Business Loans in Cambridge
CoreFi arranges secured and unsecured business loans for Cambridge limited companies, funding working capital, growth and one-off costs. We are a broker, not a lender, matching your accounts and your purpose to a whole-of-market panel. The lender assesses affordability, decides whether to lend and prices the loan.
CoreFi is a commercial finance broker arranging business loans for limited companies across Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. A business loan gives a company a lump sum repaid over an agreed term, either unsecured against the strength of the business or secured against an asset, and is used for working capital, growth, recruitment, equipment or one-off costs.
Cambridge's SME base is unusually varied, from venture-backed spinouts on the Science Park and at St John's Innovation Centre to established traders, contractors and wholesalers across the city and the market towns. Those businesses read very differently to lenders, so we work whole of market and are honest about appetite. We do not lend our own money, and any rate or limit we mention is indicative only; the lender assesses affordability and makes the final decision.
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Tell us what you need and why
Share what your Cambridge company does, how much you want to borrow and what for, and a picture of your turnover, profitability and stage. This lets us judge lender appetite early and honestly.
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We match you to suitable lenders
We look across our whole-of-market panel and shortlist lenders whose criteria fit your sector, accounts and purpose, comparing secured and unsecured options and flagging where another product may suit better.
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You review the options and decide
We bring back indicative terms in plain English and explain the trade-offs. Any figures are illustrative until a lender formally offers. You decide whether to proceed, and the lender assesses affordability and sets the terms.
Working capital for Cambridge's SME base
Most business loan enquiries we see in Cambridge are about smoothing or funding growth rather than survival. An established trading company in Cherry Hinton or Chesterton might want a lump sum to fund a hiring push, cover a seasonal dip, or bridge the cost of a large new contract before it pays. A wholesaler or distributor along the A14 corridor might need working capital to buy stock ahead of demand. A professional services or engineering firm might fund an office move or a marketing push. Unsecured business loans are usually assessed on trading history, profitability and cash flow, so a company with a clean, profitable track record has more options. We present the accounts honestly to lenders whose criteria fit, and we are straight about what the numbers will support.
Secured loans, and the reality for early-stage Silicon Fen firms
Where a business wants to borrow more than its trading history alone will support, or wants a keener rate, a secured loan against property or another asset can widen the options. This suits established Cambridge companies with something to lend against. The knowledge-economy side of the city is a different picture: pre-revenue and grant-and-equity funded spinouts on the Science Park, at Babraham or across the Biomedical Campus often carry losses by design and lean on grant income, R&D tax credits and equity. Conventional debt is harder to place against accounts like that, and we say so plainly rather than raise false hope. Some lenders understand the technology and life sciences profile better than others, and where debt is realistic we match the case accordingly; where it is not, we tell you.
Choosing between secured, unsecured and the alternatives
A business loan is not always the right tool, and part of a broker's job is to say so. For a company waiting on unpaid invoices, invoice finance may release cash more efficiently than a term loan. For an equipment purchase, asset finance may spread the cost against the asset itself. Where a straightforward lump sum genuinely fits, we help you weigh secured against unsecured: unsecured is quicker and puts no asset at risk but is assessed harder on trading strength, while secured can unlock more or cheaper funding at the cost of pledging security. Because we work whole of market, we compare the options and lenders together and let you decide. The lender assesses affordability and sets the rate and term; anything we quote beforehand is indicative only.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a secured and an unsecured business loan?
An unsecured loan is not tied to a specific asset and is assessed mainly on your trading strength, so it is quicker but usually harder to qualify for. A secured loan is backed by property or another asset, which can unlock more or cheaper funding but puts that security at risk. We help you weigh both.
Can you help an early-stage Cambridge tech or life sciences business?
We work with knowledge-economy firms as well as conventional traders, but pre-revenue and grant-and-equity funded companies are harder to place for conventional debt, and we are honest about that. Some lenders on our panel understand the profile. The lender always makes the final decision.
Does CoreFi lend the money itself?
No. CoreFi is a commercial finance broker, not a lender. We match your business to lenders on our whole-of-market panel, and the lender assesses affordability, decides whether to lend and sets the rate and term. We do not lend our own money.
Might another type of finance suit better than a loan?
Sometimes. For unpaid invoices, invoice finance may release cash more efficiently; for an equipment purchase, asset finance may fit better. Part of our job is to flag where an alternative product suits your situation rather than pushing a loan. We work whole of market.
Are the rates and limits you mention guaranteed?
No. Any rates, limits or terms we mention are indicative and illustrative only. The lender assesses your accounts and affordability and sets the actual terms. There are no guarantees on any facility.
Is CoreFi FCA regulated?
The business loans we arrange for limited companies are unregulated business lending, so they do not require FCA authorisation. We are a broker acting for limited-company borrowers, not a lender or a regulated adviser.
Get matched with lenders for your Cambridge 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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