It depends on the route. Our help with a Start Up Loan for a franchise is free. If your franchise business is a limited company and your deal needs our advice, our advisory fee schedule applies, and you pay bizbritain nothing unless a lender issues an Agreement in Principle (AIP) and you sign our engagement letter.
By route
- A Start Up Loan: free. The Start Up Loans Company pays us a fixed fee for each completed loan. See Can I use a Start Up Loan for a franchise?
- Buying an existing franchise: this is a business purchase, so it follows our acquisition finance fees: a retainer if you sign, a success fee on drawdown, and a capped abort fee only if you decide not to proceed after a lender has issued a credit-approved offer. See How much does bizbritain charge for acquisition finance?
- Funding a new or additional unit: this follows our growth finance fees: a retainer if you sign and a success fee on drawdown, with no abort fee. See How much does bizbritain charge for a business growth loan?
- A simple deal that needs no advice: the lender may pay us instead, and you pay us no fee. We tell you about any commission in writing, including the amount, before you proceed. See When can a lender pay bizbritain?.
The advisory schedule in brief
- Success fee: from 3% on the first £250,000, falling to 1.25% on the part above £5 million, payable only on drawdown.
- Retainer: £500 to £5,000, set by the facility size, non-refundable once paid and credited in full against the success fee.
Try your own figures with our fee calculator. For when each fee is due, see When do I pay a fee, and is it refundable?.
Who our advisory fees apply to
Advisory fees apply only when the borrower is a limited company. If you're starting a franchise as a sole trader, we look at the Start Up Loan route, which is free.
Other costs are separate
The lender's interest and fees, and the franchisor's own fees, are separate from ours. See What ongoing fees will I pay a franchisor?
Last reviewed: 10 October 2026