ARK Commercial Finance

05/10/2026

Adverse credit does not always mean the end of your finance options.

CCJs, defaults, missed payments or other historic credit issues can make obtaining finance more challenging, but there may be specialist lenders willing to consider the wider circumstances of an application.

At ARK Commercial Finance, we can help businesses and property owners explore suitable funding options across our lender network.

Every application is assessed individually and will be subject to lender criteria, affordability, credit assessment and, where applicable, satisfactory security.

If you have experienced credit issues and would like to understand what options may be available, please feel free to get in touch for an initial discussion.

📞 0116 436 1761

📧 [email protected]

🌐 www.arkfs.co.uk



30/09/2026

One Year in Business and what a way to finish the first year! 🚀

8 property finance applications submitted to lenders in a single month.

One year ago, I took one of the biggest decisions of my professional life, leaving behind a well-established 20-year banking career to start my own business.

The first six months were not easy. They were about building relationships, meeting people, understanding the market and laying the foundations.
But I have seen this pattern before.

During my banking career, whenever I was transferred to lead a new branch, I would spend the first 3–6 months building connections and developing the market. Then the results would start coming and the business would accelerate.

This journey has been no different.

And what a way to complete my first year:

🔥 8 property finance applications submitted to lenders in a single month, my highest monthly number since starting the business after receiving FCA approval.

The biggest lesson from this first year?

Do not judge your business by the months when you are planting the seeds. Keep showing up, keep building relationships and keep doing the work. Growth often comes after the period when nobody can see your progress.

Leaving a secure 20-year banking career was a big step, but sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone to discover what you are capable of building yourself.

Year One completed. The foundation is built. Now onto Year Two. 🚀

29/09/2026

🏢 Another Commercial Property Finance Approval!

Another great result for one of my clients commercial property finance approved in less than 9 working days from submitting the full application. 🎉

HSBC continues to maintain an impressive turnaround on my commercial property cases, with another application reaching final approval within 9 working days.

It makes a real difference when everyone works together to get the right outcome for the client. 👏

Looking forward to getting this one through to completion!

28/09/2026

🏠 Sometimes the best finance advice is to advise a client NOT to borrow

Recently, I was approached by a first-time buyer who was considering purchasing their first residential property at auction and wanted me to arrange a bridging loan to fund the purchase.

After discussing the circumstances, my advice was simple:

Do not rush into an auction purchase just because finance may be available.

For an experienced property investor, auctions can present excellent opportunities. But for a first-time buyer with no previous property experience, there are additional risks that need to be fully understood.

🔹 The commitment can be immediate – depending on the type of auction, winning the bid can create a legally binding commitment, with a deposit payable and a relatively short completion deadline.

🔹 Finance is not guaranteed – an Agreement in Principle or indicative bridging terms do not guarantee that the lender will ultimately complete.

🔹 Bridging finance can be expensive – interest, arrangement fees, valuation costs, legal fees and exit costs can quickly add up.

🔹 The legal pack needs careful review – title restrictions, leases, searches, special conditions, covenants and other issues can materially affect the property and its mortgageability.

🔹 The property may have defects – auction properties can require significant refurbishment or have structural, planning or title issues.

🔹 The exit strategy is critical – if the plan is to refinance the bridge onto a residential mortgage, there needs to be confidence that the property and borrower will meet the mortgage lenders criteria when the bridge needs to be repaid.

🔹 Failure to complete can be costly – a buyer could potentially lose their deposit and face additional consequences under the auction contract.

My role as a broker is not simply to arrange finance whenever someone asks for it.

Sometimes the more valuable advice is to say:

Yes, finance may be possible, but that does not necessarily mean the transaction is right for you.

For this client, I recommended gaining a better understanding of the property purchase process and considering a conventional purchase rather than taking unnecessary auction and bridging risk on their very first property.

Good advice is not always about getting the deal completed. Sometimes it is about helping a client understand when not to do the deal.

ARK Commercial Finance
📞 0116 436 1761
📧 [email protected]
🌐 arkfs.co.uk

27/09/2026

Bridging Finance Made Simple 🏢🌉

Bridging finance can be an effective solution when speed, flexibility and certainty of funding are important.

Whether you are purchasing a property, buying at auction, refinancing, releasing equity, completing refurbishment works or need short-term funding while arranging a longer-term solution, the right bridging facility can help keep your plans moving.

But bridging finance is not just about finding the lowest headline rate.

A well-structured application should consider:

✅ The purpose of the funding

✅ Loan to value and available security

✅ Timescale for completion

✅ Supporting information

✅ A clear and realistic exit strategy

✅ An experienced solicitor who understands bridging transactions

✅ The overall cost of borrowing, not just the interest rate

At ARK Commercial Finance, we can assess your circumstances, structure the proposal and approach suitable specialist lenders to find a solution appropriate for your requirements.

If you have a property transaction that requires fast or flexible funding, please feel free to get in touch.

📞 0116 436 1761

📧 [email protected]

🌐 arkfs.co.uk

📍 32 Melton Road, Leicester, LE4 5EA

27/09/2026

24/09/2026

17/09/2026

Considering refinancing your commercial property?

Commercial property refinancing can help you:

🔹 Release equity for growth or investment
🔹 Restructure existing debt
🔹 Consolidate facilities
🔹 Review borrowing costs
🔹 Move to a lender better suited to your requirements

Lenders will typically consider factors such as LTV, DSCR, property type, rental income and business performance.

At ARK Commercial Finance, we can help you explore suitable commercial property finance options across a wide range of scenarios.

📞 0116 4361761
📧 [email protected]
www.arkfs.co.uk

15/09/2026

An Alternative Way to Acquire an Investment Property

Looking to acquire an investment property or an existing property portfolio?

In certain circumstances, rather than purchasing the property directly, you may be able to purchase the shares of the SPV company that owns the property.

A share purchase is different from a direct property purchase and can potentially offer lower transaction costs, depending on the structure and circumstances. However, it is important to consider existing company liabilities, borrowing, contracts and tax implications.

How ARK Commercial Finance can help

As a commercial finance broker, ARK Commercial Finance can help you explore suitable funding options for SPV acquisitions and property portfolios.

We can assess your circumstances and approach suitable lenders based on the property, borrowing requirement, rental income and overall transaction structure.

Important: Always obtain independent legal, tax and accounting advice before proceeding with an SPV share purchase.

📞 0116 436 1761
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 arkfs.co.uk
📍 32 Melton Road, Leicester, LE4 5EA

10/09/2026

🚨 Another challenging deal completed!

Today, I received the final offer letter from the lender for one of my clients who is acquiring an established business.

This was certainly not an easy transaction.

The client had previously approached another broker who was able to secure only £300,000 of bridging finance at 13% per annum, despite the client requiring approximately £550,000 of funding.

We went back to the drawing board and structured a long term funding solution covering the acquisition, including:

✅ Share purchase
✅ Stock
✅ Business assets
✅ Goodwill

Most importantly, the new structure is expected to save the client at least £33,000 per year in interest costs compared with the previous bridging proposal.

For me, this is what good commercial finance broking is about. It is not simply about finding a lender who says yes. It is about understanding the transaction, challenging the initial structure and finding a funding solution that works for the client and the business.

A very satisfying result for the client and another reminder that the right structure can make a significant difference to the overall cost of finance.

Looking for finance for your business?

At ARK COMMERCIAL FINANCE we can help businesses explore funding options across a wide range of requirements, including:
🏢 Commercial & Semi Commercial Mortgages
🏠 Buy to Let & HMO Finance
🌉 Bridging Finance
🏗️ Development Finance
💼 Business Acquisition Finance
💰 Working Capital & SME Finance
🚗 Asset & Vehicle Finance
🌾 Agricultural Finance
📄 Invoice Finance
🏪 Business & Goodwill Finance
We work with a wide range of lenders to help find suitable funding solutions for businesses and property investors.
📞 0116 436 1761
🌐www.arkfs.co.uk
📍 32 Melton Road, Leicester, LE4 5EA
email: [email protected]

If you or someone in your network is looking for finance, please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to have an initial conversation and explore the options available.