FRESH START FINANCE LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC197638 · ltd · incorporated 1999-06-29
Investment thesis
Well-run mature business — low negotiation leverage; premium likely.
Why interesting: Textbook target; clean filings, stable trading.
Why risky: No pressure on seller; any deal likely at full price.
Opportunity decay
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
81/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 99999
Sector: Extraterritorial bodies
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with exceptional profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 81/100 (exceptional), bankability 75/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
Data confidence
Overall: high (83/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
Confirmed no charges registered
85
Directors & officers
9 officers (3 active, 9 linked, 7 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 4 total, 4 with control declared
90
Director network
27 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
94 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
81/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
90
Good data coverage for analysis.
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-12-31 | 2024-12-31 |
|---|
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 accounts
- • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (34 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2026-01-07📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-12-31➖THOMPSON, Benjamin David resigneddirector
- 2025-09-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-27📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-06-18➕BURGAUD MCCARTHY, Emilie Nadia Marcelline appointeddirector
- 2024-06-14📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-06-07➖TILLEY, Lucy Claire resigneddirector
- 2024-06-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2023-04-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2022-08-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2021-01-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2021-01-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-07-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-07-26📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2019-07-23📄change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2019-07-23📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2019-07-19📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2019-07-19📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2019-07-19📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2019-07-15📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2019-07-02➕BRODNICKI, Peter Christopher Steven appointeddirector
- 2019-07-02➖MCGRAIL, Robert Lawrence resignedsecretary
- 2019-07-02➖MCGRAIL, Robert Lawrence resigneddirector
- 2019-07-02➕THOMPSON, Benjamin David appointeddirector
- 2019-07-02➕TILLEY, Lucy Claire appointeddirector
- 2008-03-28➕MCGRAIL, Ian Robert appointeddirector
- 2008-03-28➖WOODS, Frederick James resigneddirector
- 1999-06-29🏢Company incorporatedAs FRESH START FINANCE LIMITED
- 1999-06-29➕MCGRAIL, Robert Lawrence appointedsecretary
- 1999-06-29➕OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1999-06-29➖OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1999-06-29➕MCGRAIL, Robert Lawrence appointeddirector
- 1999-06-29➕WOODS, Frederick James appointeddirector
Owner dependency
68/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 18 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
63/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 64. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 18 years.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Group structure
First Mortgage Direct Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
First Mortgage Direct Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
FRESH START FINANCE LIMITED
This company · SC197638
Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
First Mortgage Direct Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 14/06/2019 |
3 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr Ian Robert Mcgrailceased 14/06/2019· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Mr Robert Mcgrailceased 14/06/2019· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Mr Fredrick James Woodsceased 06/04/2016· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
🔒Co-director network graph
Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Similar companies
Active · Other · EH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRADLEY TRADE LP→ SL011117 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| BRAHMA US SCOTLAND LP→ SL007737 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| BRAITH SHIPPING LP→ SL010197 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| BRIDGECASTLE ACCOUNTING SERVICES LTD→ SC266637 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| BRIDGEPOINT EUROPE VII SFP LP→ SL035353 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| BRIDGEPOINT NO.2 LP→ SL035444 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| BRIDGES SOCIAL IMPACT BOND FUND (FOUNDER PARTNER) LP→ SL012444 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| BRIDGES SOCIAL IMPACT BOND FUND (SCOTLAND GENERAL PARTNER) LIMITED→ SC439243 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| BRIDGES SUSTAINABLE GROWTH FUND V (FOUNDER PARTNER GP) LLP→ SO307302 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| BRIGHT MOON GENERAL TRADING LP→ SL019232 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| BRIGHT SOLUTIONS WORLDWIDE L.P.→ SL011590 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| BRIGHT STANDART CONSULTING LP→ SL011763 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 specific questions generated from this company's actual signals — liquidity, leverage, director age, charge count, red flags, age-of-company.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →🔒Advanced scoring suite
Exit-route ranking, improvement thesis, quiet-distress detector, covenant-pressure proxy, extraction monitor, approaching triggers, ownership drift, local cluster, value trap, debt capacity, archetype classification — 48+ scoring modules.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Company details
Statusactive
Typeltd
Incorporated1999-06-29
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC99999 — SIC 99999
Registered office
30 Walker Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7HR
Scotland
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-09-30
Last made up to: 2025-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-04
Last: 2025-10-21
Officers (3 active · 6 resigned)
BRODNICKI, Peter Christopher Steven→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 2019-07-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BURGAUD MCCARTHY, Emilie Nadia Marcelline→
Activedirector · ~46y · appointed 2024-06-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MCGRAIL, Ian Robert→
Activedirector · ~47y · appointed 2008-03-28
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MCGRAIL, Robert Lawrence→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1999-06-29 · resigned 2019-07-02
OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1999-06-29 · resigned 1999-06-29
MCGRAIL, Robert Lawrence→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 1999-06-29 · resigned 2019-07-02
THOMPSON, Benjamin David→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2019-07-02 · resigned 2025-12-31
TILLEY, Lucy Claire→
Resigneddirector · ~55y · appointed 2019-07-02 · resigned 2024-06-07
WOODS, Frederick James→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 1999-06-29 · resigned 2008-03-28
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Recent filings (94 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2026-02-23
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-01-07
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-11-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2025-09-10
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-12-08
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-06-27
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-06-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2024-06-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-11-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2023-04-04
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2022-08-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-03-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-03-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2021-01-18