Business Loans in London
CoreFi is a commercial finance broker arranging business loans for London SMEs, principally limited companies raising unsecured or secured funding and working capital for growth, cash flow, hiring, stock or one-off costs. We match your case to lenders whose criteria fit across the City, the creative quarters, the high streets and the trades. Rates and terms are indicative and depend on your business and lender appetite.
A business loan gives a company a lump sum to repay over an agreed term, used for growth, working capital, hiring, stock, equipment or a one-off cost. It can be unsecured, resting on the strength of the trading business, or secured against an asset such as property or plant, which usually allows a larger amount or a keener rate. London has one of the largest and most varied SME bases in the country, and the reasons to borrow differ across it: agencies and studios in Shoreditch, Old Street and King's Cross funding growth and smoothing lumpy client payments; retail, food and hospitality businesses across the West End, Soho and the high streets managing stock, seasonality and fit-out; and the construction, logistics and trades firms in Croydon, Ealing, Barking, Enfield and Park Royal funding materials, vehicles and labour.
CoreFi is a commercial finance broker that arranges business loans for SMEs across Greater London, principally limited companies. We take time to understand what the money is for and how the business trades, then approach the lenders whose criteria and appetite genuinely fit, rather than filling in the same application ten times. London's high costs and fast-moving sectors mean cash flow timing matters, and lender appetite varies by sector, turnover and how long you have traded. We do not lend and we do not decide the outcome. Any rate, amount or term mentioned here is indicative and for illustration only; the lender decides, and terms depend on your business.
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Tell us what the loan is for
Share what your London business does, how it trades, roughly how much you need and what the money is for. It costs nothing to start and there is no obligation.
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We match you with suitable lenders
We assess your situation against our whole-of-market panel and identify the lenders whose criteria and appetite fit your sector, turnover, trading history and whether the loan is secured or unsecured. We package the deal so it is presented properly the first time.
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You review terms and decide
Where lenders come back with interest, we bring you the indicative terms in plain English, including the rate, the amount and the term, and explain the trade-offs. Figures are illustrative until a lender issues a formal offer. You decide whether to proceed, and we manage the deal to completion.
What London SMEs borrow for
The reasons cluster by sector across the city. Creative, tech and media firms around Shoreditch, Old Street, King's Cross and Hackney borrow to fund growth, hire ahead of new contracts, or smooth the gap between doing the work and getting paid by larger clients. Retail, food and hospitality businesses across the West End, Soho and the borough high streets borrow for stock, refits, seasonal working capital and the deposit and fit-out on a new site. Construction, logistics and the trades in Croydon, Ealing, Barking, Enfield and Park Royal borrow for materials, vehicles, labour and the working capital that bridges the wait between starting a job and being paid for it. Professional services firms in and around the City borrow for expansion, partner buy-ins and cash flow. Knowing what the money is for, and how it is repaid, shapes the case we present.
Unsecured or secured, and what that means
An unsecured business loan rests on the trading business itself, so lenders look closely at turnover, profitability, how long you have traded and your recent bank and card activity. It is quicker to arrange and needs no asset pledged, but the amount is usually smaller and tied to your trading strength. A secured loan is backed by an asset, often property or equipment, which typically allows a larger amount or a better rate because the lender has recourse if things go wrong. For many London businesses the right answer depends on how much they need, how fast, and what they can offer as security. There are also specialist forms of working capital, such as revenue-based and merchant cash advances for card-taking retail and hospitality, that suit particular trading patterns. We help you weigh which structure fits, though the lender sets the terms.
How London lenders assess a business loan
For an unsecured loan, lenders assess turnover and its stability, profitability, trading history, the sector and often recent bank statements or card takings, because they are lending against the business rather than an asset. London's high rents and wage costs mean margins can be tight in some sectors, so lenders look at cash flow closely. For a secured loan, the asset value and the borrowing structure carry more weight alongside the trading picture. Time trading matters: a newer London business can often still borrow, but the amount and rate reflect the shorter record. Coming to us with recent accounts, a few months of bank statements and a clear sense of what the loan is for and how it will be repaid lets us steer the case toward lenders whose appetite fits your sector and size from the start.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a secured and an unsecured business loan?
An unsecured loan rests on the strength of your trading business, so it is usually quicker but smaller and priced on your turnover and history. A secured loan is backed by an asset such as property or equipment, which often allows a larger amount or a better rate. We help you weigh which fits, and the lender sets the terms.
Can a newer London business get a business loan?
Often yes, though the amount and rate reflect a shorter trading record, and some lenders want a minimum time trading or turnover. Newer businesses sometimes suit secured or asset-backed options better. The lender assesses your specific case, and we point you to those whose appetite fits.
Do you lend the money yourselves?
No. We are a commercial finance broker, not a lender. Whether a loan is offered, and on what rate, amount and term, depends on how your business trades and each lender's appetite at the time. We present your case well, but the decision sits with the lender.
How much can my London SME borrow?
It depends on turnover, profitability, trading history, the sector and whether the loan is secured. London's higher costs mean lenders look hard at cash flow. Any figure we discuss is indicative and for illustration only until a lender issues a formal offer, and the amount available is the lender's decision.
Which businesses can you help?
We work principally with limited companies borrowing for business or working-capital purposes across London and the outer boroughs. The lender confirms the eligible borrower structure and any turnover or trading requirements for their particular product as part of their assessment.
Get matched with lenders for your London 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.
Get matched with lenders