Equipment Finance for UK Businesses | Fast Business Loans

Buying or upgrading business equipment can be expensive and time-consuming. Fast Business Loans helps UK limited companies and growing SMEs find the right equipment finance by matching you with lenders and brokers who specialise in asset funding. We don’t lend money or give regulated financial advice — we introduce you to providers who can assess your needs and deliver quotes. Ready to see what you could qualify for? Start Your Free Eligibility Check

Summary: Equipment finance (also called asset finance) lets businesses fund essential kit — from manufacturing machines and construction plant to commercial kitchen and medical equipment — from around £10,000 upwards. Fast Business Loans connects your company to a panel of specialist brokers and lenders who can offer hire purchase, leasing, asset refinance and other options. Complete a short, no-obligation enquiry and we’ll match you to partners that fit your sector and funding needs. Enquiry does not affect your credit score.

Table of contents

• What is equipment finance?
• Is equipment finance right for your business?
• Types of equipment finance we can introduce you to
• How equipment finance works through Fast Business Loans
• Eligibility & documentation checklist
• Equipment we commonly help finance
• Benefits and considerations
• Estimating the cost of equipment finance
• Why UK businesses choose Fast Business Loans
• How we protect your data & ensure transparency
• Frequently asked questions
• Ready to explore your options?

What is equipment finance?

Equipment finance (also known as asset finance) is a way for businesses to acquire tangible assets without paying the full purchase price up-front. Rather than tying up cash, you spread the cost across fixed payments that suit the expected useful life of the asset.

Common funding routes include hire purchase, finance leases, operating leases and asset refinance. These options can suit many industries where business-critical kit — machinery, vehicles, IT systems, kitchen equipment, medical devices — is required to operate, expand or modernise.

In practical terms, equipment finance lets your business preserve working capital, manage cash flow and budget predictably, while still gaining access to the tools needed to grow.

Is equipment finance right for your business?

Equipment finance can be the right choice when you want to:

• Buy new or used machinery without a large one‑off cost
• Upgrade kit to improve productivity or meet new standards
• Replace seasonal or short-life equipment
• Unlock cash by refinancing assets already owned
• Manage tax and accounting treatment of assets

Common scenarios

Manufacturing upgrade: A production line needs a new CNC machine. Spreading payments keeps working capital free for raw materials and labour.

Hospitality refit: A restaurant replaces ovens and refrigeration to increase capacity before a busy season. A short-term lease can match the asset life and cashflow.

Construction plant: A contractor needs an excavator for a specific project. Hire purchase or a finance lease provides access and predictable monthly costs.

Check Your Eligibility Now — our short enquiry will help us match you with brokers and lenders experienced in your sector.

Types of equipment finance we can introduce you to

Hire Purchase

Hire purchase (HP) typically requires an initial deposit followed by fixed payments. Ownership usually transfers to you after the final payment. HP can be straightforward for businesses that want to own the asset at term end. VAT is often recoverable depending on circumstances.

Finance Lease

With a finance lease, the lender owns the asset while you have operational control and pay rentals reflecting the asset’s depreciation. There may be a residual value at the end of the term and a purchase option.

Operating Lease

Operating leases are often used for short-term or seasonal needs where you don’t want to own the item. At term end, you return the equipment or agree a renewal — useful for rapidly evolving tech or short project windows.

Asset Refinance

If you already own equipment, asset refinance lets you release capital tied up in those assets. Lenders pay you and take a charge against the asset, improving cashflow for growth or working capital.

Specialist sector solutions

Certain lenders and brokers specialise in sectors such as healthcare, construction, agriculture, hospitality and renewable technologies. These partners understand asset lifecycles, secondary values and sector-specific paperwork.

Each product has advantages and trade-offs — we’ll match you with providers who can explain which is most suitable for your business and asset type.

How equipment finance works through Fast Business Loans

1. Complete our short enquiry form (takes about 2 minutes) — no credit impact.
2. We match your details with a selection of lenders and brokers suited to your sector and asset.
3. Our partners contact you with tailored quotes, terms and next steps.
4. Compare offers, select a provider and proceed to full application with them.

We only introduce you to lenders and brokers — any subsequent credit checks are performed by those providers if you choose to proceed.

Get Matched to Equipment Finance Specialists

Eligibility & documentation checklist

Exact criteria vary by lender, but typical factors include:

Typical eligibility factors

• Trading history and company structure (limited companies and incorporated entities)
• Turnover relative to the finance amount
• Management/director credit profiles
• Asset type, age and residual/resale value
• Deposit or equity contribution for some products

Documents usually requested

• Recent company accounts or management accounts
• Bank statements (usually 3–6 months)
• Supplier quotes or pro-forma invoices for the equipment
• Proof of identity and address for company directors
• Business plan or cashflow forecast for start-up or specialist requests

These requirements will be confirmed by the lender/broker we introduce you to. Our initial enquiry is used only to make accurate matches.

Equipment we commonly help finance

We regularly match businesses seeking finance for:

• Engineering & manufacturing machinery (CNC, presses, tooling)
• Commercial kitchen and hospitality equipment (ovens, refrigeration)
• Medical & dental equipment (scanners, sterilisation units)
• Construction plant & vehicles (excavators, telehandlers)
• ICT & office technology (servers, laptops, telephony)
• Renewable and low-carbon technology (solar, EV chargers, heat pumps)

If your asset is niche or specialist, tell us in the enquiry — we often match unusual assets to expert lenders.

Learn more about tailored solutions and sector-specific approaches on our equipment finance resource pages like our dedicated equipment finance guide.

Benefits and considerations

Discuss your options with a specialist — it’s free and without obligation.

Estimating the cost of equipment finance

Costs depend on asset value, term, deposit, business profile and lender pricing. For illustration only:

Example (for illustration only): Purchase price £60,000. Deposit 10% (£6,000). Finance amount £54,000 over 60 months at a representative rate (example) might yield monthly payments that include interest and fees — final figures depend on lender assessment, VAT treatment and product chosen.

Ask for personalised quotes: complete our quick enquiry so we can match you to lenders that provide accurate pricing for your situation.

Why UK businesses choose Fast Business Loans

Fast Business Loans saves you time and increases your chance of a suitable match by connecting you to lenders and brokers who specialise in your sector and asset type. We make introductions quickly so you can compare real offers and decide which is best.

“Example feedback: We received three calls within hours and a competitive hire purchase quote that fit our project timeline.” — Manufacturing SME

Start Your Free Equipment Finance Enquiry

How we protect your data & ensure transparency

Fast Business Loans is a broker-matching service. We are not a lender and we do not provide financial advice. Your enquiry is free, and there is no obligation to proceed.

We handle your data securely and only share it with selected partners who can assist with your funding request. Completing our enquiry does not affect your credit score; lenders may carry out credit checks later if you choose to proceed with an application.

See our privacy policy for full details on data use and retention.

Frequently asked questions about equipment finance

Do I need to own the asset at the end?

It depends on the product. Hire purchase usually leads to ownership after the final payment. Leasing options may not transfer ownership; many leases offer purchase options or allow you to return the asset.

Can start-ups apply?

Yes — some lenders and brokers specialise in funding younger companies, although requirements vary and some products require trading history or director support.

Will making an enquiry affect my credit score?

No. Completing our short enquiry does not impact your credit profile. Lenders may request credit checks later if you submit a full application.

What are the typical finance amounts?

We commonly help with funding from around £10,000 upwards. For larger projects, our partners can arrange multi-asset and multi-million pound facilities.

Do lenders finance used or refurbished equipment?

Many do. Suitability depends on age, condition, resale value and the lender’s policy. Specialist lenders often assess used assets differently from new ones.

How long does approval and funding take?

Initial responses from brokers or lenders are often within hours. Full approval and funding can take from days to several weeks depending on asset type, documentation and payment terms.

Is a deposit required?

Some products require a deposit or capital contribution; others allow 0% deposit. Deposit requirements vary by lender and the asset value.

What if my credit history is imperfect?

Not all lenders have the same criteria. Because we work with a wide panel, you may still have options — disclose your circumstances in the enquiry so we can match you to appropriate partners.

Are there options for green or sustainable upgrades?

Yes. Several partners provide finance specifically for energy-efficient equipment, EV chargers, solar and other sustainable technologies.

What happens if the asset becomes obsolete?

Consider an operating lease or shorter-term product if obsolescence is a risk. Your matched broker can explain end-of-term choices and residual value implications.

Ready to explore your equipment finance options?

If your business needs new or replacement equipment, get tailored quotes fast by completing our short enquiry. We’ll match you with brokers and lenders who understand your sector — no cost and no obligation.

Get Started — Free Eligibility Check

Fast Business Loans is a broker-matching service. We are not a lender and we do not provide regulated financial advice. Introductions are to UK-based lenders and brokers who may contact you after your enquiry. Completing our enquiry does not affect your credit score; lenders may perform checks later if you proceed.

– What is equipment finance (asset finance) and how does it work?
Equipment finance lets UK businesses spread the cost of kit via hire purchase, finance leases, operating leases or asset refinance instead of paying the full price upfront.

– Are you a lender and how does your free enquiry process work?
Fast Business Loans isn’t a lender; we run a free, no‑obligation enquiry that matches you with UK brokers and lenders who then contact you with quotes, usually within hours.

– Who is eligible for equipment finance in the UK, including start-ups?
Limited companies and SMEs (including some start-ups) may qualify subject to lender assessment of trading history, turnover, directors’ credit and the asset.

– How much can I finance and over what term?
Our partners commonly fund from around £10,000 upwards with terms typically 1–7 years depending on the asset, product and profile.

– Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?
No—our eligibility enquiry doesn’t affect your credit score, though lenders may run checks later if you proceed.

– What documents will I need to provide?
Lenders usually ask for recent accounts, 3–6 months of bank statements, supplier quotes/invoices, and director ID/address, with extras for start-ups or specialist assets.

– Do I need a deposit and how is VAT treated?
Some options (e.g., hire purchase) may require a deposit and VAT treatment varies by product and circumstances, so confirm with the lender and your accountant.

– Can I finance used, refurbished or niche equipment?
Yes—many specialist lenders fund used or niche assets subject to age, condition and residual value.

– What costs or interest rates should I expect for equipment finance?
Pricing depends on asset type, term, deposit and your business profile, so the best way to gauge cost is to request personalised quotes via our free eligibility check.

– Can I refinance equipment I already own to release cash?
Yes—asset refinance can unlock capital tied up in existing equipment by securing funding against those assets.