4 minutes Referring Customers
Overview
To ensure smooth processing and high approval rates, partners should provide complete and accurate information when referring businesses to SAPI. This guide details what information is required, formatting guidelines, and quality best practices.
Essential Information Required
Business Details (Required)
Business legal name:
Full registered name as it appears on Companies House
Companies House number or UTR:
- Limited companies: 8-digit Companies House number
- Sole traders: 10-digit UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference)
Trading name:
If different from legal name (e.g., "Acme Coffee" trading as "The Bean Counter")
Industry:
Restaurant, Retail, Events, Beauty, Fitness, Professional Services, etc.
Business address:
Full registered address including postcode
Trading since:
Month and year business started trading (e.g., "June 2023")
Website:
Business website URL (if available)
Contact Details (Required)
Primary contact name:
Full name of director, owner, or authorized person
Title:
Director, Owner, Finance Manager, etc.
Email address:
Business email preferred (not personal Gmail/Hotmail if avoidable)
Phone number:
UK mobile or landline in format: +44 7700 900000
Financing Requirements (Required)
Amount needed:
Specific amount (e.g., £25,000) or range (e.g., £20,000-£30,000)
Purpose of funds:
Inventory, equipment, cash flow, marketing, expansion, etc. (be specific)
Urgency:
Immediate (within days), within 2 weeks, within month, or flexible
Payment Processing Details (Required)
Payment processor:
Which provider(s) they use: Stripe, Square, SumUp, Worldpay, Just Eat, etc.
Monthly card sales:
Approximate monthly card payment volume (e.g., "~£35,000/month")
Processing since:
How long they've been processing payments (e.g., "18 months" or "Since March 2023")
Optional Information (Improves Approval Chances)
Providing these helps SAPI assess better:
Annual revenue:
Total business turnover (not just card sales)
Number of employees:
Team size (e.g., "8 employees")
Number of locations:
How many shops/premises (e.g., "2 locations")
Growth trajectory:
"Growing 20%/year" or "Stable" or "Seasonal (peaks in summer)"
Referrer notes:
Any context that helps SAPI understand the business:
- "Long-term client, very strong business, needs funding for Christmas stock"
- "Newer business but exceptional growth, expanding rapidly"
- "Seasonal business—currently in off-season but peaks in May-August"
Data Validation Rules
Business Name
2-200 characters
No special characters except: & ' - . ,
Must match Companies House records (for limited companies)
Companies House Number
Exactly 8 digits (with leading zeros if necessary)
Format: 12345678 (not AB123456—that's invalid)
Email Address
Valid email format ([email protected])
Must be business email if possible (not personal Gmail/Hotmail)
Will be verified (SAPI sends verification email)
Phone Number
UK format: +44 followed by 10 digits
No spaces in API format: +447700900000
Must be reachable (SAPI calls for verification if needed)
Amount Requested
Minimum: £10,000
Maximum: £500,000
Must be integer (not decimal): 25000 (not 25000.50)
Dates
Format: YYYY-MM-DD (ISO 8601)
Must be valid calendar dates
trading_since must be ≥6 months in the past (for eligibility)
Industry Codes
Use SAPI's standardized industry codes:
Code | Description |
| Retail stores, shops |
| Restaurants, cafés, hotels |
| Online retail |
| Event services, catering |
| Salons, spas, beauty services |
| Gyms, studios, personal training |
| Consulting, accounting, legal |
| Dental, medical, physio |
| Garages, car sales |
| Wholesalers, distributors |
| Other (specify in notes) |
Processor Codes
Stripe, Square, Worldpay, etc.:
Use lowercase, no spaces: stripe, square, worldpay, sumup
Full list: See "Connecting Your Payment Account" article or API documentation.
Data Quality Best Practices
1. Validate before submitting
Check all required fields are present and correctly formatted. Complete information improves approval rates.
2. Provide accurate data
Don't guess or estimate critical fields (Companies House number, card sales volumes). Inaccurate data leads to declines.
3. Include context in notes
Add helpful context when submitting referrals: "Strong business, needs funding for Christmas stock. Owner is very responsive."
4. Keep data current
Don't submit stale referrals (e.g., collected info 6 months ago). Verify details are current before submitting.
5. Double-check contact information
Ensure email and phone are accurate so SAPI can reach the business quickly.
Common Data Errors to Avoid
Incorrect Companies House number:
Verify on Companies House website before submitting.
Wrong phone format:
Use +44 format, not 07... format.
Outdated trading information:
Verify business is still actively trading and details haven't changed.
Missing payment processor:
Always specify which processor they use—critical for SAPI's assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can we submit multiple businesses at once?
A: Yes, via email list or multiple portal submissions. Ensure each has complete information.
Q: What if we submit a duplicate referral accidentally?
A: SAPI detects duplicates (based on Companies House number + email) and will notify you. No duplicate processing or double commission.
Q: Can we see offer details SAPI provides to businesses?
A: No. Offers are confidential between SAPI and the business. You can see status (approved/declined/funded) but not specific terms.
Q: What if we need to correct information after submitting?
A: Email [email protected] immediately with corrections. Include referral ID (if known) and business name.
Q: Can we submit businesses outside the UK?
A: No. SAPI only funds UK-registered businesses trading in the UK.
Need Help?
Referral information questions: [email protected]
Data requirements: [email protected]
Partner support: [email protected]
Need Help?
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 20 3868 4990
Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm GMT