As trusted business advisors, accountants and bookkeepers often have a network of small- to medium-sized business owners who have entrusted them with the financial well-being of their growing enterprises. Increasingly, growing businesses are looking to their accountants for more than just a balancing of the books — they are often seeking counsel on ways of sustaining regular cash flow or funding business expansion without sacrificing hard-won assets or savings. Sometimes, SMEs are also looking for ways to finance their expansion without relying on traditional funding routes. 

Although traditional lenders are safe and reputable, their stringent application criteria and inflexible conditions often inadvertently disadvantage SMEs who need efficient funding to keep cash flowing and accounts growing. Many times, traditional lenders are not in a position to help SMEs grow at all. 

When growing businesses find themselves in a spot like this, it’s not uncommon for them to approach their accountants for a solution. Happily, many financial professionals in this position are able to recommend Bridgement as a convenient, transparent, and efficient funding solution provider. 

Why Bridgement is a preferred lender for our network of referral partners 

There are plenty of reasons why accountants and bookkeepers are fans of Bridgement, but some stand out above the rest. 

  1. FinTech-powered convenience 

Bridgement integrates with cloud-based accounting software like Xero, which saves small businesses hours of having to source and compile financial documents. By connecting your accounting software, Bridgement can automatically and securely verify a business’s trading and history and approve funding applications without losing hours on inefficiency. 

Businesses can also automatically post withdrawals and repayments on their Bridgement facility to their accounting software to simplify reconciliation (another win for bookkeepers). 

Having up to R5 million in business funding is handy but, for many growing businesses, simply knowing that there is a convenient safety net down below is enough to empower them to make more advanced and well-informed business decisions. Plus, the ability to conduct the funding process 100% online from applying to withdrawing unlocks a new world of convenience for growing businesses. 

  1. Trustworthy transparency 

Bridgement is committed to simplifying business funding with zero hidden fees and no complex terms. We also provide your clients with clear cost-of-finance calculations upfront to ensure that you both have complete confidence in the funding process. 

We even offer a completely free funding calculator to give accountants and their clients an estimate of their total cost of finance before anyone has even looked at an application form.

Finally, all Bridgement facilities are obligation-free. Even once your clients have opened a facility, there is no pressure to use it. No application charges, no account fees, and no surprises — just a single, simple fee charged for each withdrawal, which is communicated clearly before any action is taken.

  1. Super fast, super flexible business funding 

Our paperless (and painless) application process is done in two minutes, funding decisions are reached within 24 hours or less, and clients have access to up to R5 million in funds within hours. We call that a Unique Speed Proposition. 

Our commitment to efficiency doesn’t begin and end with the funding application, though. In 2024, our average response time to clients was 3.15 minutes, proving our need for speed in all client interactions. 

Our speed is matched only by our flexibility. Bridgement gives your clients total control over their facility. They decide how much to withdraw and when, with 24/7 access to a digital dashboard that empowers them to request funds instantly. 

Diversify your offerings and earn generous commissions through Bridgement’s referral partnership program 

In addition to offering growing businesses fast, flexible, and transparent funding solutions, Bridgement offers referral partnerships that foster the mutual growth of accounting professionals and the SMEs they serve. Signing up as a referral partner is a simple but effective way to diversify your offerings and add value to your clients, all while upholding sustainable and responsible business growth.