You pay bizbritain nothing unless a lender on our panel issues an Agreement in Principle (AIP). On an advisory transaction, our fee is a success fee charged on a marginal-rate scale, from 3% and falling as the facility grows. It's only payable when your facility is drawn down. There's also a retainer, payable if you sign the engagement letter we send once a lender has issued an AIP. It's non-refundable once paid and credited in full against the success fee at completion. There are no abort fees on growth finance.
The success fee
Each rate applies only to the part of your facility within that band, like income tax:
- First £250,000: 3%
- £250,000 to £500,000: 2.5%
- £500,000 to £1 million: 2%
- £1 million to £5 million: 1.5%
- £5 million to £10 million: 1.25%
The retainer
Paid on signing, set by your facility size, and credited in full at completion:
- up to £250,000: £500
- up to £500,000: £1,500
- up to £1 million: £2,500
- up to £5 million: £3,500
- above £5 million: £5,000
A worked example
On a £350,000 facility, the success fee is £7,500 (3% of the first £250,000) plus £2,500 (2.5% of the next £100,000): £10,000 in total. You pay a £1,500 retainer on signing, which is credited at completion, so you pay £8,500 on drawdown. Try your own figures with our fee calculator.
Facilities up to £100,000
We check Start Up Loan eligibility first. If you're eligible, you pay nothing. See I need less than £100,000. Should I get a Start Up Loan instead?.
Simple deals
Simple deals that need no advice or structuring, such as a straightforward unsecured loan, a credit card or invoice finance, may be paid for by the lender instead. On those, you pay us no fee, and we tell you about any commission in writing, including the amount, before you proceed. See Do you take commission from lenders?.
If no lender offers you a facility
No success fee is charged. See What if no lender offers me a facility?.
Lender costs are separate
The lender may charge its own arrangement fee or other costs. They're shown in your offer. Read more in our guide to business loan broker fees.
Last reviewed: 8 October 2026