Arranging finance to buy a business feels opaque if you have never done it before. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, when you work with our specialist broker network.
You tell us what you are looking to buy: the type of FM business, approximate value, your deposit position, and your timeline. This is a no-obligation conversation. No credit checks, no commitments. We are assessing whether finance is realistic for your situation and which type of funding structure makes sense.
What we need from you at this stage: your name, contact details, a rough idea of the purchase price, how much deposit you have available, and whether you currently work in or own a facilities management business. That is it.
Your details are shared with one broker matched to your situation. This is not a comparison site that sells your enquiry to a panel. There is no race to call you first.
Based on your situation, we match you with the most appropriate specialist broker from our panel. Each broker has different lender relationships and strengths. Some are particularly strong with asset-based deals, others have excellent relationships with challenger banks who are actively funding services sector acquisitions.
This matching step is important. The wrong broker for your deal size or structure can cost you weeks. The right one already knows which lenders to approach and what they want to see.
This is where the specialist knowledge earns its keep. Your broker works with you to package your application in the language lenders want to hear. For an FM business, that means presenting the multi-year contract book as recurring revenue, documenting the ISO certification portfolio (9001, 14001, 45001) as regulatory assets, highlighting the TUPE-protected workforce as continuity evidence, and demonstrating the client retention rate across sectors.
A generic application to a high street bank says "I want to buy a business for £500,000." A specialist-packaged application says "I am acquiring an ISO triple-certified FM company with 85% recurring revenue from 3-year TFM contracts across NHS, education, and commercial sectors, a DBS-cleared workforce of 65 operatives, and an established CAFM system." The second application gets better terms.
Your broker approaches their panel of lenders with the packaged application. They typically approach three to five lenders simultaneously to ensure competitive terms. You are not limited to one bank's offer, and you are not the one making the calls or filling in forms at this stage. The broker handles the lender conversations.
Lenders come back with indicative terms: loan amount, rate, term, security requirements, and conditions. Your broker presents these to you, explains the differences, and recommends the strongest option for your situation. You are never locked in at this stage. If none of the offers work, you walk away with no cost and no obligation.
Once you accept indicative terms, the lender conducts formal due diligence on the target business. This typically includes reviewing three years of accounts, tax returns, major contracts, staff records, and any regulatory compliance documentation. For FM businesses, they will look closely at ISO certification status, TUPE obligations, DBS clearance records, contract renewal dates, and Living Wage compliance.
This is where deals often stall if the buyer went direct to their bank. The bank asks questions the buyer does not know how to answer. With a specialist broker, the due diligence pack is prepared in advance and the broker manages the conversation with the lender throughout.
Formal offer issued, legal documents signed, funds drawn down. Your broker coordinates timing with your solicitor and the seller's side to ensure completion runs smoothly. Funds land in the solicitor's client account ready for completion day.
From first conversation to funds available. With preparation and a cooperative seller, some deals complete in as little as four weeks.