About SME Finance Hub
SME Finance Hub is the business finance brand of Capital Business Loans Limited, an FCA-authorised business finance brokerage based in Chester (FRN 1000382). We are a credit broker, not a lender — we help UK businesses find funding that actually fits, with no upfront fees.
Key facts
- Regulated entity
- Capital Business Loans Limited
- FCA firm reference
- FRN 1000382
- Established
- 2022
- Based
- Chester, UK
- Facility sizes
- £5,000 – £500,000+
- Terms
- 3 – 72 months
- Eligibility
- 6+ months trading, £10k+ monthly turnover
- Cost to apply
- No upfront fees — the lender pays our commission
One brokerage, three brands
Everything sits under a single FCA-authorised firm. The brands exist so each type of business talks to brokers who genuinely know their sector.
Capital Business Loans
The regulated brokerage itself — Capital Business Loans Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under FRN 1000382. All advice, lender relationships and compliance sit here.
capitalbusinessloans.co.ukSME Finance Hub
This site — the business finance brand for UK SMEs. It holds the detailed product information, sector guides, calculators, jargon buster and real funded success stories.
Explore business loansPractice Capital
The specialist trading style for professional practices — legal, medical and GP, dental, veterinary, optical, pharmacy, accountancy, care homes, funeral directors and architects.
practicecapital.co.ukWhichever brand you come through, the same brokers, the same specialist lender panel and the same FCA permissions apply.
Why Capital Business Loans exists
Capital Business Loans Limited was established in 2022 with a clear purpose: to give UK businesses a realistic route to funding when the bank says wait. Most of the businesses we speak to are perfectly fundable — they simply do not fit the narrow criteria a high-street lender applies.
As an FCA-authorised and regulated brokerage (FRN 1000382) we operate under the conduct standards that go with that permission: clear advice, fair treatment, no pressure, and full transparency on commission and lender choice. You can read more on our FCA regulation page.
We arrange unsecured business loans, secured facilities, asset funding, invoice finance, VAT and tax funding and merchant cash advances from £5,000 to £500,000+ over terms of 3 to 72 months.
How a case actually runs
- 1
Enquiry · 2–5 minutes
You tell us about the business and what the funding is for — a short form or a phone call, whichever suits.
- 2
Broker review · Usually within 24 hours
A named broker reviews the case, asks the right questions and confirms which funding routes are realistic before anything is submitted to a lender.
- 3
Lender matching · 1–2 days
We package the case properly and present it to the funders on our specialist panel best suited to your situation and sector.
- 4
Offer and drawdown · Often same day once approved
We put the offers side by side, explain the true cost of each, and manage the lender through to funds landing in the business account.
Not sure what you will need? See what to have ready before you apply.
Who you will deal with
Behind SME Finance Hub is a team of six business finance professionals — three directors who are active brokers themselves, plus a client support team who keep cases moving day to day.
We are not a call centre. You will speak to a named broker who knows your case, reachable on phone, WhatsApp, text or email. Most enquiries get an initial response within minutes during working hours and a clear next step the same day.
Our brokers work across a wide range of sectors — from construction and hospitality to retail, healthcare and professional services. Where a case is a professional practice, it is handled under Practice Capital by brokers who deal with those regulators and billing cycles every week.
Close relationships with our specialist lender panel
What makes a broker useful is not the length of a lender list — it is knowing the funders well enough to predict what they will do with a case. The lenders on our specialist panel are ones we speak with regularly, whose products we know in detail, and whose underwriters we can reach directly to discuss a case before it is formally submitted.
That means we know which funders favour particular industries, which take a more considered view on adverse credit history, and which typically move quickest when funding is needed urgently — see same day business funding.
Applying through a broker also means one set of information goes to several suitable lenders, rather than a series of separate direct applications. We explain the difference in our guide on alternative finance versus banks and why businesses use a broker.
Where our money comes from
There are no upfront fees. You do not pay to enquire, to receive quotes, or to have an application packaged and submitted.
We are paid a commission by the lender if and when a facility completes and funds are drawn. If we do not arrange funding, we are not paid. Commission varies between lenders and products, and we will tell you how we are being paid on any deal we recommend.
Because commission differs between funders, the honest position is this: we recommend on suitability, and we are happy to be asked about the commission on any offer we put in front of you. The full explanation is on our how we get paid page, alongside our editorial policy.
Our commitment
Credit broker, not a lender • No upfront fees • Commission paid by the lender on completion • Recommendations based on suitability
What we stand for
The standards we hold ourselves to on every case
Suitability First
We recommend funding based on what fits the business, not on the commission available.
Transparent
No upfront fees, clear terms, and a plain explanation of the true cost before you commit.
Practical
Everyday facilities for real trading problems — cash flow, tax bills, stock, kit and growth.
A Named Broker
One person who knows your case from first conversation through to drawdown.
About us — common questions
Who is SME Finance Hub?
SME Finance Hub is the business finance brand of Capital Business Loans Limited, an FCA-authorised commercial finance brokerage based in Chester (FRN 1000382). We are a credit broker, not a lender.
How does that relate to Capital Business Loans and Practice Capital?
Capital Business Loans Limited is the regulated brokerage. SME Finance Hub is its SME-facing brand, and Practice Capital is its specialist trading style for professional practices. Same firm, same permissions, same brokers.
Does it cost anything to apply?
No upfront fees. We are paid a commission by the lender if a facility completes.
What do lenders on your panel look for?
Typically at least 6 months of trading and around £10,000 monthly turnover (£120,000 a year). Facilities generally start at £5,000 over 3 to 72 months. Our loan calculator gives an indicative repayment before you speak to anyone.
Will applying affect my credit score?
An initial enquiry does not affect your credit score. We explain how lenders assess credit on our credit checks page.
Regulated and accountable
FCA authorised and regulated
Capital Business Loans Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 1000382). Note that lending to limited companies is not generally a regulated activity — we explain what that does and does not mean on our FCA regulation page.
Ready to talk it through?
Work with an FCA-authorised credit broker. No upfront fees to apply — we are paid a commission by the lender if a facility completes.