An incumbent may fit
- Useful when
- The provider knows the business and can meet the need
- Compare
- Actual written terms and responsiveness
WHY USE A BROKER FOR LARGE FACILITIES?More than an introduction.
More than an introduction.
A clearer decision.
A financially strong business can approach a lender directly. An intermediary earns its place when it helps clarify the structure, test the economics or coordinate a suitable next approach.
Discuss a substantial requirement
SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING / ESTABLISHED COMPANIES
THE COMMERCIAL STARTING POINT
NBS focuses on the decision behind substantial invoice finance, asset finance and business loans. The value is in a coherent brief, attention to usable funding and terms, and an appropriate introduction where a route appears worth pursuing. Access alone is not proof of a better outcome.
Invoice finance £500k+ · Asset finance £250k+ · Business loans £200k+. Focus amounts, not fixed eligibility thresholds.
01 / THE COMMERCIAL DETAIL
Compare a structure, not just a headline
| Headline | What changes the decision |
|---|---|
| Facility limit | Eligible debt, reserves and customer caps |
| Monthly payment | Deposit, term and final obligations |
| Interest percentage | Charging basis, fees and total repayment |
Two £1m invoice facilities can release different cash because eligibility, reserves and customer caps differ. Two equipment quotes with the same monthly payment can have different deposits, terms and final obligations. Two loans with similar percentages can use different charging bases.
A useful broker conversation identifies those differences before a business makes a commitment. Relevant terms should be put on a consistent basis, with missing information and conditions kept visible.
02 / THE COMMERCIAL DETAIL
Prepare the right case for the right route
A management team should not have to describe the same requirement differently for every conversation. A coherent brief links purpose, amount, timing and the evidence that supports repayment or asset value. It also separates a confirmed fact from a forecast.
NBS can discuss which lender or specialist-intermediary route is appropriate to investigate. That is a selective process, not a promise that every provider will receive the proposal. Agree the parties and permissions before information goes onward.
03 / THE COMMERCIAL DETAIL
Value the execution work honestly
Provider assessment still needs information, checks and legal documentation. For a switch, the management task can include settlement, security releases, customer notices and bank reconciliations. For an equipment programme, it includes suppliers, phased delivery and approval validity.
An intermediary can help organise the next steps where that role has been agreed. It cannot remove lender conditions, guarantee a completion date or replace legal and accounting advice.
04 / THE COMMERCIAL DETAIL
When going direct is the sensible choice
A wider question needs work
- Useful when
- Structure, trade-offs or a specialist route need clarifying
- Compare
- Incremental value and actual provider economics
An incumbent may already understand the business, offer a workable structure and respond quickly to an amendment. A clear direct quote can be a strong starting point. There is no reason to manufacture a switch if the current arrangement meets the business’s needs.
Compare the actual economics and service, including whether another intermediary is involved. NBS does not promise lower pricing than direct access, exclusive rates or whole-of-market coverage. No client broker fee is charged by NBS; funder remuneration is explained briefly in the service disclosures.
HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE / NOT A CLIENT CASE
The cheapest service fee can still leave less cash
- Proposal A / before drawings£1.2m
- Proposal B / before drawings£1.075m
- Availability difference£125k
A: 85% less £75k reserves. B: 80% less £125k reserves. Assumes the same £1.5m cap.
Hypothetical illustration only. Not a client case, quote, lender policy or funding commitment.
Assume two hypothetical providers assess a £1.5m eligible ledger within the same £1.5m facility cap. Provider A advances 85% with £75k reserves; B advances 80% with £125k reserves. Before existing drawings, A supports £1.2m and B £1.075m: £125k less through B. A small service-fee saving must be weighed against that difference. These are invented comparison terms, not providers or quotes.
Illustrative assumptions only. Not a quote, provider policy or funding commitment.COSTS, SECURITY & PRACTICAL CONSTRAINTSKnow the cash.
Know the cash.
Know the commitment.
NBS Finance does not charge the client a broker fee. We are paid by funders when funding completes. Compare the actual provider charges and the role of any specialist intermediary. Funder-paid remuneration does not by itself establish pricing parity with a direct application.
Understand facility fees and costs ↗For the next stage of assessment
- The commercial decision and what a successful outcome looks like
- An existing direct quote or incumbent terms, if available
- Material restrictions, dates and supporting company information
- Who is authorised to share information and decide the next step
The brief enquiry does not require these documents. Agree the purpose, permissions and appropriate sharing route first.
BEFORE YOU PROCEEDThe questions
The questions
worth settling.
Will NBS compare the whole market?
No whole-of-market comparison is promised. The relevant routes and review scope depend on the requirement.
Can a broker guarantee a better rate?
No. Provider appetite, business quality, structure and the actual terms determine price. A better operating fit may matter more than the lowest headline rate.
Can we bring an existing offer?
Yes. Explain the decision and share the relevant terms through an agreed route. The first brief does not require financial-document uploads.
PRODUCT CONTEXT / FURTHER READINGHilton-Baird: commercial finance broker considerations ↗British Business Bank: invoice finance ↗
These external sources explain product features. They do not establish an NBS agreement, current lender appetite or terms available to your business. Content reviewed 24 October 2026.
A CLEAR BRIEF IS THE STARTA substantial requirement.
A substantial requirement.
A useful conversation.
Discuss a substantial requirement
Start with a brief enquiry.
No financial documents needed to begin.