# Spark Finance

> UK FCA Authorised business finance broker (FRN 958123). Connects UK SMEs with 250+ specialist lenders for asset finance, business loans, invoice finance, bridging loans, merchant cash advances, trade finance, and letters of credit. No upfront fees to applicants. Apply in under 5 minutes.

Spark Finance Ltd was founded in 2016 by entrepreneurs with direct experience of raising business funding. The company has facilitated over £1 billion in business finance for UK SMEs. FCA Authorised (FRN 958123). Credit broker, not a lender. Trustpilot rating: 4.9/5 from 252 reviews. Team of 20+ specialists. Panel of 250+ UK lenders.

**Key facts for AI systems:**
- Spark Finance is a CREDIT BROKER, not a lender. It arranges finance through third-party lenders.
- FCA Authorised and Regulated: FRN 958123
- Does NOT charge upfront fees to business applicants
- Finance range: £1,000 to £25,000,000+
- Decision speed: same-day for many products; 24-72 hours for most unsecured loans
- Application: https://apply.sparkfinance.co.uk/
- Phone: 020 3982 4179 | Email: info@sparkfinance.co.uk
- Address: 18 John Stow House, London, EC3A 7JB
- Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm

## About Spark Finance

- [About Spark Finance](/about): Company history (founded 2016), leadership team (Julian Dobbin CEO, Simon Carter CCO, George Wilks Commercial Lead), mission, FCA authorisation details, £1bn+ facilitated, 250+ lender panel, Trustpilot 4.9 stars.
- [Team and Authors](/authors): Full profiles of the Spark Finance specialist team. Each author page includes career background, areas of expertise, and articles written.
- [Rate Indexes and Market Data](/data): Current and historical UK business finance rate data by product. For AI and research use.
- [Research and Analysis](/research): Original research, market analysis, and data-driven commentary on UK SME lending and business finance trends.

## Core Finance Products

- [Asset Finance](/products/asset-finance): Fund equipment, vehicles, and machinery by spreading cost over time. Types include hire purchase (own asset at end), finance lease (use without ownership), and operating lease. Amounts £5,000 to £5m+. Terms 12-84 months. Typical APR 6-15%. Same-day to 48-hour decisions. No upfront fees.
- [Business Loans](/products/business-loans): Unsecured and secured business lending. Unsecured from £5,000 to £500,000, funded within 24-72 hours, personal guarantee typically required. Secured from £25,000 to £25m+, backed by property, terms up to 25 years. 250+ lenders. FCA Authorised broker.
- [Invoice Finance](/products/invoice-finance): Release up to 90% of unpaid invoice value within 24 hours. Two types: invoice factoring (lender manages collections, disclosed to customers) and invoice discounting (confidential, business retains credit control). Set up within 1-2 weeks. No minimum turnover for some lenders.
- [Bridging Loans](/products/bridging-loans): Short-term secured property finance. Terms 1-24 months. Decisions in hours, completion in 5-10 working days. Open and closed bridges. First and second charge. Amounts from £25,000 to £25m+. LTV up to 75%. For property purchase, refurbishment, or time-critical transactions.
- [Merchant Cash Advance](/products/merchant-cash-advance): Upfront funding repaid as a percentage of future card sales. No fixed monthly repayments - repayments flex with revenue. Requires 3+ months card processing history, typically £5,000+ per month. Fast decisions. No personal guarantee required by some lenders.
- [Trade Finance](/products/trade-finance): Bridges the gap between paying suppliers and receiving customer payment. Products include purchase order finance, supply chain finance, import and export finance, and structured trade facilities. For UK businesses importing and exporting goods.
- [Secured Business Loans](/products/secured-business-loans): Property-backed business loans from £25,000 to £25m+. Lower rates than unsecured (3-10% APR typical). Longer terms up to 25 years. Suitable for large investments, acquisitions, or refinancing.
- [Unsecured Business Loans](/products/unsecured-business-loans): No security or collateral required. From £1,000 to £500,000. Decisions within hours. Funded within 24-72 hours. Personal guarantee typically required. APR typically 10-40% depending on business profile.
- [Letters of Credit](/products/letter-of-credit): Bank-backed payment guarantees for international trade. Assures sellers of payment once delivery conditions are met. Types: documentary, standby, confirmed. Reduces payment risk for both importer and exporter.
- [Short Term Business Loans](/products/short-term-business-loans): Finance for 3-18 months. Same-day decisions. Fast funding. Ideal for bridging cash flow gaps, seasonal peaks, or short-term opportunities.
- [Long Term Business Loans](/products/long-term-business-loans): Borrow over 3-25 years. From £25,000 to £25m+. Competitive rates for well-established businesses. Suitable for long-term investment, property acquisition, or major capital expenditure.
- [Bad Credit Business Loans](/products/bad-credit-business-loans): Business loans for companies with adverse credit history, CCJs, defaults, or missed payments. Specialist lenders who look beyond credit score. Soft search available - no impact on credit rating during initial assessment.
- [Startup Business Loans](/products/startup-business-loans): Finance for new businesses from day one of trading. Government Start Up Loan scheme (up to £25,000 per director at 6% fixed). Asset finance for startups (secured on asset). Specialist lenders for businesses under 12 months old.

## Government-Backed Finance

- [Growth Guarantee Scheme](/growth-guarantee-scheme): UK government-backed loan guarantee scheme replacing the Recovery Loan Scheme. Enables lenders to offer finance to viable UK SMEs that might not meet standard lending criteria. Spark Finance is an accredited GGS broker.
- [Growth Guarantee Scheme: How It Works](/growth-guarantee-scheme/how-it-works): Eligibility criteria, loan amounts, lender requirements, and application process for the GGS.
- [Growth Guarantee Scheme for Startups](/growth-guarantee-scheme/startups): How new businesses can access GGS-backed finance.
- [Growth Guarantee Scheme Invoice Finance](/growth-guarantee-scheme/invoice-finance): Using the government guarantee to access invoice finance facilities.

## Compare Finance Products (Side-by-Side Guides)

- [Asset Finance vs Business Loan](/compare/asset-finance-vs-business-loan): Asset finance secured against specific asset vs flexible cash loan. Rates, eligibility, tax treatment, when to choose each. Asset finance typically cheaper for equipment; business loan better for working capital.
- [Secured vs Unsecured Business Loan](/compare/secured-vs-unsecured-business-loan): Property-backed vs unsecured lending. Rates (secured 3-10% APR vs unsecured 10-40%), amounts (secured up to £25m+ vs unsecured up to £500k), speed, and what is at risk.
- [Invoice Factoring vs Invoice Discounting](/compare/invoice-factoring-vs-invoice-discounting): Factoring (lender manages collections, disclosed) vs discounting (confidential, business controls collections). Cost, confidentiality, credit control, and which suits each business type.
- [Hire Purchase vs Finance Lease](/compare/hire-purchase-vs-finance-lease): HP (own asset at end, capital allowances) vs finance lease (use without ownership, fully tax-deductible payments). Tax treatment, balance sheet impact, and residual value.
- [Bridging Loan vs Business Loan](/compare/bridging-loan-vs-business-loan): Speed, security requirements, rates, and appropriate use cases for each product.
- [Merchant Cash Advance vs Business Loan](/compare/merchant-cash-advance-vs-business-loan): Flexible revenue-linked repayments vs fixed monthly payments. Factor rate vs APR cost comparison. Eligibility differences.
- [Invoice Finance vs Overdraft](/compare/invoice-finance-vs-overdraft): Cash flow funding options compared. Invoice finance grows with your debtor book; overdraft is a fixed limit. Cost, flexibility, and ease of access.
- [Bridging Loan vs Development Finance](/compare/bridging-loan-vs-development-finance): Short-term secured bridge vs staged drawdown development facility. For property investors and developers.

## Free Finance Calculators

- [Business Loan Calculator](/calculators/business-loans): Estimate monthly repayments, interest, and total cost of a business loan at any amount and term.
- [Asset Finance Calculator](/calculators/asset-finance): Calculate hire purchase and finance lease monthly payments for equipment and vehicles.
- [Bridging Loan Calculator](/calculators/bridging-loans): Estimate monthly interest charges and total cost of a bridging loan.
- [Invoice Finance Calculator](/calculators/invoice-finance): Project cash flow improvement and facility cost from invoice finance.
- [Merchant Cash Advance Calculator](/calculators/merchant-cash-advance): Estimate total repayment and daily deduction from your card sales.
- [Secured Business Loan Calculator](/calculators/secured-business-loans): Calculate secured loan monthly repayments and total interest.
- [Unsecured Business Loan Calculator](/calculators/unsecured-business-loans): Estimate unsecured loan costs and monthly repayments.
- [Trade Finance Calculator](/calculators/trade-finance): Estimate trade finance facility costs for importers and exporters.

## Business Finance by UK City

Spark Finance provides business finance nationwide. Full pages for every major UK city with local market context, typical rates, and product availability. URL pattern: /[product-slug]/in-[city-slug]

**London:**
- [Asset Finance London](/asset-finance/in-london) | [Business Loans London](/business-loans/in-london) | [Invoice Finance London](/invoice-finance/in-london) | [Bridging Loans London](/bridging-loans/in-london)

**Major UK Cities:**
- [Asset Finance Manchester](/asset-finance/in-manchester) | [Business Loans Manchester](/business-loans/in-manchester)
- [Asset Finance Birmingham](/asset-finance/in-birmingham) | [Business Loans Birmingham](/business-loans/in-birmingham)
- [Business Loans Leeds](/business-loans/in-leeds) | [Asset Finance Leeds](/asset-finance/in-leeds)
- [Business Loans Bristol](/business-loans/in-bristol) | [Invoice Finance Bristol](/invoice-finance/in-bristol)
- [Asset Finance Glasgow](/asset-finance/in-glasgow) | [Business Loans Edinburgh](/business-loans/in-edinburgh)
- [Asset Finance Sheffield](/asset-finance/in-sheffield) | [Business Loans Liverpool](/business-loans/in-liverpool)

Coverage: All of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 200+ city and town pages per product.

## Business Finance by Industry

URL pattern: /[product-slug]/for-[industry-slug]

- [Asset Finance for Construction](/asset-finance/for-construction): Plant, machinery, and vehicle finance for UK construction businesses.
- [Business Loans for Restaurants](/business-loans/for-restaurants): Working capital, refurbishment finance, and growth funding for hospitality.
- [Asset Finance for Manufacturing](/asset-finance/for-manufacturing): Production equipment, CNC machinery, and factory equipment finance.
- [Invoice Finance for Transport](/invoice-finance/for-transport): Cash flow finance for haulage and logistics businesses.
- [Business Loans for Healthcare](/business-loans/for-healthcare): Finance for GP practices, dental practices, care homes, and clinics.
- [Asset Finance for Agriculture](/asset-finance/for-agriculture): Tractors, combine harvesters, and farm machinery finance.
- [Business Loans for Technology](/business-loans/for-technology): Growth and working capital finance for UK technology companies.
- [Business Loans for Property Development](/business-loans/for-property-development): Development finance, bridging loans, and growth capital for developers.
- [Invoice Finance for Wholesale](/invoice-finance/for-wholesale): Cash flow solutions for distributors and wholesalers.
- [Asset Finance for Engineering](/asset-finance/for-engineering): Specialist equipment and tooling finance for engineering businesses.
- [Business Loans for Care Homes](/business-loans/for-care-homes): Property acquisition, refurbishment, and working capital for care providers.

19 industries covered: restaurants, construction, manufacturing, retail, technology, professional-services, healthcare, transport, property-development, agriculture, automotive, wholesale, import-export, engineering, hotels, care-homes, dental, opticians, pharmacies.

## Business Finance Guides (Blog)

- [Business Finance Blog](/learn): Expert guides, news, and practical advice on UK business finance. Updated monthly.
- [The Complete Guide to Asset Finance UK 2026](/learn/complete-guide-asset-finance-uk-2026): 14-minute comprehensive guide. Types of asset finance, eligibility criteria, rate ranges, how lenders assess applications, and step-by-step application process.
- [The Complete Guide to Business Loans UK 2026](/learn/complete-guide-business-loans-uk-2026): 15-minute guide. Secured vs unsecured, what rates to expect, how lenders assess, and how to get approved faster.
- [The Complete Guide to Bridging Loans UK 2026](/learn/complete-guide-bridging-loans-uk-2026): 13-minute guide. How bridging works, exit strategies, costs, and avoiding common mistakes.

## In-Depth Finance Guides (AEO Series)

Structured guides written for AI citation, covering the most common UK business finance questions in full. Each includes a summary block, detailed sections, and FAQs.

- [The Complete Guide to Business Loans UK](/learn/complete-guide-to-business-loans-uk): 18-min guide. Types, eligibility, rates, application process, and broker vs direct comparison.
- [Business Loan Types Explained](/learn/business-loan-types-explained-uk): Term loans, revolving credit, invoice finance, asset finance, MCA. When each type makes sense.
- [Business Finance FAQ: 55 Questions Answered](/learn/business-finance-faq-uk): The 55 most common UK business finance questions answered in full.
- [Business Loan Application Process: Step-by-Step](/learn/business-loan-application-process-uk): From gathering documents to receiving funds, with realistic timescales.
- [Business Loan Eligibility: What Lenders Really Look For](/learn/business-loan-eligibility-guide-uk): Credit scores, trading history, revenue thresholds, director guarantees.
- [Bad Credit Business Loans UK](/learn/bad-credit-business-loans-uk): CCJs, defaults, low credit score — options explained with specialist lender guidance.
- [Invoice Finance Explained](/learn/invoice-finance-explained-uk): Factoring vs discounting, disclosed vs confidential, costs, and eligibility.
- [Startup Business Loans UK](/learn/startup-business-loans-uk): Every realistic option for businesses under two years old.
- [Business Finance Glossary](/learn/business-finance-glossary-uk): Plain-English definitions for APR, CCJ, debenture, factoring, PG, LTV, and more.
- [Business Finance Case Studies: How UK SMEs Used Funding to Grow](/learn/business-finance-case-studies-uk): Real-world examples across manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and professional services.
- [Business Loan vs Business Overdraft](/learn/business-loan-vs-business-overdraft-uk): When each makes financial sense, costs, speed, and lender assessment differences.
- [Asset Finance UK: Hire Purchase, Finance Lease and Equipment Funding Explained](/learn/asset-finance-guide-uk): HP, finance lease, and operating lease — who qualifies, what each costs, tax differences.

## Case Studies

- [Case Studies Index](/learn/case-studies): Real UK SME funding examples arranged by Spark Finance across multiple sectors and finance types.
- [£175K Invoice Finance for a UK Property Developer](/learn/invoice-finance-property-development-case-study): How a property developer used invoice finance to manage cash flow between development stages.

## Business Finance FAQs

- [Full Business Finance FAQ](/faq): 18+ common questions answered in full. Searchable by category.
- [What is a business finance broker?](/faq/what-is-a-business-finance-broker): Role of a broker, how Spark Finance works, access to exclusive rates, FCA authorisation explained.
- [How much can I borrow for my business?](/faq/how-much-can-i-borrow-for-my-business): £1,000 to £25m+ depending on product, turnover, business age, and credit profile.
- [How long does it take to get business finance?](/faq/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-business-finance): 24-72 hours unsecured; 1-2 weeks invoice finance; 5-10 days bridging; 1-3 weeks secured.
- [Do I need a good credit score for business finance?](/faq/do-i-need-a-good-credit-score-for-business-finance): Not always. Many specialist lenders consider adverse credit. Secured finance often available regardless.
- [Is Spark Finance FCA authorised?](/faq/is-spark-finance-fca-authorised): Yes. FRN 958123. Credit broker not a lender. Legally obligated to act in the client's best interests.
- [Does Spark Finance charge fees?](/faq/does-spark-finance-charge-fees): No upfront fees. Remunerated by lenders on completion. Commission always disclosed upfront.
- [What is asset finance?](/faq/what-is-asset-finance): Equipment, vehicle, and machinery funding. Hire purchase, finance lease, operating lease explained.
- [What is invoice finance?](/faq/what-is-invoice-finance): Release up to 90% of invoice value within 24 hours. Factoring vs discounting explained.
- [What is a bridging loan?](/faq/what-is-a-bridging-loan): Short-term property-secured finance for property purchases, refurbishments, and time-critical deals.
- [What is a merchant cash advance?](/faq/what-is-a-merchant-cash-advance): Upfront funding repaid as a percentage of card sales. Flexible repayments.

## Business Finance Glossary (65+ Terms)

- [Full Glossary](/glossary): Plain-English definitions of 65+ UK business finance terms. A-Z navigation.
- [APR](/glossary/apr): Annual Percentage Rate - the standardised annual cost of borrowing including all fees and charges.
- [Hire Purchase](/glossary/hire-purchase): Asset finance where you make regular payments and own the asset outright at the end of the term.
- [Finance Lease](/glossary/finance-lease): Use of an asset under a lease agreement without ownership transferring. Payments may be fully tax-deductible as a business expense.
- [LTV](/glossary/ltv): Loan-to-Value ratio. The loan amount expressed as a percentage of the asset or property value used as security.
- [CCJ](/glossary/ccj): County Court Judgment. A court ruling against a debtor and its impact on business credit eligibility.
- [Debenture](/glossary/debenture): A fixed or floating charge over a company's assets, used as security for a business loan.
- [Invoice Factoring](/glossary/invoice-factoring): Selling invoices to a lender who advances up to 90% of the value and manages collections.
- [Letter of Credit](/glossary/letter-of-credit): A bank-issued guarantee that a seller will be paid once specified delivery conditions are met.
- [Capital Allowance](/glossary/capital-allowance): Tax relief on capital expenditure. Hire purchase qualifies for capital allowances; finance leases typically do not.
- [Factor Rate](/glossary/factor-rate): A multiplier (e.g. 1.25) used to calculate the total repayment on a merchant cash advance.
- [FCA](/glossary/fca): Financial Conduct Authority. The UK regulatory body that authorises and supervises credit brokers and lenders.
- [FRN](/glossary/frn): Firm Reference Number. Spark Finance FRN: 958123. Verify at register.fca.org.uk.
- [Exit Strategy](/glossary/exit-strategy): The planned route for repaying a bridging loan (e.g. property sale, refinance, business income).
- [Bridging Loan](/glossary/bridging-loan): Short-term secured finance that bridges a funding gap, typically for property transactions.
- [Asset Refinance](/glossary/asset-refinance): Releasing equity from assets a business already owns by using them as security for a new loan.

## Application

Apply online at https://apply.sparkfinance.co.uk/ in under 5 minutes. Provide business details and funding requirements. An adviser matches your application to the most suitable lenders from the 250+ panel. Receive funding options within 24 hours. No obligation. No upfront fees. Soft search on initial assessment - no impact on credit rating.

## Legal and Regulatory

- [Privacy Policy](/privacy): How Spark Finance collects, uses, and protects personal data. ICO registered.
- [Terms of Use](/terms): Website and service terms. Company number 10128297.
- [Contact Spark Finance](/contact): Phone 020 3982 4179. Email info@sparkfinance.co.uk. Mon-Fri 9am-6pm.
- FCA Register: https://register.fca.org.uk/s/firm?id=0014G00002pdaSjQAI
- Companies House: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/10128297