Commercial finance
What is commercial finance?
Commercial finance is funding used for business purposes. It can include asset finance, property finance, working capital, acquisition funding, guarantees and other commercial structures.
What does a commercial finance broker do?
A commercial finance broker helps understand the funding requirement, considers possible structures and suitable lenders, coordinates the application and manages the finance process.
Is commercial finance the same as a business loan?
A business loan is one type of commercial finance. Commercial finance is broader and can include asset-backed facilities, lines of credit, property lending and specialist finance structures.
Applying for business finance
What documents may be required?
Depending on the transaction, lenders may request financial statements, management accounts, forecasts, existing debt details, asset information and documents relating to the proposed finance.
How long does approval take?
There is no universal timeframe. It depends on the lender, complexity, information available and whether external requirements such as valuations are involved.
How much can my business borrow?
Borrowing capacity depends on cash flow, existing commitments, security, purpose of the funding and lender criteria.
Does every commercial loan require property security?
No. Security requirements vary between facilities and lenders. Some structures may rely on business assets or other forms of security.
Asset and equipment finance
Can used equipment be financed?
Potentially. Age, condition, value, supplier and useful life may be considered.
Is a deposit always required?
No universal rule applies. It depends on the asset, borrower, transaction and lender.
What business assets can be financed?
Potential assets include trucks, vehicles, machinery, plant, fleets, medical equipment and other business equipment.
Working capital and cash flow
What is working capital finance?
Working capital finance provides liquidity to support appropriate short-term operating requirements.
What is a business line of credit?
A line of credit provides access to an approved limit that can generally be drawn as needed, subject to the facility terms.
Can working capital finance help with seasonal cash flow?
Potentially. Suitable facilities may help bridge timing gaps where underlying cash flow supports repayment.
Commercial property finance
What deposit is required?
It varies according to property type, valuation, borrower strength, serviceability and lender criteria.
Can an existing commercial property loan be refinanced?
Potentially. Refinancing may be considered where a business wants to review lender, pricing, security or facility structure.
Refinancing, Fees & Lenders
Can existing business debt be refinanced?
Potentially. Refinancing may address structure, security, maturity, pricing or future funding requirements.
Does the cheapest interest rate always mean the best finance structure?
Not necessarily. Fees, repayment terms, security, covenants, limits and flexibility can also affect the commercial value of a facility.
What fees apply when using Winterfold?
Fees depend on the transaction and engagement. Any applicable Winterfold fees and relevant lender costs should be disclosed for the specific requirement.
What types of lenders can Winterfold consider?
Winterfold's lender relationships span commercial banks, specialist lenders and non-bank financiers. Suitable options depend on the transaction and borrower circumstances.