Invoice Finance: Match with the Right Lenders in Minutes

Summary: Invoice finance unlocks cash tied up in unpaid invoices so UK limited businesses can stabilise cash flow, fund growth and meet payroll without waiting for customers to pay. Fast Business Loans is a free, no‑obligation matching service that connects businesses seeking invoice finance (typically facilities from £10,000 and up) to suitable lenders and brokers. Complete a short enquiry and we’ll match you quickly with partners who specialise in your sector. Get Your Free Eligibility Check

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What is Invoice Finance?

Invoice finance is a broad term for facilities that let a business release cash from unpaid invoices. Instead of waiting 30, 60 or 90+ days for customers to pay, you receive an immediate advance (often a percentage of the invoice value) from a finance provider.

Two common forms:

• Invoice factoring – the funder buys your invoices and may handle collections and credit control on your behalf.
• Invoice discounting – you retain responsibility for collecting payments while the funder advances you funds confidentially.

Information here is for guidance only and should not be considered financial advice. All finance is subject to lender criteria, status and affordability checks.

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When Invoice Finance Makes Sense for Your Business

Invoice finance can be an ideal solution when you need working capital that grows with sales. Typical scenarios include:

Managing cash flow gaps between payment terms

If long customer payment terms cause supplier or payroll pressure, invoice finance turns sales ledger into immediate, usable cash.

Funding sudden growth or seasonal peaks

When you win a large order or face seasonal demand, invoice finance supplies funding tied to the scale of your sales so you avoid diluting equity or taking on additional long-term debt.

Supporting companies with limited fixed assets or credit history

Because invoice finance is secured against unpaid invoices, providers focus on the quality of your debtor book rather than heavy fixed‑asset security or decades of trading history.

Case note: A B2B manufacturer used selective invoice finance to fill an unexpected order pipeline and met supplier lead times without using cash reserves.

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How Fast Business Loans Helps You Secure Invoice Finance

We make the search fast and simple — our service is free and without obligation. Our typical process:

1. Quick enquiry: You complete a short form (under 2 minutes) with business details and the amount required.
2. Instant match: We match your needs to lenders and brokers who specialise in businesses like yours.
3. Rapid response: Matched partners typically contact you by phone or email to discuss options and request documents.
4. Compare & decide: Review multiple proposals and choose the facility that best meets your terms.

We do not lend money or give regulated financial advice — we introduce you to finance providers who can. There is no charge to you for using Fast Business Loans; we earn a commission only if you proceed with a matched partner. Start Your Enquiry

Types of Invoice Finance Available Through Our Panel

Our network covers a wide range of invoice-based products. A quick overview:

Invoice Factoring

• Ideal for businesses that prefer outsourcing collections and credit control.
• Advance rates typically 70–90% depending on debtor risk.
• Good for companies that want predictable cash flow and support with debtor management.

Confidential Invoice Discounting

• You retain control of collections; customers don’t usually know you’re using finance.
• Advance rates similar to factoring but require stronger internal processes.

Selective / Spot Invoice Finance

• Finance on specific invoices only — flexible for occasional short-term needs.
• Useful for businesses that only occasionally need funding or want to test invoice finance.

Supply Chain & Reverse Factoring

• Working capital solutions designed to support supplier payments and improve terms across a supply chain.

Learn more about invoice finance and whether it suits your business on our detailed guide to invoice finance.

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Eligibility Snapshot

Typical criteria lenders/brokers consider:

• UK limited companies and established trading entities (minimum facilities usually start at £10,000).
• Turnover thresholds vary by funder; many consider businesses with regular B2B invoices.
• Quality and spread of debtors — stable, creditworthy customers help secure better rates.
• Trade sector and invoice terms — certain sectors may attract specific funders.
• Outstanding credit issues do not automatically disqualify you — many partners specialize in complex credit profiles.

Initial enquiries are soft and do not affect your credit score. Matched partners may perform more detailed checks later in the application process.

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Costs, Fees & Typical Funding Terms

Costs vary by product and provider. Common charges include:

• Discount rate / interest — a percentage applied to advanced funds (varies with risk, sector and debtor profile).
• Service fee — monthly or annual fee for account management and admin.
• Transaction fees — one-off or per-invoice fees for selective facilities.
• Setup and legal costs — some arrangements require legal documentation and due diligence.

Pricing drivers: average debtor payment terms, concentration of a small number of debtors, industry risk and the size of requested facility. When you request a quote through our service you’ll receive clear breakdowns from brokers/lenders so you can compare like-for-like.

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Invoice Finance vs Alternative Funding Routes

How it compares:

• Business loans — typically fixed-term and fixed-cost; good for capital projects but don’t flex with sales like invoice finance.
• Overdrafts — good for short-term spikes but often subject to limits and variable pricing.
• Asset finance — secured against equipment; useful for machinery purchases but not for freeing up receivables.
• Merchant cash advance — repayment tied to card takings; can be expensive and unpredictable.

Invoice finance is particularly strong when your cash needs are directly related to invoices and you want a facility that grows with your sales ledger.

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Industries We Help with Invoice Finance

Our partners specialise across many B2B industries. Common sectors:

• Construction — manage long supplier chains and staged payments.
• Manufacturing — fund raw materials while awaiting customer payments.
• Logistics & transport — smooth fleet and fuel costs during invoicing cycles.
• Recruitment & staffing — cover payroll between client payments.
• B2B professional services — maintain cash flow during project invoicing.

If your sector is specialist, we’ll match you with brokers who understand the nuances of funding in your industry.

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What to Expect After You Apply

Typical timeline:

• Within hours: initial contact from one or more matched partners.
• 1–5 working days: lenders review documents and perform due diligence.
• Within days to weeks: offer and facility set-up timing depends on complexity and legal requirements.

Your matched broker/lender will guide you through required documents (e.g. aged debtors report, recent accounts, bank statements). We treat your data securely and only share details with relevant partners you are matched to.

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Success Stories & Social Proof

Short anonymised examples:

• Manufacturer: used selective invoice finance to free £120k of working capital and meet a major supply deadline.
• Recruitment agency: funded payroll throughout seasonal expansion using confidential discounting.
• Logistics operator: secured a factoring facility to expand fleet without diluting ownership.

These are representative outcomes and not a guarantee of results.

FAQs: Invoice Finance & Fast Business Loans

Get Your Free Invoice Finance Quote

Ready to unlock cash from your unpaid invoices? Complete our short enquiry and we’ll match your business with the right lenders and brokers — typically within hours. Our service is free, quick and no obligation.

• Fast matching with specialist partners
• Suitable for facilities from £10,000 and up
• No cost to enquire — no obligation to proceed

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Fast Business Loans connects UK businesses with lenders and brokers; we do not lend or provide regulated financial advice. All finance is subject to lender criteria, status and affordability checks. Your data is shared only with matched partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Written by Fast Business Loans’ Business Finance Editorial Team — Updated November 2025

– What is invoice finance and how does it work?
Invoice finance lets UK B2B businesses release 70–90% of an unpaid invoice upfront from a finance provider instead of waiting 30–90+ days for customer payment.

– What’s the difference between invoice factoring and invoice discounting?
Factoring involves the funder buying invoices and often handling collections, while confidential invoice discounting advances cash but you keep control of credit control.

– How quickly could I get funding through Fast Business Loans?
After our free matching, simple selective/spot facilities can fund in days and larger arrangements typically complete within days to weeks, depending on legal and due‑diligence checks.

– What are typical advance rates and minimum facility sizes?
Advance rates are usually 70–90% of invoice value, with facilities typically starting from £10,000 and scaling with your sales ledger.

– What does invoice finance cost?
Costs usually include a discount rate (interest) on funds advanced plus a service fee and any setup/transaction charges, driven by debtor quality, sector, terms and facility size.

– Am I eligible if I’m a start‑up or have limited credit history?
Yes—because funding is secured against your unpaid invoices, many partners consider newer businesses or complex credit profiles if the debtor book is strong.

– Will applying affect my credit score?
Submitting an enquiry via Fast Business Loans is a soft check and won’t affect your score, while partners may run formal checks only if you proceed.

– Will my customers know I’m using invoice finance?
Factoring is often disclosed to customers, whereas confidential invoice discounting usually keeps the arrangement hidden.

– What documents will lenders typically ask for?
Expect to provide an aged debtors report, recent accounts and bank statements, with any further items requested during due diligence.

– Is Fast Business Loans a lender and is the enquiry a formal application?
No—we’re an introducer that matches you to trusted lenders and brokers, and the quick enquiry is free, no‑obligation and not a formal application.