What is a capital advisor, and how is it different from a loan broker?

A loan broker shops a loan. A capital advisor builds the case, takes it to more than one lender, and negotiates the structure. The lender makes the loan either way. Siddwell does the second job and is not a licensed loan broker. NerdWallet states that a broker does not lend. The same is true of an advisor.

If you already know the loan you want and you want someone to introduce lenders, a broker or the SBA's Lender Match tool may be enough. Lender Match introduces participating SBA lenders, and you apply with the lender. If the market should have to compete, across banks, SBA lenders, and private credit, that is an advisory mandate. The difference is the process, not a magic rate.

NerdWallet describes a broker fee of about 1% to 15% of the loan amount, sometimes paid by the lender rather than the borrower. That is NerdWallet's account of brokers. It is not Siddwell's fee. Siddwell does not publish a fee schedule. Ask, in writing, who pays any intermediary you speak to. On this firm's mandate the banker owns the deal and software does the volume: research, lists, first drafts, and document chasing.

Capital advisory here covers expansion, equipment, an acquisition, a shareholder buyout, or a refinancing. Terms should be set by that market, not by whoever reached the company first. An SBA lender is included when the program fits. The lender still makes the credit decision. Siddwell does not.

Start from the decision you actually have. If you know the loan, you want an introduction, and you will compare term sheets yourself, Lender Match or your own bank is the direct path, and you apply with the lender. If you want someone to shop a single loan product, that is the broker's product, and NerdWallet's description of broker fees, about 1% to 15% of the loan amount, sometimes lender-paid, is a reason to ask who pays them. If the assignment is to make banks, SBA lenders, and private credit compete, and to negotiate the structure, that is capital advisory. Siddwell does the third job. It is not a licensed loan broker and it is not a lender.

The raise this firm describes is expansion, equipment, an acquisition, a shareholder buyout, or a refinancing. An SBA proposal belongs in the set when the use of proceeds fits. It does not replace the other bids. No fee for the advisory work is published. Ask for it in writing before you hire anyone, including this firm.

Siddwell is an AI-native investment bank for privately held US companies with $1M to $100M in revenue, doing sell-side M&A and capital advisory.

Siddwell's capital advisory is the competitive raise. It is not a license to broker a single loan, and it is not a balance sheet.