Start a commercial finance brokerage with CoreFi
CoreFi lets you launch a commercial finance brokerage with access to a specialist lender panel, a deal CRM, a lender-matching engine, document handling and broker training. There is no franchise fee. Broking unregulated commercial finance to limited companies does not require FCA authorisation, so you can start placing deals and earning quickly.
Commercial finance broking is one of the few financial services businesses you can start lean, run from anywhere and grow without a franchise fee, provided you structure it correctly from day one. CoreFi is a UK broker platform built for exactly this model: you operate under your own limited company, access a curated panel of specialist lenders, and use purpose-built tools to run deals from first enquiry through to funded and commission paid.
The opportunity is straightforward. UK SMEs need asset finance, invoice finance, bridging loans, property development finance and working capital every day, and banks decline or underprice many of them. Independent brokers who know their products and their lenders fill that gap. CoreFi gives you the infrastructure to do that professionally without building it yourself.
- 1
Set up your limited company
Incorporate a limited company at Companies House (often done within a day via a formation agent). Operating as a limited company is the foundation of the unregulated commercial finance route and gives you a clear separation between you and the business as it grows.
- 2
Apply to join CoreFi as a broker agent
Complete the CoreFi broker application. You will go through identity verification, a compliance review and a seven-step onboarding process that covers your background, the products you plan to place and your target market.
- 3
Complete broker training
Work through CoreFi's structured broker training before placing your first deal. Training covers the core product types, lender selection, deal packaging, borrower due diligence and the regulatory boundaries you need to observe.
- 4
Sign the introducer agreement
Sign CoreFi's introducer agreement, which sets out your commission terms, compliance obligations and the rules governing how you represent lenders and CoreFi to borrowers. This is the point at which you are cleared to place deals on the panel.
- 5
Source your first deal and use the matching engine
Bring your first enquiry into the deal CRM. Enter the borrower's key details and requirements, run the lender-matching engine to identify the best-fit lenders, package the submission and send it to your borrower for sign-off before it goes to the lender.
- 6
Get funded and earn commission
Once the lender funds the deal, your commission is recorded in the platform and paid on the standard CoreFi schedule. As your lifetime funded volume grows you move through the tier structure, increasing your commission rate on subsequent deals.
Why commercial finance broking, and why now
The UK SME lending market is large, underserved and relationship-driven. High street banks have tightened credit criteria and cut relationship managers, pushing SME borrowers towards specialist lenders who rely on intermediaries like you to source and package deals. As an independent broker you earn a lender commission on every funded deal, typically 1% to 2% of the facility value, with no cap on the volume you can place and no employer above you.
Broking unregulated commercial finance to limited companies does not require FCA authorisation. That means no FCA application and no ongoing FCA fees for the core commercial lending products most SMEs need: unsecured business loans, asset finance, invoice finance, bridging and development finance. You register a limited company, complete CoreFi's broker training, sign the introducer agreement, and you are ready to place your first deal. You still run your business responsibly, keep clean records and treat borrowers fairly; unregulated does not mean unaccountable.
What CoreFi gives you
CoreFi is not a franchise. There is no joining fee, no territory licence and no royalty. What you get is a platform that replaces infrastructure which would otherwise take years and significant capital to build yourself.
Lender panel. A curated panel of specialist lenders across unsecured lending, asset finance, invoice finance, bridging and development finance, with direct BDM contacts and per-product criteria built in. You do not cold-call lenders to get on their books; CoreFi's existing relationships carry you in.
Deal CRM. A purpose-built pipeline that tracks every lead from first contact through due diligence, submission and funding. Stage history, bottleneck analytics and an action queue keep you on top of every deal without a spreadsheet.
Lender-matching engine. Enter a deal's key parameters and the matching engine scores your panel against lender appetite, product criteria and borrower profile. You approach the right lender first, which protects your client's credit file and improves your conversion rate.
Document handling. Borrower onboarding packs, submission documents and file uploads are managed inside the platform. Your clients complete a single digital pack; you review and submit to the lender. No printing, no chasing email attachments.
Broker training. Structured training covering products, deal packaging, lender selection and compliance obligations. Commercial finance does not require CeMAP (that is a residential mortgage qualification), but you do need solid product knowledge and an understanding of which deals need care around regulation.
Commission structure: earn from deal one
CoreFi agents earn a share of the lender commission on every funded deal. There are four tiers based on lifetime funded volume, starting at Associate (55%) and rising to Partner (70%) once you have placed £2.5 million in funded deals.
| Tier | Your share | Threshold | |---|---|---| | Associate | 55% | From day one | | Broker | 60% | £50,000 funded | | Senior | 65% | £1,000,000 funded | | Partner | 70% | £2,500,000 funded |
There is no franchise fee to recoup before you start earning. Competitors in this space typically charge between £6,000 and £30,000 to get started; CoreFi charges nothing. You earn from your first funded deal, and your share rises as your funded volume grows.
Who this is for
CoreFi is built for people who want to run their own commercial finance business, not join a franchise or become an employee.
Career changers from banking, lending or accountancy who already understand credit and client relationships and want to apply that knowledge independently. Existing introducers or accountants who refer clients to lenders informally and want to formalise that into a structured income stream. Entrepreneurs who want a service business with low overheads, no stock and no premises requirement. And experienced brokers who want better tooling, a stronger lender panel and a platform that handles the operational side so they can focus on deals.
You will operate as a limited company. The unregulated commercial finance route works for limited company borrowers; if you want to serve sole traders, partnerships or place regulated products, there are additional considerations covered in the spoke guides below.
What the regulated boundary actually means for you
This is the question most new brokers get wrong. The short answer is: broking unregulated commercial finance to limited companies does not require FCA authorisation. That covers the majority of SME lending products and the majority of SME borrowers.
Where it gets more complex: broking to sole traders or partnerships can require FCA permission even for otherwise-exempt business loans, under Article 36A(4) of the Regulated Activities Order. Regulated products, including consumer credit, residential mortgages and Start Up Loans (personal loans up to £25,000 to individuals), always require FCA authorisation or an appointed representative arrangement, whatever the borrower type. So the honest rule is: unregulated commercial finance to limited companies needs no FCA authorisation; regulated products, or lending to individuals and sole traders, can.
CoreFi's training and compliance guidance helps you identify which deals fall where. The full regulatory picture is set out in the dedicated spoke guide.
How to start a commercial finance brokerage in the UK
Do you need FCA authorisation to broker commercial finance?
How much does it cost to start a finance brokerage?
Commercial finance broker training
Appointed representative vs independent broker: which for commercial finance?
Commercial finance brokerage business plan (free template)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need FCA authorisation to start a commercial finance brokerage?
Not for the core model. Broking unregulated commercial finance to limited companies does not require FCA authorisation. However, if you want to serve sole traders or partnerships, or place regulated products such as consumer credit or residential mortgages, additional regulatory permissions can apply. CoreFi's training covers the boundary in detail, and there is a dedicated guide in this cluster.
Do I need CeMAP or any other qualification?
No. CeMAP is a qualification for residential mortgage advisers and is not required for commercial finance broking. CoreFi provides its own broker training, which covers the product knowledge and compliance understanding you need to place commercial deals correctly.
Is there a franchise fee or joining cost?
No. There is no franchise fee, no territory licence and no joining cost. Competitors in this space typically charge between £6,000 and £30,000 to get started. CoreFi charges nothing. You earn commission from your first funded deal.
What products can I place through CoreFi?
CoreFi's panel covers 16 unregulated B2B products including unsecured business loans, asset finance, invoice finance, bridging loans and property development finance. There are also regulated referral products for situations that require FCA-authorised lenders, where the regulated side is handled appropriately rather than by you directly.
How quickly can I place my first deal?
Many brokers complete identity verification, training and agreement signing within a few days of applying. Once onboarded, you can bring deals into the CRM immediately. The time from first enquiry to a funded deal depends on the product and lender, but many commercial deals complete within two to six weeks.
Launch your commercial finance brokerage
No franchise fee. No FCA barrier for the core commercial model of broking to limited companies. Start earning from your first funded deal with CoreFi's lender panel, deal CRM and broker training behind you.
Launch with CoreFi