1 minute read
Help is on hand to navigate complex waters of business finance
Since the global financial crisis, highstreet banks have tightened credit for SMEs, with now fewer than half of loan applications approved, according to a May 2025 report by The Guardian.
In the meantime, the alternative commercial finance market has grown to fill this gap. But although non-bank lenders now provide £15bn a year in funding to SMEs across new, flexible loan products, many business owners avoid exploring the credit options available because these can be complicated.
This is where businesses like Maidstone-based Oliver Montague fit in to the picture. The firm is an FCA-regulated commercial finance brokerage, specialising in non-bank cash-flow finance.
Ben Malins, Director of Oliver Montague, explains: “I started Oliver Montague in October 2024 to help business owners navigate the alternative commercial finance market, and find the best option for the business, the owner, and their requirement.”
Oliver Montague primarily works with small businesses to source:
• Traditional Term Loans
• Overdraft Alternatives
• Merchant Cash Advances
• Invoice Factoring and Discounting
• VAT, Corporation Tax & Self-Assessment Loans
Ben continues: “Each finance type has their specific use case, ranging from acquisition funding to hiring new staff to releasing capital in invoices.
With a 200+ lender panel, we can source finance for small businesses operating in almost any sector, with funding available in as little as 48 hours.
“We also work in partnership with accountants, solicitors and other professionals to enhance the service offered to their clients.”
For more information, see olivermontague.com
❛❛ Each finance type has their specific use case, ranging from acquisition funding to hiring new staff to releasing capital in invoices. With a 200+ lender panel, we can source finance for small businesses operating in almost any sector, with funding available in as little as 48 hours.
