Quick answer
To refer a client for business finance, first get the client's agreement, then either have them complete our 60-second enquiry or complete it together, noting in the form that an adviser referred them and including your name and firm. A specialist calls the client directly, confirms the details and, with the client's permission, comes back to you for any figures or explanations. The client stays the applicant and decision-maker throughout.
Key points
- Get your client's agreement before sharing anything — they remain the applicant.
- Use the same enquiry form and note that an adviser referred them, with your name and firm.
- We call the client first, then come to you only for what they've authorised.
- We don't make commission or fee promises to advisers — the referral is about the client getting matched well.
- How
- Same 60-second enquiry form
- Note to add
- Referred by adviser + name/firm
- First call goes to
- The client
- Credit check to enquire
- None
You’ve noticed a client heading towards a cash squeeze, a tax bill or a growth step they can’t fund from the bank account. You’d like to point them somewhere sensible without becoming their broker. This page explains exactly how to introduce a client to Business Loan Link, what to prepare, and what happens after you do.
Who this is for
This guide is written for:
- Accountants and registered tax agents who see the full financial picture
- Bookkeepers who notice cash flow pressure week by week
- BAS agents who see ATO balances and lodgement patterns
- Financial planners who see business needs spilling into household finances
- Business coaches and mentors helping owners plan growth
You don’t need any special arrangement with us to refer a client. There’s no adviser portal, no sign-up and no paperwork beyond what the client chooses to share.
The referral in four steps
Step 1: Agree it with your client
Before you share anything, check that your client wants to explore finance and is comfortable with you being involved. Agree what you’ll share and what you’d prefer they ask you about directly. A short email confirming the conversation is good practice.
Step 2: Make the enquiry using the standard form
Either your client completes our 60-second enquiry themselves, or you complete it together during a meeting. In the form, note that an adviser referred them, and include your name and firm, plus whether they’re happy for us to contact you. That note is what tells our specialist to keep you in the loop.
Step 3: We call your client first
A specialist reads the enquiry and calls your client — not you — to understand the purpose, amount, timing and their situation. If your client has authorised it, the specialist may then contact you for figures or explanations. We copy the client in on what we discuss.
Step 4: The file is matched, not broadcast
Your client’s details are linked to one suitable lender, chosen for their circumstances. They aren’t distributed to a crowd of lenders, so there’s no flood of calls and no cluster of credit enquiries. If there isn’t a sensible fit, we’ll say so.
What to send (and when)
You don’t need to send anything at the referral stage. But if you’d like to make the first call more productive, prepare these in advance so you can send them once your client has authorised it:
| Document | Why it helps | Who usually holds it |
|---|---|---|
| Last two years’ financial statements | Profit trend, assets, debts | Accountant |
| Tax returns and notices of assessment | Declared income, lodgement status | Accountant / tax agent |
| Year-to-date P&L and balance sheet | Current trading versus last return | Accountant or bookkeeper |
| Last four quarterly BAS (or 12 monthly) | Turnover consistency, discipline | BAS agent or bookkeeper |
| ATO account statement | Any balance owing and payment plans | BAS agent or tax agent |
| Aged debtors and creditors | Working capital pressure | Bookkeeper |
Our Link-up checklist builder produces a tailored version of this list split into what the client provides and what you provide. It has an adviser mode designed for exactly this.
What we ask of advisers
To keep referrals clean and useful for everyone:
- Only refer with consent. The client must know and agree.
- Share facts, not forecasts dressed as facts. If a figure is an estimate, label it as one.
- Don’t promise an outcome. Every application is assessed on its merits, and no loan is guaranteed.
- Raise known issues early. ATO debt, a loss year or a lodgement gap is far easier to handle when it’s mentioned at the start. See explaining red flags to lenders.
What you can expect from us
- A real person on every file, who calls the client promptly
- Your client’s details matched to one appropriate lender, not distributed widely
- Questions for you only within the scope your client has authorised
- Plain answers — including “not right now” when that’s the honest one
We don’t make commission or fee promises to advisers, and we don’t run a partner programme. The value of the referral is that your client gets a properly matched option, and you stay informed about something that affects the advice you give them.
When is a referral the right move?
A referral makes sense when your client has a defined need, trading that can support repayments (or property that can secure the loan), and lodgements that are current or close to it. It’s usually premature when the client can’t say what the money is for, or when the numbers show a structural loss rather than a timing gap. In those cases, helping the client get ready first is the better service — and the referral will be stronger when it comes.
Preparing the client for the conversation
The best referrals come from clients who know what they need and why. Our guide to preparing a client for a funding conversation covers how to frame the amount, purpose and repayment path with them before the call. For the working relationship once the file is moving, see adviser and lender collaboration.
Introduce your client today
If a client has a funding need and is happy for you to help, the next step is simple. Start the enquiry with your client and note that you referred them, with your name and firm. There’s no credit check when they enquire, their details are linked to one well-suited lender rather than sprayed around, and a real specialist calls them to work through it. Accurate answers on the form — amount, purpose, property and any ATO position — mean the first match is the right one. Make the introduction.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a separate adviser portal or referral form?
No. Referrals use the same short enquiry form as everyone else. Just make sure the form notes that an adviser referred the client and includes your name and firm so we know to keep you in the loop.
Do you pay referral fees or commissions to advisers?
We don't make any commission or fee promises to advisers on this site. The purpose of a referral is to get your client properly matched with a suitable lender.
Will you contact my client without them knowing?
No. Referrals only proceed with the client's agreement, and our specialist calls the client directly to confirm everything before speaking with anyone else.
Can I complete the enquiry on the client's behalf?
You can sit with them and complete it together, which often gives more accurate answers. The client should confirm the details and their contact information so the specialist reaches the right person.
What if the client isn't a good fit for finance?
We'll tell them plainly. If borrowing isn't sensible right now, that's a useful answer too, and it often helps the conversation you'll have with them next.
Will my client's credit file be affected by the referral?
No. There's no credit check at the enquiry stage. A check is only discussed once the client chooses to proceed.