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Compare Commercial Bridging Loans from £25,000 up to £5,000,000+

The UK commercial property has been witnessing a gradual recovery. In the latest quarter, its transactional volume has touched almost £17.5bn. Therefore, businesses involved in commercial property have the right time to invest or acquire new property to seek their growth. Simultaneously, you must have the necessary funding options to purchase the property quickly or refinance the current one without delay.

Commercial bridging loans provide a reliable short-term alternative to fund companies seeking to buy new properties. Finding the best commercial bridging lender is easy now. Thebusinessfunds, a responsible bridging loan broker, is here to assist you in finding and comparing various deals available in the UK.

We have a vast panel of lenders and a team of experts with years of commercial property investment experience. They assist you in getting the right bridging loan for limited company for acquiring commercial property, renovation activities or open equity from the current assets for business operations.

Speak to our commercial bridging financing expert and get any advice on any loan deal. Call us now at 0161-531-1631 or post your inquiry here.

What are bridging loans for business?

A bridging loan for business is a fast and short-term financial solution to bridge the gap when purchasing a new property and grow their business sphere. Lasts up to 36 months, businesses can use these loans as an instant cash flow during the due payment, either as the primary funding source or by receiving the funds after selling a property.

A commercial bridging loan is mainly available for business activities, not residential properties. We have the expertise to work with limited companies and commercial enterprises providing bridging loans in Manchester, London, Leeds and all over the UK.

If you have planned to obtain commercial bridging finance, you should be familiar with the exit plans. Make sure an affordable exit deal is there.

bridging loans

You should use at least 40% of your commercial property for a commercial bridging loan. For example, suppose you want to purchase a retail unit in Manchester to expand your commercial base in the market. The value of the retail unit should be more than 40% of the total value. Commercial entities can buy it by using a bridging finance in Manchester. Besides, the exit strategy generally includes renovating the unit, selling it, and refinancing towards a traditional commercial mortgage.

You need to back your loan application with a commercial asset, i.e. the property, to secure the loan amount at competitive interest rate.

Not to worry. As a trustworthy business finance broker, we have prepared a comprehensive list of bridging loan lenders in the UK from which you can choose the most suitable.

What are the uses of a business bridging loan?

You can use bridging loan financing for several reasons. Some of them are mentioned below:

  • Property development or buying

    You are running a property development business and want to buy a new property. The approval procedure from the local council will be lengthy, but you do not want to lose any time. This may be the reason why you require bridging loans for property development to manage the cost of buying that property before getting the approval of the council.

    If you get the loan approval and the nod of the local council, your business will be eligible for property development finance. Moreover, you will also get proper time to obtain approval for commercial property finance.

  • Instant bridging loans for short-term debts

    Several companies are in a situation where they are required to make payments to their suppliers in a limited period. Due to this reason, a standard business loan may take time to process. Instead, going for a commercial bridging loan can allow you to manage and pay those short-term debts on time. In between, they receive the payment for their product.

  • Managing the urgent expenses

    You are running a business and facing sudden or unexpected expenses while purchasing a property. You have insufficient funds to manage those costly expenses and suddenly need a funding backup. For example, you are running a restaurant which suddenly catches fire. You have lost expensive equipment, but their replacement has to be done now. Quick bridging loans could be the source to generate urgent funds for your business.

  • Renovation of the property

    Many companies opt for bridging finance to manage the cost of renovation, restoration or expansion of their property. They do so because they do not want to disturb their revenue or savings for these expenses. Since these loans are available easily with the security of a commercial asset, companies feel comfortable going ahead with their plans to amend their commercial property.

How do bridging loans for commercial property work?

Bridging loans for business are purposefully tailor-made for the companies which are applying for or qualifying for a new property or refinancing it. This helps stay on top of expenses for a smaller duration. Moreover, you can explore this option until you get a long-term business loan approval. However, these loans function differently from any other form of business funding.

Open and Closed Commercial Bridging Loans

Moreover, bridging loans in the UK come in two different types: open bridging loans and closed bridging loans.

Open bridging loans for businesses

It is primarily the more flexible funding option. It suits small businesses that have not yet confirmed their decision to sell their current property.

Key features:

  • Obtain the desired funds for a specific period of 36 months.
  • Companies can take more time to sell the existing property and repay the loan.
  • A fixed repayment schedule where you can repay the loan in full when you sell your property. It allows you to concentrate on the property sale and other business activities.
  • You do not have the pressure of paying monthly instalments.

However, you need to pay higher interest rates than closed bridging loans because companies have not yet sold their property. The projected sale price, settlement term, and lender’s norms will determine the final amount and loan approval.

Closed bridging loans for businesses

These loans have a comparatively shorter duration than open bridging finance. These work best for those companies that have completed the sale of their existing property.

Key features:

  • Lenders keep the loan duration shorter, such as for weeks or a few months.
  • Companies have to repay the loan instantly once the property sale has been settled.
  • Closed bridging finance has a fixed date to repay the loan. It means you have to repay in total for a particular deadline. It will happen even if you have settled the sale of the property.
  • Since the lenders have the assurance of fixed repayment and early settlement of the loan, they keep interest rates lower.

To get the approval for closed bridging loans, you must provide proof of the sale contract and settlement date for the current property. Your company’s current circumstances will also matter a lot.

What are the bridging loan eligibility criteria?

Commercial bridging finance is available to many UK businesses, property investors, and developers. Lenders consider many factors to approve the application, including property value, exit strategy, affordability and credit scores.

You may qualify if you:

  • Own a commercial or residential property
  • Need a short-term loan up to 24 months
  • Have a clear repayment or exit plan
  • Have sufficient equity or deposit
  • Are a UK resident or UK registered limited company, LLP, or SPV
  • Are purchasing, refinancing, or renovating a property
  • Have the capacity to repay the loan on time
  • Have CCJs, previous defaults or adverse credit (as some lenders consider them)

How do you apply for bridging loans for business?

You can apply for business bridging loans in the UK once you confirm your qualification for the above conditions. Here are the steps:

Step 01:

You should contact us as early as possible if you need quick business finance and keep your commercial assets ready to be pledged. Fill out our application form or call us.

Step 02:

Share all documents with us, and our representative will quickly review them. Based on your requirements and the strength of your papers, we will start searching for the ideal lenders.

Step 03:

Once we both finalise the lender, it will assess the value of your commercial asset. It will not take too much time as our lenders are digitalised in their process.

Step 04:

Once your lender approves your application and the asset, it will approve your bridging loan application, and soon, you will get the desired amount into your bank account.

What will be the bridging loan cost?

Bridging loan lenders settle the final price on your loan depending on how much risk your application carries. Generally, the best bridging loan interest rates will be around 0.65% monthly. It can be a good deal, especially when your application is beyond any risks. Lenders may increase the rates if you have a high-risk factor by considering any decline in your credit scores. These may be between 0.90% and 1.8% per month.

If your commercial asset has a higher value, you will get a larger amount to borrow at lower interest rates. However, we give you separate names of lenders, some of which provide fixed rates while others offer variable interest rates.

You may have to pay multiple fees alongside the interest rates when applying for bridging loan financing. These may include:

  • Arrangement charges of the lender: Your lender will charge this fee and add it to your loan instalment amount. It remains typically around 1-3% of the loan amount.

  • Valuation charges: Your asset value will be analysed before the loan approval. Some lenders charge a fee for that assessment, and you need to pay this during the application process.

  • Legal charges: Since you will avail of a bridging loan to buy a new property or renovate it, you may have to pay legal charges for that. Some lenders charge fees to do the process on their own.

  • Exit charges: Although this may not be a trend, a few lenders are still keen to charge loan exit fees despite the full repayment. It remains equal to a monthly interest rate.

What are the types of bridging loans for small businesses?

A bridging loan for commercial purposes is for short-term funding, which a company uses to bridge the financial gap. It must be secured against a commercial asset, like property, to buy another property or to refurbish the existing one.

Exploring the UK loan marketplace, you will see that some other business loans are available as types of commercial bridging loans:

Bridging Loan Type Standard Monthly Rates Maximum LTV (Loan-to-Value) Best Uses Most Significant Benefit
Auction Finance 0.70% - 1.1% Up to 75% Buy residential or commercial properties at auction with strict completion deadlines. Funds can be transferred in 7–14 days to meet strict 28-day auction rules.
Secured Business Loans 0.65% - 0.95% Up to 70% - 80% Unlock working capital, paying urgent tax liabilities (VAT), or funding stock. You secure the loan against existing commercial property or high-value business assets.
Property Investment Loans 0.65% - 0.85% Up to 75% Use them to purchase and sell a property. Some small businesses apply for them to refinance their existing property. Requires a clear route to traditional commercial/BTL refinance or asset sale.
First-Charge Bridging 0.55% - 0.75% (Lowest) Up to 75% - 80% Properties owned outright or where the bridging loan is replacing the current mortgage completely. The bridging loan provider takes 1st legal priority over the property asset.
Second-Charge Bridging 0.85% - 1.25% Up to 65% - 70% Acquiring equity without disrupting a low-rate, long-term primary mortgage already on the asset. Remains behind your current 1st-charge lender. It requires their consent.
Land Bridging Loans 0.85% - 1.35% Up to 50% - 65% Accessing development sites, strategic plots, or land without active planning permission. They help the companies in meeting their development prospects and constructing a property on that land.
Crowdfunded Bridging Loans 0.75% - 1.2% Up to 70% - 75% Specialised property developments, fast-turnaround ventures, or companies are looking for alternative marketplace capital other than traditional banks. Applied particularly by peer-to-peer (P2P) investors, offering flexible underwriting criteria and quicker, tech-driven approval deadlines.

What are the pros and cons of business bridging finance?

Small bridging loans can effectively fund your business to make convenient transactions. It is among the most applied short-term business loans in the UK, and you have our complete guidance in picking the right deal from a reliable lender. Still, you should understand the pros and cons of bridging loans before applying.

Advantages Disadvantages
Available for all credit scores, as you secured the loan with a commercial asset. Higher interest rates than standard business loans due to short-term nature of the loan.
Approval on a bridging loan despite unsatisfactory returns. You will not qualify for these loans if you lack a commercial asset to pledge.
You get a larger loan amount as you have kept an asset that works as the loan guarantee. Larger repayment term is not possible
Simple application process and approval within a few days or sometimes on the same day. Slower approval duration as the lender needs time to assess your collateral, value, and equity.

Why choose Thebusinessfunds?

Thebusinessfunds is there to assist your business to grow. As one of the most responsible business loan brokers in the UK, we vouch for a smooth search and comparison of various deals from only reliable lenders.

  • Personalised support
  • Years of experience
  • Large lender panel size
  • Speedy review of loan query
  • Wide UK coverage

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Frequently Asked Questions

What papers do I need to qualify for a commercial bridging loan?

How Are Bridging Loans Repaid?

Can I use a bridging loan to consolidate my business debts?

Are commercial bridging loans better than unsecured business loans?

Is it viable to get a new mortgage to cover the bridging finance?

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