Business finance broker

Lenders usually pay you commission when a deal completes. Some brokers also charge the business a fee, which must be clearly explained up front.

A commission from the lender on each completed deal, sometimes plus an agreed fee from the client. Income comes in lumps as deals complete, so it can vary a lot from month to month.

• Comfortable talking about money and numbers
• Building relationships with accountants and business owners
• Careful paperwork and follow-up
• Clear, honest explanations

• FCA rules: arranging credit for individuals, sole traders and some small partnerships is often regulated, so check before you trade
• Professional indemnity insurance and, where relevant, public liability cover
• Data protection: register with the ICO and handle financial documents securely
• Fees and commission must be disclosed clearly to clients; check the rules on this
• Income can be uneven and deals can fall through after weeks of work

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £1,000 to £6,000, depending on insurance, software, regulatory costs and marketing. You work from home using phone, email and lender portals, which keeps overheads fairly low.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on how many deals complete. Income can be uneven, and deals can fall through after weeks of work, so plan your cash flow.

Check FCA rules before you trade, as arranging credit for individuals, sole traders and some small partnerships is often regulated. Also check professional indemnity insurance, ICO registration, secure handling of documents, and how fees and commission must be disclosed to clients.