FD Commercial & Bridging

What FD Commercial & Bridging does

FD Commercial & Bridging is a Bristol-based UK commercial finance broker founded in 2005 (incorporated as FD Commercial & Bridging Ltd in 2018 under Companies House registration 11671723). The firm operates as a credit broker, connecting borrowers with commercial and bridging finance lenders through a stated panel of more than 180 lenders. Its product surface spans commercial mortgages, bridging finance, development finance, buy-to-let (BTL), and specialist segments including care home and student accommodation finance, with a minimum deal size of £250,000.

The business model is primarily commission-based: for most products the broker fee is built into lender commission, while on development finance the firm charges an additional broker fee of up to 1%. The company operates an embedded relationship with Connect IFA, suggesting a group or referral structure within the broader independent financial advisory space. The technology stack consists of a content/marketing website supported by digital finance calculators (covering bridging, development, and commercial calculations) used for borrower self-service and lead generation; no proprietary platform, algorithmic matching, or AI/ML components are disclosed.

The firm serves small and medium-sized businesses and mid-market borrowers, with a documented case-study base covering transactions across multiple verticals and ticket sizes. Headcount sits in the 1-10 employee range, consistent with a specialist boutique broker focused on larger, lower-volume deals rather than high-volume consumer lending.

Name

FD Commercial & Bridging

Legal name

FD Commercial & Bridging Ltd

Website

https://fdcommercial.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FD Commercial & Bridging is a Bristol-based UK credit broker founded in 2005 that connects SMB and mid-market borrowers with 180+ lenders across commercial, bridging, development, BTL, care home, and student accommodation finance, earning commission and up to 1% broker fees on development deals of £250,000+.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Mortgage Brokerage

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial & Multifamily Mortgage Brokers (FSALABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial Mortgage Brokerage (FSAEAEAB), Debt & Structured Finance / Mortgage Brokerage (BPAJABAK)

Keywords

• Commercial mortgage brokerage
• Bridging loan broker
• Development finance
• Buy-to-let mortgages
• Property finance broker

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Lender Commission (Credit Broker): FD Commercial & Bridging is a credit broker, not a lender. They earn commission from lenders upon completion of a transaction. Whichever lender they introduce a client to, they receive a fixed percentage commission from that lender. Commission varies by lender and product but does not affect the amount the borrower pays under their credit agreement.
2. Development Finance Broker Fee: Development finance is the one product where a borrower fee applies, charged at up to 1% of the loan amount. This fee is confirmed in writing before the client proceeds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FD Commercial & Bridging Ltd is a UK commercial finance broker (not a lender) that arranges commercial mortgages, bridging loans, development finance, and buy-to-let mortgages for property investors, developers, business owners, and homeowners. Operating since 2005, the company accesses a panel of 180+ lenders — including high-street banks, private banks, challenger lenders, and specialist commercial funders — to place deals ranging from £250,000 to £250m+. The firm specialises in complex cases (unusual property types, SPV structures, foreign nationals, portfolio refinances, speed-critical completions) that other brokers have declined.

Product overview

FD Commercial & Bridging Ltd is an FCA-authorised commercial finance broker since 2005, operating as a unified service offering across four core product categories: Bridging Loans (regulated and unregulated, including auction finance, refurbishment bridging, and HNW bridging), Commercial Mortgages (investment and owner-occupier, including semi-commercial, care home, industrial and student accommodation), Development Finance (ground-up builds, conversions, development exit and finish-and-exit products), and Buy to Let Mortgages (including HMO, MUFB, limited company BTL and portfolio products). The offering is supported by eight free online calculators (bridging loan, commercial mortgage, development finance, developer profit, HNW bridging, semi-commercial mortgage, stamp duty, and HMO valuation) and a Finance Finder product recommendation tool. The company operates primarily through its FD Commercial brand for commercial products and Fox Davidson brand for regulated/residential mortgage products, with a combined panel of 180+ lenders covering mainstream, challenger and specialist commercial funders. Minimum loan sizes start from £250,000 with maximum facilities exceeding £250m+.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bridging Loans Short-term secured finance arranged through the broker's 180+ lender panel for time-critical property purchases, auction acquisitions, refurbishment projects, and chain breaks. Available in regulated (residential) and unregulated (commercial) variants with same-day decisions for qualifying cases. Minimum facility £250,000.
• Commercial Mortgages Long-term investment and owner-occupier commercial mortgages for offices, retail, industrial, and mixed-use properties from £250,000, assessed on rental income or business cash flow with terms of 10 to 25 years.
• Development Finance Short-term finance for ground-up builds, conversions, and heavy refurbishment projects including staged drawdowns up to 65% LTGDV, monitoring surveyor costs rolled into facility, and development exit bridging. This is the only product for which the broker charges a client fee (up to 1% of loan amount).
• Buy to Let Mortgages Portfolio landlord mortgage products including HMO, multi-unit freehold block, limited company BTL, and standard buy-to-let for individuals and SPVs, with products spanning personal name and company structures.
• Regulated Bridging Loans Residential bridging loans for homeowners needing to break property chains or complete time-critical moves, regulated by FCA with MCOB 3A extended terms available for HNW borrowers.
• Auction Finance Bridging loan product specifically structured for 28-day auction completions, covering commercial property purchases across Bristol's three active auction houses and UK-wide.
• Semi-Commercial Mortgages Mortgage for mixed-use properties combining commercial and residential elements under one title, assessed on combined income from both elements with rates typically 5.5% to 8% per annum.
• Owner-Occupier Commercial Mortgages Commercial mortgage for businesses purchasing their own premises, assessed on trading income and cash flow rather than rental yield, with specialist lenders reaching up to 100% LTV for regulated professional practices.
• HMO Mortgages Specialist buy-to-let mortgage for Houses in Multiple Occupation covering mandatory licensing, additional licensing, Article 4 conversions and sui generis use class properties. Lender panel includes Paragon, Kent Reliance, Foundation, Aldermore, Precise, Shawbrook.
• Multi-Unit Freehold Block (MUFB) Mortgages Specialist BTL mortgage for single freehold properties containing two or more self-contained residential units, using block or aggregate-of-units valuation methods depending on lender. Dedicated MUFB lender panel includes Landbay, LendInvest, Shawbrook, Paragon.
• Development Exit Finance Short-term bridging loan to repay development facilities while arranging longer-term finance or completing property sales, typically 6 to 18 months duration.
• Care Home Finance Specialist commercial mortgage for care home properties and operators, assessed on trading income using profits method valuation.
• Student Accommodation Finance Commercial mortgage for purpose-built student accommodation properties near Bristol's universities, assessed on income from student lettings.
• Industrial & Warehouse Mortgages

Quantifiable outcome

• Same-day bridging decisions; commercial mortgage terms within 48 hours; auction completions routinely achieved within 28-day deadline
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Optimum Finance: UK commercial finance broker arranging commercial mortgages, bridging, and development finance through a multi-lender panel. Directly comparable in product breadth and target borrowers.
• SPF Private Clients: UK specialist commercial and bridging finance broker operating with a multi-lender panel, focusing on complex cases and high-value transactions. Directly comparable to FD Commercial in target customer, product mix, and broker business model.
• Clever Bridging: UK bridging loan broker arranging regulated and unregulated bridging for residential and commercial borrowers. Comparable in product focus, lender-panel model, and customer base for short-term property finance.
• The Business Finance Group: UK commercial finance broker arranging commercial mortgages, bridging, and development finance via a multi-lender panel. Directly comparable in broker model, product breadth, and customer profile.
• Bridging Finance Solutions (BFS): UK bridging and short-term property finance broker arranging regulated and unregulated bridging facilities for individuals, investors, and developers. Comparable core product focus on time-critical bridging deals through a lender panel.
• Rangewell: UK commercial finance broker and platform connecting SMEs and property borrowers to a wide lender panel for commercial mortgages, bridging, and development finance. Comparable broker model with panel-driven distribution and similar customer segments.
• Hilton Smythe (Finance): UK business and property finance broker arranging commercial mortgages, business loans, and property funding for SMEs and investors. Comparable broker model and target borrower segments.
• LDNfinance: London-based specialist mortgage and commercial finance broker covering residential, BTL, bridging, and commercial mortgages via a broad lender panel. Comparable broker model with specialty positioning in complex and large loan cases.

Broad incumbents

• CBRE (Capital Advisors / Debt & Structured Finance): Global real estate services firm with UK debt & structured finance advisory arranging large commercial mortgages and investment financing. Comparable in serving enterprise borrowers arranging commercial property debt, but operates as a broad incumbent rather than a specialist broker.
• Knight Frank (Capital Markets / Finance): Global real estate advisory with a UK finance and capital markets capability arranging commercial mortgages and structured finance. Overlaps with FD Commercial on commercial mortgage brokerage but as part of a much broader real estate services portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 FD Commercial & Bridging