Equipment finance for UK businesses — fast eligibility checks and trusted introductions

Summary: If your business needs new or used machinery, vehicles, IT or specialised equipment, Fast Business Loans connects you—quickly and free—to UK brokers and lenders that can quote equipment finance solutions. Complete a short enquiry and we’ll match you with suitable partners who can give tailored quotes; it’s not an application and won’t affect your credit score. Get a Free Eligibility Check in under two minutes.

Quick answer: how Fast Business Loans helps with equipment finance

Fast Business Loans is a free introducer that helps UK limited companies find equipment finance by matching each enquiry to the best brokers and lenders on our panel. You submit a short enquiry (about the business, the equipment and the amount needed), we match you to relevant partners, and they contact you with tailored quotes—no obligation and no immediate credit checks on enquiry.

• We match your business with lenders/brokers experienced in your sector.
• Typical funding ranges we introduce: from £10,000 upwards (many partners operate up to several million).
• Enquiry takes around two minutes; expect initial responses within 24–48 hours.
• Our service is free for businesses—only a quick enquiry is needed to get started.

Get a Free Eligibility Check and see which partners can help with your equipment needs.

What is equipment finance & why UK businesses use it

Equipment finance covers loans and leasing products that let businesses acquire plant, machinery, vehicles, IT or specialist kit without paying the full purchase price upfront. Common goals include preserving working capital, spreading cost over useful life, and keeping equipment up-to-date.

Common industries using equipment finance include construction, manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, agriculture, logistics and retail. Finance options range from hire purchase and finance leases to operating leases and asset refinance.

Important compliance note: Fast Business Loans is an introducer, not a lender, and does not provide regulated financial advice. All finance is subject to status and lender terms.

Equipment finance options we can introduce you to

Hire Purchase (HP)

• Key features: you pay an initial deposit (sometimes none), followed by fixed instalments; ownership transfers after final payment.
• Typical terms: 1–7 years depending on asset type.
• Ideal for: businesses that want eventual ownership and predictable repayments.

Finance Lease

• Key features: lender retains ownership; you pay rentals for agreed term, often with a residual/balloon payment option.
• Typical terms: 2–5+ years. VAT treatment differs between lease and hire purchase—check with your accountant.
• Ideal for: assets with long useful lives or where you prefer off-balance-sheet flexibility.

Operating Lease / Contract Hire

• Key features: similar to rental; no ownership option at the end (unless agreed). Often includes maintenance.
• Typical use: vehicles, high-use equipment and IT where upgrades are frequent.

Asset Refinance

• Key features: unlock equity tied up in owned equipment to improve cash flow or refinance existing facilities.
• Ideal for: businesses with valuable existing assets seeking liquidity without selling kit.

Loan and lease sizes available across our panel commonly range from £10,000 to several million. Tell us what equipment you need and we’ll match you with lenders and brokers who specialise in that asset class. Get Quote Now.

When equipment finance makes sense (and when it might not)

Equipment finance can be a smart choice when you want to preserve cash, smooth cashflow, or fund growth without dipping into reserves. Consider financing when:

• The equipment will generate revenue or efficiency that offsets finance costs.
• You prefer predictable monthly costs and tax/timing benefits.
• The equipment is significant in cost (>£10k) and has a useful life matching finance terms.

Think twice if:

• The equipment is very short-lived or likely obsolete within months;
• You already have sufficient low-cost cash and ownership provides material savings;
• Your business cannot demonstrate the ability to meet repayments—speak to an adviser.

We’ll introduce you to brokers who can assess whether financing suits your situation—no obligation.

How Fast Business Loans works for equipment finance

Our process is simple and designed to move quickly without being intrusive.

Step 1 – Complete a short enquiry form

You’ll provide basic company details, the type and value of the equipment, and contact preference. This is not an application—just information to match you with the right partners. Start your Free Eligibility Check.

Step 2 – Smart matching with vetted partners

We match your enquiry to brokers and lenders who specialise in your sector and asset type (criteria include asset, sector, ticket size and credit profile).

Step 3 – Rapid responses & tailored quotes

Matched partners will contact you to request any required documents and provide indicative quotes, often within 24–48 hours once supplier quotes and paperwork are provided.

Step 4 – Choose your preferred partner

Compare options and proceed directly with the lender or broker you prefer. You’re under no obligation to accept any offer.

Data protection: your details are shared only with selected partners relevant to your request. Completing the enquiry does not affect your credit score.

What UK lenders usually ask for (documentation & eligibility)

Documentation varies by lender and ticket size, but common items include:

• Company registration details and recent accounts (or management accounts);
• Director ID and proof of address;
• Supplier quote or invoice for the equipment;
• Bank statements (typically 3–6 months);
• Business plan or cashflow forecasts for larger or start-up requests.

Smaller, well-established businesses often face a lighter process; bespoke or specialist equipment can require valuations. If a lender proceeds, they may run affordability and credit checks as part of underwriting.

Costs, interest rates & repayment terms explained

Rates and costs depend on the product, asset, term and credit profile. To keep claims fair and clear:

• Interest rates may vary significantly; indicative ranges depend on market conditions and lender policy.
• Terms commonly range from 12 months to 7 years (or longer for high-value machinery).
• Some products include deposits, balloon payments, or maintenance bundles.

Comparison snapshot:

We do not provide tax advice—speak to your accountant about VAT and capital allowances.

Tips to improve your chances of approval

• Prepare accurate and up-to-date financials (management accounts if recent statutory accounts aren’t available).
• Obtain clear supplier quotes showing specification and price.
• Show how the equipment will generate revenue or cost savings (simple ROI figures help underwriters).
• Keep director credit and personal finances as strong as possible—some lenders assess personal guarantees.
• Be realistic on asset life and depreciation—lenders value conservative valuations.

Ready to check eligibility? Get Started — Free Eligibility Check.

Real-world examples & industries we often help

Below are anonymised, typical examples to illustrate how equipment finance can work.

These are examples only. Complete our enquiry and we’ll match you to partners experienced in your sector.

Why use Fast Business Loans instead of contacting lenders directly?

• Speed: one short form connects you to multiple relevant partners.
• Specialist matching: brokers/lenders matched by asset type and sector experience.
• No obligation: you compare offers without pressure, and the initial enquiry does not affect your credit score.
• Free: our introducer service is free to businesses—we’re paid by partners when a transaction completes.

Get equipment finance quotes — Free Eligibility Check.

Start your equipment finance enquiry

Ready to explore options? Complete a short, secure enquiry and we’ll match you with specialist brokers and lenders who can provide no‑obligation quotes. It takes under two minutes.

• Step 1: Click the enquiry link.
• Step 2: Enter basic company and equipment details.
• Step 3: Receive matched quotes and contact from partners.

Get Started — Free Eligibility Check

Fast Business Loans is an introducer, not a lender, and does not provide regulated financial advice. All finance is subject to status and lender terms. Your enquiry is used to match you with suitable finance partners. For details about how we handle your data, see our Privacy Policy.

Related resource: learn more about our broader asset funding solutions on our dedicated equipment finance page.

– What is equipment finance and how does it work for UK businesses?
Equipment finance lets UK companies acquire machinery, vehicles, IT or specialist kit by spreading costs via hire purchase, leases or refinance, with Fast Business Loans introducing you to suitable brokers and lenders.

– Is the Fast Business Loans enquiry an application and will it affect my credit score?
No—it’s a quick, free eligibility check used to match you with relevant brokers/lenders and it won’t affect your credit score, with any credit checks only happening later if you choose to proceed.

– What equipment finance options can you introduce?
We can introduce hire purchase, finance lease, operating lease/contract hire and asset refinance, typically over 1–7 years depending on the asset.

– What types of equipment can be financed?
New or used plant, machinery, commercial vehicles, IT and specialist equipment across sectors such as construction, manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, agriculture, logistics and retail.

– How quickly can I get quotes and funding?
You’ll usually receive initial contact and indicative quotes within 24–48 hours once supplier quotes and basic documents are provided, with completion ranging from a few days to several weeks.

– What are typical amounts, deposits and repayments for equipment finance?
Many partners fund from around £10,000 up to several million with fixed monthly repayments, and some products may involve deposits, balloon payments or maintenance bundles depending on the asset and profile.

– Can start-ups or businesses previously declined elsewhere get equipment finance?
Yes—some panel lenders support start-ups and alternative profiles, though they may request forecasts, supplier quotes or director guarantees depending on the ticket size.

– Can I finance second-hand or specialist equipment?
Yes, many partners consider pre-owned or niche assets where a clear valuation and condition report can be supplied.

– What documents do lenders usually require for equipment finance?
Expect company details, recent accounts or management accounts, 3–6 months’ bank statements, director ID and proof of address, plus a supplier quote or invoice (and forecasts for larger or start-up cases).

– Do I pay fees to use Fast Business Loans and am I obliged to proceed?
No—our introducer service is free, there’s no obligation to accept any offer, and you decide whether to proceed directly with a matched broker or lender.