum or longer term. Which suits you depends on your accounts, the amount and available security.
Can you help a business whose income moves with energy project cycles?
Yes, that pattern is common in Aberdeen and part of why we work whole of market. Some lenders understand cyclical, order-book-led income and price it fairly; others are more cautious. We match your case to lenders more likely to engage, though the lender always makes the final decision.
Is CoreFi lending me the money?
No. We are a broker, not a lender. We arrange business loans by matching your Aberdeen company to lenders on our whole-of-market panel. The lender assesses the business, decides whether to lend and sets the rate, term and any security.
Get matched with lenders for your Aberdeen business
Tell us what your business needs and we will match you with lenders whose criteria fit. No obligation, no cost to start the conversation, and a straight answer about what is realistic for your situation.
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