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Business Finance Brokers

Finance professionals working for YOU!

We are an independent business and commercial finance broker, offering a personalised service to help you make an informed decision on the most appropriate finance solution for your business.

We are your finance partner, being your ‘go-to’ for any long or short-term business finance or credit requirements, coming into our own where the borrowing circumstances may be slightly more complex or complicated.

Our approach is to provide a much-needed relationship management approach to business finance requirements, a need not always fulfilled by the banks. This means YOU gain banking expertise with a whole-of-market review and we make sure the final solution is the right one for you and your business.

FUNDING ROUND is more than just a commercial finance broker!

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Proudly financing the businesses of today

Asset Finance

Asset Finance

Business purchases without the need to pay the full cost upfront

More about assets
Commercial Finance

Commercial Finance

Commercial loans, funding, cash advances and invoice financing

Find out more
Property Finance

Property Finance

Covers commercial mortgages, bridging loans and development finance

What's included?
Business Support

Business Support

Guidance for grants, finance for SMEs and start-ups planning for growth

How we can help
Finance for Health Professionals

Finance for Health Professionals

Covers buying a healthcare, dental, veterinary or care home practice

Tell me more
More about assets
Find out more
What's included?
How we can help
Tell me more

FAQs

Starting a new business, needing commercial loans or a remortgage, seeking investment or finance for development and growth, FUNDING ROUND has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to draw on. Preparation is the key to any business venture and understanding the pros and cons of financial investment is essential.
Frequently asked questions

Meet the team

FUNDING ROUND is led by proven banking sector professionals with extensive experience, servicing the SME business finance market. We have experts in every area of commercial finance and we specialise in complicated borrowing needs and deals.

With a ‘can do’ attitude and a problem solving approach, if it can be done, we find a way!

Meet our team

Latest news

Tractor working farmland with "The Clarkson’s Farm Effect" text overlay.

The Clarkson’s Farm Effect – A Market Insight for Farming and Rural Entrepreneurs

Programs like Clarkson’s Farm have probably done more for public understanding of modern farming than most industry reports ever could. Behind the entertainment, what many people have actually seen is the sheer commercial pressure that rural businesses now face every […]

Read more
Residential housing development under construction with "When the Build Goes Over Budget?" text overlay.

When the Build Goes Over Budget: The Reality of Property Development Finance

Every property developer starts with a sensible budget, a realistic timeline and a plan that feels achievable at the outset. Then the reality of development kicks in, and things rarely unfold exactly as expected. Material costs rise unexpectedly. Groundworks take […]

Read more
Business professionals discussing strategy during a corporate meeting in a modern office boardroom.

SME Finance & Pressures on the Finance Director – A practical view for the £5m–£25m turnover business

Across many SMEs in the £2m–£25m bracket, the pressure now feels far more structural than cyclical. We’re speaking to finance directors and business owners who are managing several pressures at once, with margins being squeezed quietly but consistently rather than […]

Read more
Tractor working farmland with "The Clarkson’s Farm Effect" text overlay.

The Clarkson’s Farm Effect – A Market Insight for Farming and Rural Entrepreneurs

Programs like Clarkson’s Farm have probably done more for public understanding of modern farming than most industry reports ever could. Behind the entertainment, what many people have actually seen is the sheer commercial pressure that rural businesses now face every […]

Read more
Residential housing development under construction with "When the Build Goes Over Budget?" text overlay.

When the Build Goes Over Budget: The Reality of Property Development Finance

Every property developer starts with a sensible budget, a realistic timeline and a plan that feels achievable at the outset. Then the reality of development kicks in, and things rarely unfold exactly as expected. Material costs rise unexpectedly. Groundworks take […]

Read more
Business professionals discussing strategy during a corporate meeting in a modern office boardroom.

SME Finance & Pressures on the Finance Director – A practical view for the £5m–£25m turnover business

Across many SMEs in the £2m–£25m bracket, the pressure now feels far more structural than cyclical. We’re speaking to finance directors and business owners who are managing several pressures at once, with margins being squeezed quietly but consistently rather than […]

Read more
Business owners reviewing a commercial mortgage document for a commercial property purchase.

Rent vs. Buy: Is 2026 the Year You Secure a Commercial Mortgage?

  A practical look at commercial property ownership for business owners ready to think differently. The Real Cost of Renting Commercial Space There comes a point for most business owners, often after yet another rent increase, where the question becomes […]

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Full news archive

Recent case studies

Read some of our recent real life examples of how we have helped others with their commercial finance requirements

Precision CNC machine working on a metal engine block

Family-owned engineering business

HomeA family-owned engineering business, turning over £20m and operating in over 40 countries worldwide, builds a wide range of equipment from single machines to bespoke solutions.Their growth over the years has required investment, whether for acquisitions, equipment purchases or larger […]

Read more
Couple standing outside a pink countryside cottage under a cloudy sky

Dreamcatchers

HomeHusband and wife team, Joe and Mhairi (traditional gaelic name – pronounced Vaari) are a young professional Glaswegian couple with a passion for the outdoors. Whilst out and about exploring Scotland in their motorhome one day, they came across a […]

Read more
Modern industrial building with signage for Amelio Solar Energy and EV Camel

Commercial Mortgage

HomeOur client, Amelio Solar Energy, works within the sustainable energy field, helping business and homeowners reduce their electricity bills and carbon footprint by supplying and installing solar panels onto their buildings. They also have a sister business, installing EV chargers. […]

Read more
Precision CNC machine working on a metal engine block

Family-owned engineering business

HomeA family-owned engineering business, turning over £20m and operating in over 40 countries worldwide, builds a wide range of equipment from single machines to bespoke solutions.Their growth over the years has required investment, whether for acquisitions, equipment purchases or larger […]

Read more
Couple standing outside a pink countryside cottage under a cloudy sky

Dreamcatchers

HomeHusband and wife team, Joe and Mhairi (traditional gaelic name – pronounced Vaari) are a young professional Glaswegian couple with a passion for the outdoors. Whilst out and about exploring Scotland in their motorhome one day, they came across a […]

Read more
Modern industrial building with signage for Amelio Solar Energy and EV Camel

Commercial Mortgage

HomeOur client, Amelio Solar Energy, works within the sustainable energy field, helping business and homeowners reduce their electricity bills and carbon footprint by supplying and installing solar panels onto their buildings. They also have a sister business, installing EV chargers. […]

Read more
hospitality business finance

Hospitality

HomeOur client, a husband-and-wife partnership, has spent the last 40 years successfully growing their food-led hospitality business with a small B&B property adjoining, which plays a large part in the Lincolnshire tourism economy. The impact of COVID closing down their […]

Read more
More case studies

What is asset finance?

Asset finance is a type of lending that gives you access to business assets such as equipment, machinery and vehicles, or enables you to release cash from the value in assets you already own. The borrowing is secured against the asset for the term of the loan. This type of finance is used by organisations who have the need or the opportunity to grow their business but perhaps may not have the funds readily to hand or prefer to spread the cost over a longer term to improve cashflow.

What is an asset finance broker?

This is a person or company whose role is to assist their clients in the purchase of assets from their selected supplier by finding the right lender to borrow from to suit their needs.
It is best to ensure this is a reputable lender for your requirements. Check their FCA permissions and/or membership to a professional body, such the NACFB (National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers).

How do asset finance companies work?

Asset Finance is very often associated with the purchase of equipment (or things of a similar high cost) for a business. In other cases, a business can use assets they own – such as plant, machinery or vehicles – as security against a loan from an asset finance provider, known as refinance.

The finance company will pay the supplier for the equipment, plant, vehicle or machinery and the client will pay a regular sum (monthly or quarterly) to the provider. The item may eventually become the property of the business over time, depending on the sort of asset finance involved.

What business assets can you borrow money for?

Generally, asset finance providers will consider a wide range of high-value items – both for purchase and leasing or borrowing against.

However, these assets must meet the DIMS criteria. That is to say that the assets in question are:

• Durable
• Identifiable
• Moveable
• Saleable

This can include vehicles, plant, machinery, IT hardware and software, printers, LED lighting, etc. Even livestock can be purchased on asset finance!

As a rule of thumb, asset finance becomes better value if the asset is over £10,000, but lower value assets can also be financed on asset finance.

What is property finance?

There are a range of property finance options available for investors, developers and landlords to access, generally secured against the property and/or land: 

Property finance for developments are generally short term loans to cover the costs of converting an existing property or developing land into flats, houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), or alternate uses. It is normally advanced as a loan, secured against that property or land asset.

What is a commercial mortgage?

It is used to purchase commercial property such as retail units, offices, industrial units or to even consolidate larger Buy-to-Let portfolios.

Either the property is being purchased as an investment and will ultimately be let, or it is ‘owner occupied’, when the business trades from that address. Different lenders offer different terms depending on the circumstances.

Principally it works in the same way as a private mortgage to finance the cost of a large purchase.

What is auction finance?

Auctions can be a quick way to get a property at a discounted price, but you need to have the capital to hand to finance the full deal. There are lenders who specialise in finance for property purchases at auction.

Is there a difference between bridging finance and development finance?

Both of these options generally facilitate short-term funding to cover costs of building and development costs. Different lenders or investment platforms will vary their criteria but typically, bridging finance will facilitate light refurbishment or the completion of a project as cash flow tightens, and development finance will allow for more major work such as heavy refurbishment or renovations, and most commonly for ground-up development projects.

What's the best way to finance commercial property?

Rates tend to be lower when the property is used as security, so a commercial mortgage tends to offer lower interest rates than a business loan and is usually seen to be the best route to finance commercial property.

How do I get a loan for property development?

All successful property developers are good planners and getting the right finance in place is a crucial ingredient in development success. Finance for property development is a complex area and one of the first steps in determining the type of finance needed is to assess how extensive the project is, how long it will take, and how much it is likely to cost — in both the best- and worst-case scenario. The type of loan you get will depend on what you need the funds for.
If you've got the right exit strategy in place and the lender deems you eligible, you can get a loan for property development.

What is cashflow forecasting?

Business savvy decisions to maximise cashflow will help ensure your buisness is adequately equipped to navigate times of uncertainty and in the long-term, give your business the boost it needs to accelerate growth.

A cashflow forecast is a plan that shows how much money you expect your business to receive and pay out over a set period of time. It can help you plan how much you expect to make in sales and spend in costs.

Do you make grant applications?

We don’t tend to make grant applications on your behalf, but we have a lot of experience with the grant schemes and can signpost you to grants which fit your business as well as give you an insight to the level of detail you will need for your application. We are quite happy to look through your applications with you if you need an outside perspective.

How do I get financing to start a business?

Financing a new business can be difficult to source. Lenders want to see the confidence of the business owner in their new enterprise and expect to see personal financial investment in the new initiative – this underlines your commitment.

Not all banks provide finance for new businesses, which can include a business trading for less than 24 months. You will need a business plan and cashflow forecast for your new enterprise. You are also likely to need to provide details of your personal financial position, eg Assets/Liabilities/Income/Expenditure form and personal bank statements. Check your personal credit report to ensure it won’t impact you personally.

What is business start-up finance?

The right start-up finance gives your new business a solid financial base, ensuring you have the funding to cover your short-term needs and to make the most of opportunities to grow. Working out how to finance your start-up begins with knowing how much money you are going to need and where to find it.

Draw up a budget based on your business plan, including forecasts for sales and expenditure, and what your cash position will be each month. Do include capital costs, such as purchasing equipment, and most importantly: be realistic. Plan for sales being lower and later than you hope, getting paid may take longer and costs can be higher. And don’t forget VAT!

What are the best options for financing a new business?

The best option for finance will depend on your need. Generally, there are four sources of finance for a start-up:

1. Investment – this could be yourself, friends and family or other outside investors. It will be difficult to borrow money from a bank unless you have invested enough of your own money in the business. Showing that you are personally invested underlines your commitment.

2. Short term lending – In the early days, your bank overdraft is a good source to fund working capital. Your bank may also provide a business credit card – speak to them about options. Invoice finance may be a route to explore too.

3. Long term lending – Business loans and secured finance is usually the best way to finance equipment, vehicles and other long-term borrowing requirements. Asset finance may allow you to raise more money than a loan.

4. Grants – Check if you are eligible for any financial support through grants and other schemes. There are regional and central schemes available, some of which are sector specific. Areas such as exporting, technology and training are often targeted for support. Check what is available before you start trading or make purchases as grants cannot usually be awarded retrospectively.

What business assets can you borrow money for?

Generally, asset finance providers will consider a wide range of high-value items – both for purchase and leasing or borrowing against.

However, these assets must meet the DIMS criteria. That is to say that the assets in question are:
• Durable
• Identifiable
• Moveable
• Saleable

This can include vehicles, plant, machinery, IT hardware and software, printers, LED lighting, etc. Even livestock can be purchased on asset finance!
As a rule of thumb, asset finance becomes better value if the asset is over £10,000, but lower value assets can also be financed on asset finance.