Lender review · Specialist commercial finance for SMEs
Bolton Finance
- Reviewed May 2026
- Editor Oliver Mackman
- Methodology Public
Long-trading independent (since 1972) but operates almost entirely through broker introductions; direct UK SMB borrower discovery is limited. UK specialist underwriting beyond mainstream credit limits. Useful for established Ltd companies with a recent CCJ, recent restructuring or sub-2-year trading where mainstream rates apply but mainstream lenders decline.
Director, BestBusinessLoans
Oliver leads BestBusinessLoans's editorial reviews and methodology. With a background in UK commercial finance, he oversees lender research, rate verification and review independence.
Last reviewed: 10 May 2026
At a glance
- Product
- Specialist commercial finance for SMEs
- Ticket size
- £25k to £1m
- Typical rate
- From around 8% to 15% APR equivalent
- Decision time
- 3 to 5 business days
- Soft search at quote
- Yes
- Limited companies only
- No
- FCA regulated
- Yes (check the FCA Register)
Scores against our methodology
- Rate transparency3/5
- Eligibility clarity4/5
- Decision speed4/5
- Decline handling4/5
How Bolton Finance works
Bolton Finance operates as a specialist commercial finance for smes provider in the UK SMB market. Long-trading independent (since 1972) but operates almost entirely through broker introductions; direct UK SMB borrower discovery is limited. UK specialist underwriting beyond mainstream credit limits. Useful for established Ltd companies with a recent CCJ, recent restructuring or sub-2-year trading where mainstream rates apply but mainstream lenders decline.
The product mechanic is straightforward in shape but the underwriting is sector-specific. Tickets sit in the £25k to £1m band, decisions land within 3 to 5 business days, and the published rate range is From around 8% to 15% APR equivalent. Soft search at quote means no impact on your credit file at the eligibility stage. Bolton Finance is FCA regulated.
Where Bolton Finance fits best: post-decline established ltd companies, recent ccjs of moderate size, sub-2-year established trading. Where it does not fit: sub-£25k tickets, mainstream clean-credit cases.
Pricing examples
Worked examples using Bolton Finance's published rate range (From around 8% to 15% APR equivalent). Simple-interest approximation, mid-band rate. Real offers will differ and should be confirmed on the lender quote.
| Ticket | Term | Estimated total cost | Approx monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | 24 months | £30,750 | £1,281 |
| £50,000 | 36 months | £67,250 | £1,868 |
| £100,000 | 48 months | £146,000 | £3,042 |
Indicative only. Confirm on a Bolton Finance quote.
Eligibility
- Trading time: typically 12 to 24 months minimum for the cleanest pricing.
- Turnover floor: not always published. As a working figure, expect a £100k+ turnover requirement for term loans of £50k+. Smaller tickets and MCA structures have lower floors.
- Sector exclusions: Sub-£25k tickets.
- Credit profile: Mainstream clean-credit cases.
- Company structure: Limited companies and (in some cases) sole traders / partnerships.
- Best fit: Post-decline established Ltd companies; Recent CCJs of moderate size; Sub-2-year established trading.
Pros
- + Underwrites cases mainstream lenders refuse.
- + Faster than asset-backed specialists.
- + Direct relationship with the underwriter.
Cons
- − Higher rate than mainstream alternatives.
- − Smaller panel of products.
- − Brand recognition limited.
Best for
- · Post-decline established Ltd companies
- · Recent CCJs of moderate size
- · Sub-2-year established trading
Weak at
- · Sub-£25k tickets
- · Mainstream clean-credit cases
When to use Bolton Finance
Use Bolton Finance when
Your application matches the best-fit profile: post-decline established ltd companies, recent ccjs of moderate size, sub-2-year established trading. The published ticket range (£25k to £1m) covers your ask, the decision speed (3 to 5 business days) fits your cash-gap timeline, and the rate range (From around 8% to 15% APR equivalent) is acceptable to you given your credit profile. Soft search at quote means there is no downside to running an eligibility check before committing.
Do not use Bolton Finance when
Your profile sits in the weak-at list: sub-£25k tickets, mainstream clean-credit cases. Bolton Finance will likely decline, and the decline itself can sit on broker records for 90 days. If you have any of these flags, route directly to a specialist (post-decline lender, MCA against card flow, asset-backed alternative) rather than using Bolton Finance as a screen.
FAQs
What is the minimum trading time for Bolton Finance?
Bolton Finance typically asks for 12 to 24 months of trading. Newer businesses can sometimes qualify against alternative underwriting (card flow for MCA, asset security for asset finance), but the cleanest pricing tends to require two full sets of accounts.
Does Bolton Finance require a personal guarantee?
Most UK SMB lenders require a personal guarantee from at least one director. Bolton Finance is no exception in the standard case. The few exceptions: asset-backed lending where the asset itself stands as security, and a small number of MCA structures where card flow is the underwriting basis. For specialist commercial finance for smes specifically, expect a PG to be requested.
How fast does Bolton Finance fund?
Bolton Finance quotes 3 to 5 business days for an underwriting decision. Funding to bank account typically follows within one to three working days of acceptance, subject to KYC, signed documents, and (where applicable) registration of any debenture or charge.
What rate should I expect from Bolton Finance?
Bolton Finance's published range is From around 8% to 15% APR equivalent. The headline number is rarely the offered number. Rate transparency on this lender scores 3/5 in our methodology. Expect the cleaner end of the band only if you have 2+ years of trading, clean credit, and turnover comfortably above the lender's stated floor.
What happens if Bolton Finance declines me?
If Bolton Finance declines, you have three realistic next steps. First, ask for the decline reason in writing, most reputable UK lenders will tell you. Second, route the application to a specialist post-decline lender (Bizcap, JPM Capital, Bolton Finance) where credit issues are the constraint, or to an asset-backed alternative where security is available. Third, use a broker panel to fan the application across the lenders most likely to accept your specific decline reason. Bolton Finance scores 4/5 on decline handling in our methodology.
Where to apply
Apply directly via www.boltonfinance.com, or use our free quote form to be matched across the UK broker panel most likely to approve your specific profile, not just Bolton Finance.
Specialty alternatives
See all lender reviews for alternatives.
Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 10 May 2026. Lender website: www.boltonfinance.com.