Posted: Monday, 16 February 2026 @ 10:15
Brokers always want to get best deal for their customer - that's their job. Part of that is about getting the best rate possible - after all, no one ever wants to overpay for anything, least of all when there's interest to consider.
However, getting the best deal is not just about the literal cost of the borrowing - it's about a whole package of details that make up a relationship that best serves the client. In this article, we explain how Rivers helps brokers to deliver the best deal to help their business customers thrive.
A lender that stays true to their word
If you only ever remember one thing about the Rivers team, it's that we play with a straight bat. Two areas in which that really shines through are our commission and our interest rates, where we are transparent about fees and they are non-negotiable.
Broker commission
Broker commission has become something of a contentious issue in recent years, which doesn't really seem fair because they work hard on behalf of their clients and they need to be paid for their work. However, the need for clarity and transparency around that commission is important - as most people agree.
In the last couple of years, some lenders have tackled a tricky market by promising commission rates inflated to as much as 15% in order to win business. That 'carrot' is usually quickly taken away so the broker never sees it.
Brokers and lenders are businesses, and they have to make sure they are both a commercial operation and an ethical one. At Rivers our commission rates are set - they must be declared to the client, and they are consistent. We don't change them as an incentive because we operate on the basis that a good deal is a good deal; we don't offer finance unless we believe it's sensible to do so, and we are committed to our brokers and honour our relationships with them.
Interest rates
Similarly, our attitude towards interest rates is rooted in fairness. We do not set out to be the cheapest money in the market - that is not what the alternative lending space is for. This is a sector that's about delivering considered finance to businesses for strategic use.
We know that businesses need to know what their outgoings are going to be consistently. Therefore, we offer loans and leases on a fixed interest rate, so as soon as a transaction is agreed, the client know where they stand from the outset and what their repayments will be each month. The market might change but our arrangement with them won't.
Responsible lending
At Rivers we want to lend money - whether it's asset finance, a business loan, or block discounting - that's our business. We will always look for ways to make borrowing work, and we do that by listening to the business case and structuring finance in a way that's as manageable as possible.
However, we also make sure we do our due diligence, safeguarding our stakeholders, including our clients themselves. That is rooted in our minimum criteria:
- The business needs to be registered in England or Wales
- It must be a Limited Company or LLP
- At least one of the business owners must be a homeowner
- Minimum trading times for short-term corporate loans is from three months trading onwards
- For medium-term loans minimum trading times is from six months trading times onwards
- All business sectors will be considered All loan purposes will be considered
A storybook lending approach
We have designed our finance products to meet the practical needs of small and medium-sized businesses. We are an SME ourselves, and we understand the realities of running a business. That's why we have designed a range of products for different needs - we call it our 'storybook lending' approach.
We offer short- and medium-term business loans for cash flow and business development. We also offer asset finance, including small ticket soft asset leasing. Crucially, we are non-sector specific, basing our approvals on the business case itself rather than an organisation's industry. Furthermore, we will consider funding from as little as £2,500 up to £100,000.
Terms that support businesses
The terms of business finance are an integral part of being both purposeful and manageable, which is why we have taken a great deal of time to consider what that looks like on each of our products. For example:
Time and flexibility
We give customers up to 60 days to take up lease and hire purchase offers – that's almost double the amount of time most lenders allow. This is to ensure the client is happy with the offer, including time to shop around or make sure they have everything in place to start utilising the borrowing from day one.
Designed for business use
Our short-term business loans feature no early repayment penalties, repayments made at 14-day intervals for more manageable cash flow, and renewals available after 50% of the original loan has been repaid.
One-off arrangement fees
As mentioned, we are clear and upfront about our fees with only a one-off arrangement fee, starting as low as 3%.
Helping businesses to maximise the use of the loan
In many instances, our fees can also be added to the loan amount rather than deducted from it, so businesses optimise the full benefit of the borrowing, which is the reason for it in the first place. With many lenders, fees are taken upfront, which means businesses never actually benefit from the full loan amount.
Rivers has been providing business finance for more than 15 years, and we take great pride in helping entrepreneurs to achieve their goals. We know that price is important, but we also know that the 'best deal' is about lots of different details that amount to whether or not it makes sense for that entity. Ultimately, it's about approaching funding as a trusting relationship so that brokers and businesses can achieve the best outcome for them, and that's what we aim to deliver.
Contact Rivers