Too many loans, too many repayments, not enough breathing room. Let’s fix that.
I’m Mark Smillie. In 30 years of arranging business finance, one of the most common calls I get isn’t from businesses looking for new money. It’s from directors who’ve already borrowed, several times over, and now the repayments are strangling the business they borrowed to grow.
Multiple short-term loans. A merchant cash advance or two. A bounce-back loan still running. Different lenders, different rates, different dates, and every month the same scramble to cover them all before something bounces.
If that sounds familiar, you don’t need more finance. You need a better structure.
Business debt consolidation takes everything you owe and rolls it into one single facility with one monthly payment, almost always lower than the combined total you’re paying now. I’ve helped businesses cut their monthly repayments by up to 75% through refinancing. That’s not a sales figure. That’s what happens when you replace several high-rate short-term loans with a properly structured, longer-term facility at a sensible rate.
What business debt consolidation actually is
Debt consolidation for UK businesses works by refinancing your existing debts into a single new loan with better terms. Usually that means a lower interest rate, a longer repayment period, or both.
Instead of paying five lenders on five different dates, you make one payment to one lender. Instead of juggling high-rate short-term debt that was only ever meant to be a temporary fix, you have a facility that’s sized for your actual situation and structured so the repayments fit your cash flow rather than fight it.
It doesn’t erase the debt. But it makes it manageable again, and for a lot of businesses that’s the difference between surviving and going under.
Why businesses end up needing consolidation
It usually starts with a cash flow gap. You took a short-term loan to cover it. Then another one when the first didn’t fully solve the problem. Then a merchant cash advance because it was quick and the bank said no. Before long you’re paying three or four lenders every month and the combined repayments are bigger than the original problem ever was.
This is more common than most business owners want to admit, and there’s no shame in it. Short-term lending is designed to be accessible and fast. It’s not designed to be held for long or stacked in multiples. The lenders know that. Most business owners don’t find out until it’s already happened.
The good news is that refinancing out of this situation is usually possible, even with a bruised credit file, even with CCJs, and even if you’ve been turned down for consolidation elsewhere.
What consolidation can do for your business
Cut your monthly repayments by up to 75%
Replace several high-rate short-term facilities with one longer-term loan at a lower rate and your monthly outgoing drops significantly. That cash stays in your business instead of going to lenders.
One payment, one date, one lender
No more juggling. No more working out which account needs topping up before which direct debit lands. One facility, total clarity.
Improved cash flow from day one
Lower monthly repayments mean more working capital left in the business. More cash to pay suppliers on time, cover wages, and take on new work without constantly firefighting.
Better terms than you’re currently on
If your existing debt is a mix of merchant cash advances and short-term unsecured loans, the rates you’re paying are almost certainly high. Refinancing into a structured facility replaces expensive debt with cheaper debt.
Stop the downward spiral
Every missed payment and every hard credit search makes the next application harder. Consolidating now, while the business is still trading, gives you a far better set of options than waiting until the pressure gets worse.
How I arrange business debt consolidation for you
No two businesses arrive at the same place in the same way. That’s why I don’t have a standard consolidation product I push at everyone. I look at your specific situation first.
Here’s what the process looks like:
Step one: understand the full picture
I’ll go through all your existing debt with you. What you owe, who you owe it to, what the rates are, what the terms are. Most businesses haven’t sat down and looked at the full number in one place. It’s always worth doing.
Step two: identify the right consolidation route
Depending on your situation, the right facility might be a secured loan against a business asset, an unsecured term loan, a refinance against your property, or a combination. I’ll work out which lenders are a genuine fit for your circumstances before anything gets submitted.
Step three: package and submit the application properly
This is where using a broker matters. A properly packaged application lands differently than a direct submission. I know what each lender’s underwriters want to see, and I structure the application accordingly.
Step four: funds and settlement
Once approved, the new facility pays off your existing loans. From that point you have one monthly payment at a significantly lower combined rate.
From first call to funds settled: typically five to fifteen days depending on the facility type. It costs you nothing. I’m paid by the lender when a deal completes.
Can I consolidate if I have bad credit or CCJs?
Often, yes.
The businesses I help with consolidation usually have a complicated credit picture, that tends to come with stacking multiple loans. But lenders who specialise in business debt refinancing look at more than a credit score. They look at the underlying business, the trading history, the cash flow, and whether the consolidated loan is genuinely serviceable.
If you’ve got real turnover and a business that’s trading, there’s usually a route. The longer you leave it, the harder it gets. Call me now rather than when it’s become an emergency.
Frequently asked questions
Will consolidating my loans affect my credit score?
Refinancing involves a credit search, which is normal. But replacing multiple high-rate facilities with one consolidated loan typically improves your credit position over time because you’re reducing overall debt and making consistent single payments.
Can I consolidate a merchant cash advance?
Yes. MCA debt is some of the most expensive short-term finance there is. Rolling it into a longer-term facility at a lower rate is one of the most common consolidations I arrange.
Do I need to own property to consolidate?
Not necessarily. Secured consolidation loans use property as security and usually offer the best rates. But there are unsecured consolidation routes available depending on your turnover and trading history.
How much can I save?
It depends entirely on what you’re currently paying and what facility you consolidate into. In straightforward cases where a business has stacked several short-term high-rate loans, monthly repayment reductions of 50% to 75% are realistic. I’ll give you a real estimate once I understand your situation, not a headline figure designed to get you on the phone.
What if I’ve already been turned down for consolidation?
That usually means you went to the wrong lender, or the application wasn’t packaged properly. Call me before you give up. A decline from one underwriter isn’t a verdict from the whole market.
Ready to stop juggling and start breathing?
One call is all it takes. Tell me what you’re carrying and I’ll tell you what we can do with it. No credit checks at this stage. No commitments. No cost.
The sooner you call, the more options you have.
Or call me directly: 07710 466166
Testimonials from firms like yours:
“Mark totally exceeded my expectations. He was amazingly responsive to every phone call and email, gave great advice without judgement, and was very honest about my position and how he could help. He introduced me to a wonderful specialist, Leanne, who was very good and delivered the finance I needed. I felt supported by Mark every step of the way, I just don’t have a bad word to say – it was all super smooth!”
“We went to Mark for business finance after being let down by other brokers who promised the world and never delivered. Mark was the first genuine specialist we met, and the only broker who actually did what he said he would. He gets the finer details right. We were introduced to an expert for our particular scenario and successful with finance for our eCommerce business. Mark will listen and advise on the best solution – it may even be one you didn’t know existed. Mightily impressed that he even arranged an independent follow-up call for feedback on his service. No hesitation in recommending Mark.”
“Mark Smillie is very positive and straightforward to work with. He knew exactly who to put us in touch with to get the business finance product we needed. It was a painless process and we are very pleased with the product that was put together for us. We are already recommending his refreshingly personalised service to other businesses.”
We approached 4 brokers with the same proposition, but it was obvious we should engage with Mark Smillie at Ringrose Business Finance. He was frank and honest about what he could achieve and had a real can-do attitude. With his knowledge and network, we were introduced to a top-notch specialist and our application was successful. Mark’s personal touches before, during and after the process is something you rarely get these days. I can’t recommend Mark highly enough.
Group of Engineering Companies
“So good we recommend him to other Companies”
“Mark Smillie is very good at what he does – you can’t fault his helpfulness and inside knowledge on finance companies. We would definitely go back to him again with any business finance requirements and do recommend him to other companies.”
“Mark Smillie came up trumps and delivered a finance package in very challenging circumstances. It’s easy to think his success stories are too good to be true, but I now know from experience that he is an approachable, real person that you can speak to directly. His service is excellent and he knows his stuff. We worked with one of his trusted, specialist contacts as part of securing the deal and they scored 10 out of 10 too. Highly recommended.”
“We’re very pleased with the financial solution Mark delivered for us and we still keep the direct relationship with our clients as a result. As a young and growing business, we hadn’t held out much hope of being able to find the support we needed, but having done some research, Mark was confident he could help. He’s definitely the go-to person for invoice finance.”