When time is money, finding the right business loan by yourself can be too costly. A good business loan broker can save you the hours of work and potentially land you an offer you might not have found on your own. But there are some things you should consider before applying with a broker.
What does a business loan broker do?
A business loan broker is a company that helps businesses find financing. Acting as the intermediary, a broker takes your business loan application to different lenders and comes back to you with loan offers. Once you agree to the loan, the broker often handles repayments. Throughout the whole process, your broker can also be a resource for any questions you have about business financing.
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How could working with a business loan broker benefit me?
First and foremost, it can save businesses the time and effort of researching and applying for multiple business loans. Since business loan brokers are more experienced with business lending, they may know about loan options that you wouldn’t have found on your own. Working with an experienced broker means they can smell a good deal — or a scam — from a mile away.
Sometimes it’s just good to have an intermediary. Your commercial loan broker can explain any unfamiliar concepts. It’s similar to hiring someone to do your taxes — they know how to get you discounts and credits that you may not otherwise know about and can help keep more money in your pocket.
How much does a business loan broker cost?
Brokers earn money either from you as the borrower or as a commission from the lender that you take out a loan with.
If the broker is charging you
If the commercial loan broker is going to charge you as the borrower, it’s usually as a percentage of your total loan amount after it’s funded. That fee could be anywhere from 5% to 15% with an online lender, or between 1% and 3% with banks or credit unions. Some business loan brokers charge this fee in the form of a higher interest rate. Once you make your repayments, they collect a percentage of the interest before giving the rest to the lender.
If the broker is free
Other business loan brokers are completely free for you as the borrower because they’ll get a commission from the lender instead. You’ll need to be wary that they’re simply not just connecting you to a lender that they’ll make the most money from.
How do I compare business loan brokers?
There are a few business loan brokers available so make sure you compare your options before you apply. You can look at:
Approval rates. Some brokers may have higher approval rates than others – meaning their clients get the loans they apply for.
Personal service. If personal service is important to you, like having a dedicated broker on your account, then check that the brokerage offers this.
Fees. Does the broker charge you any fees, or are their services free to use?
Lending panel. Many brokers outline some of their lending panel before you apply. Have a look at the breadth of the panel and see if the lenders would suit your needs.
Type of business it services. Does the broker specialize in a particular type of business or industry?
Types of business loans it offers. There are different types of business financing, including term loans, merchant cash advances and lines of credit. Can the broker match you with a lender that offers the type of financing you’re looking for?
5 questions to ask business loan brokers
A good commercial loan broker can be great for a small business that needs help with the application process. Here are some questions to ask business loan brokers before you decide to work with them.
How many lenders will see my application? The more, the better. If the broker tells you they have the perfect lender for you and there’s no need to shop around, hire someone else.
Do some lenders bring in more money than others? Often that’s the case. This is not a red flag on its own, but if you know up front which lenders land your broker the highest commission, then it’s easier to tell if your broker is looking out for your or its own best interests when they present you offers.
Will I know how much I’m paying in fees? Legit brokers are upfront about fees and will tell you the cost of your loan before you agree to an offer.
How much time will I have to decide? Your broker should give you a couple of days to think over any loan offers. Avoid brokers that are pushy about getting a decision.
Do you sell my information to third parties? With an online marketplace, you can read the terms and conditions to find out what it does with your name and contact information. With a broker, you can ask. If it does, you could end up fending off a tidal wave of calls and emails from companies trying to sell you something.
What to watch out for with business loan brokers
No contact information online. If a commercial loan broker doesn’t list an office address, email and phone number, there’s a chance that what they’re doing isn’t completely above board. Most legit business loan brokers list multiple ways for customers to get in touch with them.
No privacy policy. A broker that isn’t upfront about what they do with your personal information could be a sign that they make some of their profits by selling clients’ info to third parties.
Guarantees you’ll get a loan. Just like a lender, no broker can guarantee that you’ll find a loan through it services. A guarantee is often a sign of a scam.
No credit check. Your broker needs to know your credit score to find a legitimate business loan. If it doesn’t run a credit check, this could be another sign that it’s a scam – or that you’ll be connected to lenders that offer poor rates and terms.
No references or track record. If your broker can’t produce testimonials or contact information from former clients, then there’s a chance that their customers are less than happy with their services.
Should I apply with a lender by myself instead?
Sometimes it makes more sense to apply for a business loan directly. Established businesses with well-documented revenue and a strong business plan are more likely to qualify with business lenders at favourable rates – so a business loan broker’s services might not be worth the cost.
Applying on your own might not make sense if you’re new to business or business lending. Young businesses or those with low revenue can have a difficult time finding competitive financing. It can be hard to spot the right deal, and it’s easy to make mistakes on your application. You might also want to apply with a business loan broker if you’d rather focus your time and effort on your business rather than on searching for loans.
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Business loan broker vs. business loan marketplace
An online business marketplace is another option where you can quickly get quotes from several business loan lenders. At a glance, here are 4 ways business loan marketplaces are different from brokers. Business loan marketplaces:
Are free to use
Aren’t involved in repayments
Are often faster than a broker
Don’t offer specific advice to your business, although many provide educational resources
How does it work? You fill out an online form, and after you submit the form, the marketplace uses an algorithm to find lenders you might qualify for. Some lenders give you loan amounts and rate quotes in a matter of seconds after a soft credit pull, while others will give your contact information to lenders so they can reach out to you.
Broker
Online Marketplace
Application process
Give your broker the information they need to apply for a business loan for you. The broker takes care of everything, except picking an offer and signing the paperwork.
Fill out a short online form yourself to get pre-approved. Then follow the lender’s directions to apply yourself.
Cost
1%–15% of your loan amount, or could be free if the broker works on commission from the lender.
Free for borrowers.
Typical turnaround time
Varies from a few days to a few weeks.
Can be as little as a few minutes to get an offer.
Good for
Good if you are unfamiliar with the business loans market and need a helping hand through the process.
Good if you need funds quickly. Since it’s an automated process, you can make a decision in a matter of minutes and even have funding as soon as the next business day. If you have some experience with business loans, a marketplace can also help you save on broker fees.
Bottom line
Business loan brokers can potentially help your small business find a competitive loan if you don’t have the time or experience to apply on your own. Brokers can also help if you’ve had trouble finding a loan that your business can qualify for. But be sure to choose a business loan broker you trust.
Want to learn more about your business loan options? Check out our guide to business loans to discover how they work and compare lenders.
Frequently asked questions about business loan brokers
Business owners use commercial loan brokers to help connect them to a selection of business financing providers with whom they can qualify. If you're having difficulty finding loans for your business, or just want a faster, more efficient process, a commercial loan broker may be able to help.
Yes, most provinces and territories require that brokers be licensed.
Business loan brokers have minimum revenue and time in business you need to meet. If you already have an existing business and are looking to start a new one, then business loan brokers can consider your application.
Anna Serio is a lead editor at Finder, specializing in consumer and business financing. A trusted lending expert and former certified commercial loan officer, Anna's written and edited more than 1,000 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. Her expertise and analysis on personal, student, business and car loans has been featured in publications like Business Insider, CNBC and Nasdaq, and has appeared on NBC and KADN. Anna holds an MA in Middle Eastern studies from the American University of Beirut and a BA in Creative Writing from Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, CUNY.
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