Think Business Loans is a commercial finance broker, not a lender. It uses a panel of more than 200 lenders to match businesses with loans, asset finance, invoice finance and other funding. This 2026 review explains how the process works, what it costs, how the broker is regulated and when using it makes sense.
- Think is a broker, not a direct lender - the underlying lender sets the rate, term, security and final eligibility
- Its panel has more than 200 lenders - one application can be matched across unsecured, secured and specialist products
- Enquiries are free - an admin fee of up to 5% can apply if you accept a formal offer, capped at £10,000
- Initial matching uses a soft search - the first enquiry should not affect your credit score, but the chosen lender may run its own checks
- The service suits complex cases - businesses declined by one bank can compare alternatives, but the broker cannot guarantee approval
What Is Think Business Loans?
Think Business Loans trades through Think Business Finance Limited. It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a credit broker under FRN 724300. It does not lend its own money.
Think combines a digital matching platform with a lending manager. The platform uses business information to identify likely lenders. The manager then explains the options and helps with the application. The rate and contract come from the lender you choose.
You can verify the firm on the FCA register. FCA authorisation does not mean every lender on the panel is FCA-authorised for every product. Ask who will lend the money and what protections apply.
How the Matching Process Works
You submit one enquiry with your borrowing amount, trading history, turnover, sector and intended use. Think then assesses which products may fit. The initial matching stage is described as a soft search, so it should not leave a hard-search footprint.
A lending manager can ask for bank statements, accounts, tax records, identification and a business plan. The chosen lender then performs its own underwriting. A positive match is not an approval and does not guarantee the rate shown in an advert.
Funding speed depends on the lender. Unsecured products can move within a few days when documents are ready. Secured loans, commercial mortgages and complex facilities take longer because of valuation, legal and security checks.
Products Available Through Think
| Product | Typical use | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Unsecured business loan | Working capital without property security | Personal guarantee, APR and term |
| Secured business loan | Larger borrowing against property or assets | Security, valuation and enforcement risk |
| Asset finance | Vehicles, equipment and machinery | Ownership, deposit and residual value |
| Invoice finance | Cash tied up in unpaid B2B invoices | Advance, fees and debtor eligibility |
| Merchant cash advance | Card-heavy businesses with uneven sales | Fixed fee and repayment percentage |
| Bridging or commercial mortgage | Property purchase or short-term gap funding | Valuation, exit plan and legal costs |
How Much Does Think Business Loans Cost?
It is free to enquire and compare. If you accept a formal lender offer, Think can charge an administration fee of up to 5% of the loan amount, capped at £10,000. Secured transactions may also have a commitment fee or broker arrangement fee.
The fee is separate from the lender’s interest, arrangement fee, security cost or legal charge. On a £100,000 offer, a 5% broker fee would be £5,000 before the lender’s own charges. Ask for the broker fee and lender charges in one written cost summary.
Do not assume “free to apply” means free to borrow. Read the fee trigger, refund terms and timing. Confirm whether the fee is payable on acceptance, drawdown or completion, and what happens if the lender withdraws the offer.
Is Think Business Loans Legit?
Think is a registered company, an FCA-authorised broker and a member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers. Those are useful credibility signals. They do not remove the need to check the lender and contract behind your quote.
Ask for the lender’s legal name, FCA status where relevant, complaints route and any personal-guarantee or security requirement. Keep copies of the recommendation and the fee disclosure. If advice is unclear, pause before allowing a hard credit search.
Customer Reviews
Our July 2026 check records a Trustpilot score of 4.8/5 from 1,868 reviews, with 94% five-star reviews. Treat this as a dated public snapshot rather than a guarantee. Positive reviews often mention named advisers and speed. Critical reviews tend to focus on fee clarity or communication.
Check whether a review describes the broker or the underlying lender. Think cannot control the lender’s service after completion. The Trustpilot profile is useful context, but your written offer matters more.
Think Compared with Going Direct
A broker is useful when you are unsure which product fits, have been declined by one lender or want to compare specialist criteria. Going direct can be cheaper when you already know the lender and product because you avoid the broker fee.
Compare Think’s full cost with direct quotes from Funding Circle, HSBC or Barclays. Our business loans hub lists more routes. A broker may still save time, but convenience has a price.
Pros and Cons
Questions to Ask Before Accepting
Ask which lender will provide the money, what the total repayable amount is and whether the rate is fixed or variable. Confirm the broker fee, lender fee, personal guarantee, security, early-settlement terms and any broker commission.
Ask what happens if you decline the first offer. You should be able to compare alternatives without pressure. If you need secured finance, confirm valuation and legal costs before paying a commitment fee.
Documents and Eligibility
Think does not set one universal eligibility rule because each lender on the panel has its own policy. Expect to provide identification, bank statements, accounts, tax records, details of existing borrowing and the purpose of the finance. A lender may also ask for contracts, invoices or property information.
Trading history, turnover, credit profile and sector all affect the match. A newer business may be directed to a specialist lender or a government-backed scheme. An established business with strong cash flow may qualify for a lower-cost bank product. Tell Think about any previous declines or credit issues at the start.
Use the initial soft-search stage to understand the market, but do not submit multiple hard applications without a plan. Ask which lender will perform the hard search and when. Too many applications in a short period can make future borrowing harder.
When a Broker Is Worth the Fee
A broker fee can be worthwhile when you need a specialist product, have an unusual trading structure or cannot identify the right lender yourself. The value is the time saved and the access to criteria you may not find through a bank website.
The fee is less attractive when you already have a direct offer or only need a standard unsecured loan. In that case, ask the direct lender for a final quote and compare it with Think’s recommendation. Include the broker fee in the annual cost, not as an afterthought.
Think should disclose its remuneration before you accept. Keep the disclosure, the recommendation and the lender’s offer together. If the numbers change between the match and the final offer, ask for an explanation before signing.
Also ask whether the lender pays Think a commission. A disclosed commission does not automatically make the recommendation unsuitable, but it helps you understand the incentives. You should be able to compare the recommended deal with a direct quote on the same repayment assumptions for your business.
Remember that Think can arrange funding, not improve a weak business case. A clear use of funds, realistic forecast and evidence of repayment will usually help more than applying to a larger panel without preparation.
If the recommended deal includes security, check what happens on default and whether the lender can demand early repayment. Read every guarantee and charge document. A broker’s convenience should never replace independent legal or financial advice on a large facility today.
Our Verdict
Think Business Loans scores 6.3/10. It is a credible broker with a wide panel and strong public reviews. Its value depends on whether the time saved and wider access outweigh the admin fee. Businesses that know the exact lender they want should compare a direct application first.
Think is a credible FCA-authorised broker with a broad lender panel, but compare the admin fee with a direct application when you already know which lender you want.
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