Independent mortgage brokerage firm
Set up your own FCA-authorised brokerage with an office, your own brand and the option to hire advisers and admin staff.
- £8k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
9,891 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 66190 “Activities auxiliary to financial intermediation n.e.c.”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
You run your own regulated firm rather than working under a network. You hold your own permissions, set your own compliance processes and choose your own lender access and software. It gives more control and room to grow into a small team, with more cost and responsibility.
Your first three steps
- Read the FCA's guidance on applying for authorisation and decide who will hold the key approved roles
- Price up the costs of authorisation, insurance, compliance support, software and an office, and build a 12-month cash plan
- Talk to existing small brokerages and compliance consultants about what the first year really involves
Who pays
Home buyers, remortgagers and landlords, plus referral partners such as estate agents, developers and financial advisers. Lenders pay commission and clients may pay a fee.
How it makes money
Procuration fees from lenders and client fees on completed mortgages, often with insurance referrals alongside. With staff, you earn a share of what each adviser brings in, minus your running costs.
Skills that help
- Mortgage advice qualifications and experience
- Managing compliance and record keeping
- Marketing and building referral partners
- Managing people if you hire
Watch out for
- You must be authorised by the FCA before carrying out regulated mortgage activity, and applications take time and need careful preparation
- Check ongoing costs such as FCA fees, professional indemnity insurance, compliance support and complaints procedures
- You carry full regulatory responsibility, including how your advisers behave
- Cash flow can be slow because you are paid on completion
- Check data protection registration with the ICO and your anti-money laundering obligations
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: independent mortgage brokerage firm
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to set up a mortgage brokerage?
Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £25,000, depending on your office, software, compliance support and insurance. Also check ongoing costs such as FCA fees, professional indemnity insurance and complaints procedures.
How much can an independent mortgage brokerage earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £2,500 to £12,000, depending on how many advisers you have and how many referral partners send you clients. Cash flow can be slow because you are paid on completion.
What authorisation do I need to run a mortgage brokerage?
You must be authorised by the FCA before carrying out regulated mortgage activity, and applications need careful preparation and take time. Also check data protection registration with the ICO and your anti-money laundering obligations.
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