Common Questions, Direct Answers
Candid answers on process, timelines, fees, and what separates Northmere from a bank or a comparison platform.
Expertise, Not Aggregation
Is Northmere a bank or a comparison site?
Neither. Northmere is a direct-operator broker — we prepare and place applications ourselves, working directly with lenders rather than aggregating or referring you elsewhere.
What types of finance can Northmere source?
Invoice financing, trade finance, business loans, acquisition debt (senior and mezzanine), and asset-backed facilities — all unregulated commercial finance for UK businesses. We do not place commercial mortgages, bridging loans, development finance, HMO finance, or Buy to Let products.
Will my enquiry be passed to third parties?
No. Your information is handled by Northmere directly. We approach lenders only with your explicit instruction and only where there is a genuine fit.
Do I need to provide a personal guarantee?
In many cases, no — but it depends. Northmere structures facilities to avoid personal guarantees wherever the deal allows. Whether one is required depends on the lender, the facility type, your trading history, and the strength of any underlying assets. We assess this at first enquiry and tell you upfront, not after you've signed a heads of terms.
Will a lender take a second charge on my home?
Northmere does not place facilities that require a second charge on residential property. If a lender's terms include one, we won't proceed with that application — and we'll tell you why before it gets that far.
Is Northmere regulated by the FCA?
No. Northmere sources unregulated commercial finance — facilities provided to UK limited companies for business purposes, where the activity falls outside FCA regulation. We don't hold FCA permissions, and we don't source regulated products such as consumer credit or regulated mortgages. If an enquiry looks like it may fall within regulated activity, we'll tell you and won't proceed with it rather than try to place it anyway.
Speed, Cost, and Aligned Incentives
How quickly can a decision be reached?
Credit-backed decisions on invoice and trade facilities typically arrive within 3–10 business days. Acquisition and structured debt can take 4–12 weeks depending on due diligence complexity. Getting the application to the right lender, prepared to that lender's requirements, is where most of the time gets saved.
What does Northmere charge?
A broker fee is charged on successful completion only. The structure and amount are agreed transparently at the outset. We are paid when the deal closes — our incentive is your success.
My bank declined — can Northmere still help?
Often, yes. A bank decline reflects one lender's criteria at one point in time — non-bank and specialist lenders work to different structures, and the capital may exist elsewhere.
What information do I need to provide?
The detail varies by facility type. Our Required Documents page sets out the standard checklist. A strong submission includes audited accounts, management information, and a clear statement of purpose.
Ready to Discuss Your Requirement?
Submit a structured enquiry and a Northmere broker will respond within one business day with a direct assessment — no holding queue, no automated response.