Balance for Business

What Balance for Business does

Balance for Business Limited is a Plymouth-headquartered commercial finance brokerage that has operated in the South West of England since its 2008 founding by former Barclays and HSBC banker Dave Ottley. The firm is an FCA-authorised credit broker (FRN: 709343) and an Assured Member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers, sourcing finance from an extensive panel of banks, challenger banks, specialist funders, and peer-to-peer lenders rather than lending on its own balance sheet.

Its product set spans Property Finance (bridging and refurbishment loans, buy-to-let and property investment loans, property development loans, commercial mortgages, developer exit loans, and second charge loans) and Cashflow Finance (invoice discounting, factoring, and unsecured business loans ranging from £5,000 to £3 million). The firm reports arranging over £1 billion in lending for clients to date and positions itself as a 'dealmaker' that handles deals high street banks decline.

Post-March 2025 merger with Bedrock Business Finance, the firm operates with a seven-person team combining over 100 years of commercial finance experience. Revenue is earned via broker commissions from lenders on successfully arranged transactions (fixed rate or percentage of amount borrowed). Distribution is sales-led and relationship-driven — direct phone, email, website enquiry, face-to-face consultations, plus annual networking events and professional advisor referrals. There is no proprietary technology platform; the moat is talent, lender relationships, and regional reputation.

Name

Balance for Business

Legal name

Balance for Business Limited

Website

https://balanceforbusiness.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Balance for Business is a Plymouth-based FCA-authorised commercial finance broker serving South West England SMEs and property investors, sourcing bridging, buy-to-let, development, commercial mortgage, and cashflow lending from a panel of third-party lenders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Broker Commission: As a credit broker, Balance for Business receives commission from lenders when they successfully arrange financing for clients. They work with a panel of selected lenders and receive commission through different models including fixed rate of commission and percentage of the amount borrowed. The company discloses commission details throughout the customer journey.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Balance for Business is a commercial finance broker that sources business and property funding from an extensive panel of banks and financial institutions on behalf of SMEs, property investors, and developers across South West England. The company brokers two main categories of financing: Property Finance (including bridging loans, buy-to-let mortgages, property development loans, commercial mortgages, developer exit loans, and second charge loans) and Cashflow Finance (including invoice discounting/factoring and unsecured/secured business loans). Acting as an intermediary rather than a principal lender, the company earns commission from lenders for successfully arranging financing solutions.

Product overview

Balance for Business is a commercial finance brokerage operating as a single unified service rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company connects borrowers with an extensive panel of lenders through its two main product categories: Property Finance (Bridging/Refurbishment Loans, Buy-to-Let & Property Loans, Property Development Loans, Commercial Mortgages, Developer Exit Loans, and Second Charge Loans) and Cashflow Finance (Invoice Discounting & Factoring and Unsecured Business Loans). All products are brokered services sourced from third-party lenders rather than Balance for Business's own lending products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bridging / Refurbishment Loans Short-term property finance solution (typically up to 12 months) for residential investment or commercial property needs including auction purchases, renovation projects, and short-term business funding. Brokered from a panel of lenders for property investors and developers.
• Buy-to-Let & Property Loans Buy-to-Let mortgages and residential investment loans designed to help first-time and existing property landlords purchase or refinance property, with access to high street banks, challenger banks, specialist funders, and peer-to-peer funders.
• Property Development Loans Financing for property development projects including light/heavy refurbishment, auction purchases, interest-only options with rolled-up interest, up to 100% loan-to-cost, joint venture funding, and mezzanine funding. Sourced from specialist development lenders.
• Commercial Mortgages Mortgages for businesses that own or are looking to purchase property from which to trade, with typical loan terms of 15-20 years, 70-75% LTV, and coverage for retail, leisure, hospitality, care sector, holiday parks, and manufacturing/wholesale industries.
• Developer Exit Loans Short-term loans enabling property developers to release cash tied up at the end of development projects, allowing them to move straight onto next ventures with up to 75% LTV and 18-month terms.
• Second Charge Loans Loan facilities allowing clients to raise funds for business purposes with security provided by property that already has a first charge mortgage secured on it.
• Invoice Discounting & Factoring Cashflow financing solutions that allow businesses to raise funds by selling or borrowing against their sales invoices, providing flexibility for businesses to manage working capital. Includes confidential invoice discounting options.
• Unsecured Business Loans Business loans from £5,000 to £1 million with quick decisions typically within 48 hours, covering unsecured loans (£5,000-£500,000), secured loans (£100,000-£3 million), asset finance, and property finance arranged through Balance for Business's lender panel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £1bn secured for clients
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Professional Investment GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 March 2025Active partner organisation of the Professional Investment Group, which connects finance brokers with financial advisers and other professional advisors.
• National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB)coreOthers · 1 March 2025Balance for Business Limited is a member of the NACFB who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. As an Assured Member, this membership provides credibility and access to a network of commercial finance brokers and lenders.
• Wolferstans SolicitorssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSolicitor firm providing legal expertise for property transactions and auction purchases. Representatives Ebenezer Ola and Connor Barclay presented at events.
• Bright LLP SolicitorssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal partner providing property law expertise at networking events.
• Newman Langley & StavrisupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndependent Financial Adviser providing financial advisory services at industry events.
• Mark Holt & Co AccountantssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting firm partner providing financial expertise at networking events.
• Westcotts AccountantssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting firm partner providing financial expertise at networking events.
• Auction House SWsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured in Auction House SW magazine advertorial showcasing services and recent successes for property auction buyers and sellers.
• Boringdon Park Golf ClubminorOthersVenue host for annual Meet the Funders and Professionals events and client events such as 'Get Fit to Buy at Auction'.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rangewell: UK commercial finance broker matching SMEs with lenders across business loans, asset finance, and property finance. Directly comparable as an intermediation-led broker with similar product breadth and target market to Balance for Business.
• Clifton Private Finance: UK commercial finance broker arranging bridging, development, commercial, and BTL mortgages through a panel of lenders. Directly comparable in intermediation model and property-finance focus.
• ABC Finance: UK broker arranging commercial mortgages, business loans, and asset finance for SMEs through a lender panel. Same broker-not-lender model and SME/commercial customer overlap.
• Oplo: UK asset and business finance broker working with a panel of lenders to fund SMEs across vehicle, equipment, and property lending. Comparable intermediation-led approach with similar SME customer base.
• Mortgages for Business: Long-established UK specialist broker focused on commercial and semi-commercial mortgages, bridging, and development finance. Closely comparable in commercial property brokerage and SME focus.
• Positive Commercial Finance: Specialist UK commercial finance broker arranging property finance, bridging, BTL, and business loans for SMEs. Highly comparable business model and product mix to Balance for Business's property-finance-led offering.

Emerging players

• Allica Bank: UK challenger bank focused on SME lending including commercial mortgages and asset finance. A direct-fund competitor to brokers like Balance for Business that may disintermediate broker-referred SME deals.

Broad incumbents

• Bibby Financial Services: Large UK-based provider of invoice finance, factoring, and broader SME lending solutions. Overlaps with Balance for Business's cashflow/invoice discounting products via a wider portfolio across geographies.
• Funding Circle: Large UK P2P/business lending platform providing unsecured and secured loans to SMEs. Overlaps as one of the P2P funding channels Balance for Business uses, while competing for the same SME borrower segment at scale.
• Close Brothers Asset Finance: Established UK SME and property finance division of Close Brothers, offering asset, commercial, and property lending. Provides overlapping commercial property and SME finance capability at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BalanceForBiz

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Balance for Business