It varies by lender and by how complete your application is. Straightforward cases with clean, up-to-date information tend to move quickly; anything requiring security, additional underwriting or missing paperwork takes longer. No broker or lender can guarantee a timescale, and we will not quote one until we know which lender is looking at your case.
You can speed things up considerably by having your paperwork ready before you apply. Most lenders will ask for recent business bank statements, your latest filed accounts, up-to-date management figures where available, and details of existing borrowing and directors.
Delays usually come from the same places: incomplete information, unexplained items on bank statements, out-of-date accounts, or a purpose that has not been clearly set out. Being upfront about anything awkward in your history is generally faster than having a lender find it.
If your need is genuinely urgent, tell us at the outset. Knowing the deadline lets us approach lenders whose process fits it, rather than starting with the cheapest option and running out of time. A decision to lend, and how fast it is made, remains with the lender.