Why manufacturers choose Fast Business Loans

Manufacturing leaders pick Fast Business Loans because we save you time and increase your chances of a suitable offer by matching your requirements to lenders and brokers who understand factory finance. Our service is free, quick and designed specifically for business borrowing needs from £10,000 upwards.

• Access to a broad panel of UK lenders and experienced brokers who specialise in manufacturing finance.
• Faster matching — fewer applications, targeted introductions.
• Tailored options: asset finance, invoice finance, working capital, commercial mortgages and green finance.
• No obligation to proceed — you review offers and choose the best fit.

Compare lenders now with a Free Eligibility Check

Funding challenges in UK manufacturing

Manufacturers face a range of financing hurdles: seasonal demand swings, long supplier lead-times, rising input costs and the need to modernise production lines. Common funding pressures include:

• Working capital gaps while fulfilling large orders or export contracts.
• Purchasing machinery and automation to improve productivity.
• Refurbishment or expansion of factory space and bonded warehouses.
• Investing in energy efficiency or sustainability projects to reduce running costs.

Because requirements vary by sub-sector (food & beverage, precision engineering, plastics, etc.), matching your business to the right lender or broker is key to securing terms that work for production cycles and margins.

“A matched approach can turn a generic loan into the right funding for raw materials, a new CNC machine, or a seasonal workforce — without multiple wasted applications.”

How our service works for manufacturers

Fast Business Loans acts as an introducer. Our process is simple and transparent:

1. Complete a short enquiry — tell us about your business, funding amount and purpose (takes less than 2 minutes). Your enquiry does not affect your credit score. Start your enquiry.
2. We match you — we use the details you provide to connect you with one or more lenders or brokers on our panel who specialise in manufacturing finance.
3. Receive a response — a matched partner will contact you by phone or email to discuss options and, if appropriate, request documentation.
4. Compare and decide — review offers and accept the one that best fits your operational needs and cashflow plans.

There’s no obligation to accept any offer and no fee to use our matching service. When you’re ready to progress, matched brokers or lenders will manage the application and any regulated checks directly with you.

Manufacturing finance solutions we can arrange

Our panel includes lenders and brokers that provide a wide range of finance solutions suitable for manufacturers. Typical options include:

Asset & equipment finance

Finance to buy new or used machinery, production lines, CNC machines, presses and automation. Options include hire purchase and leasing that preserve working capital while spreading cost over useful life.

Working capital & business loans

Unsecured or secured term loans and revolving facilities to bridge cashflow, fund growth, or cover large purchase orders. Loan sizes typically start from £10,000 and scale up into the mid-market depending on security and trading history.

Invoice finance & supply chain funding

Invoice discounting or factoring unlocks cash tied in unpaid invoices so you can pay suppliers and hire staff without waiting for payment cycles. Supply chain finance can also ease long-tail procurement payments.

Commercial mortgages & property improvement loans

Finance for buying or improving factory premises, expanding warehousing or investing in storage and logistics facilities.

Sustainability & energy-efficiency funding

Specialist lenders and government-backed schemes can support energy-saving upgrades (e.g., new boilers, LED systems, solar panels, EV charging infrastructure) that reduce ongoing operating costs.

Example mini-cases (anonymised):

• CNC upgrade — £120,000 hire purchase arranged in 3 weeks; repayments aligned to project cashflow.
• Export order bridge — £85,000 short-term invoice finance to fulfil a large overseas contract; stock shipped without delaying production.
• Factory expansion — £450,000 commercial mortgage secured with staged drawdowns for fit-out.

Check your eligibility and we’ll match you to partners who specialise in the right product for your needs.

Sector expertise across manufacturing sub-industries

Our panel understands the nuances of different manufacturing sectors and their certification, lead-times and seasonality. We commonly help businesses in:

• Automotive suppliers and component manufacturers
• Food & beverage processors and packagers
• Precision engineering and metalwork
• Textiles, plastics and composite producers
• Aerospace and defence subcontractors
• Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers

Because lenders differ in appetite and product set, we match according to your sub-sector, certifications (e.g., ISO) and whether you need seasonal flexibility or long-term capital.

Learn more about our focused manufacturing support on our pillar page for manufacturing business loans: manufacturing business loans.

What to expect after you apply

After you complete the enquiry form:

• A matched partner will contact you (often within hours during business days) to discuss options.
• They may request basic documents: recent bank statements, management accounts, VAT returns, and details of the asset or contract to be funded.
• No credit checks are run by Fast Business Loans at enquiry stage; partners may run soft or hard searches later if you agree to an offer.
• Time to funding varies by product: unsecured loans or invoice finance can be arranged in days; asset finance and mortgages take longer depending on valuations and legal checks.

Fast Business Loans is an introducer — your matched lender or broker will manage formal applications and any regulated communications directly with you.

Eligibility & documentation checklist

Typical eligibility considerations for manufacturers:

Essentials

• Company structure: limited companies and trading businesses (loans from £10,000+).
• Trading history: many lenders prefer 12+ months trading, though specialist lenders consider start-ups with strong order books or business plans.
• Director details and basic ID for due diligence.

Helpful financial information

• Latest management accounts or annual accounts.
• Bank statements (typically 3–6 months).
• Details of major contracts, purchase orders or forecasts supporting your funding need.

Situational factors

• Any existing CCJs, insolvency history or previous refusals — tell us upfront so we can match to lenders with appropriate appetite.
• Security available (assets, property) where relevant.

If you don’t have every document at enquiry, still contact us — many partners can work with provisional information and help you prepare the full submission.

Success snapshot: real manufacturing finance outcomes

Here are anonymised examples showing how matched finance can help:

• CNC investment: Midlands engineering firm secured equipment finance for £95,000. Matched and funded in 21 days; production capacity increased by 30%.
• Seasonal order funding: Food packager used invoice finance to unlock £60,000 tied up in receivables, enabling timely supplier payments and avoiding stock delays.

These outcomes demonstrate the practical value of being matched to lenders who understand manufacturing rhythms and asset lifecycles.

Why speed matters in manufacturing finance

In manufacturing, timing can directly affect costs, supplier discounts and the ability to win contracts. Quick access to the right funding can:

• Keep production lines moving when raw material costs spike.
• Secure delivery slots and supplier discounts by paying upfront.
• Allow rapid investment in machinery that shortens lead times and reduces labour costs.

Our matching process focuses on speed without sacrificing suitability so you can act when opportunities arise.

Frequently asked questions

Is Fast Business Loans a lender?

No. We are an introducer that matches manufacturing businesses with lenders and brokers. The finance agreement is provided directly by the broker or lender.

What loan amounts are available for manufacturers?

We commonly arrange funding from £10,000 upwards. Our panel supports everything from smaller equipment loans to multi-hundred-thousand pound commercial mortgages, depending on needs and security.

Will my enquiry affect my credit score?

Submitting the Fast Business Loans enquiry form does not affect your credit score. Some lenders may perform credit checks later if you accept an offer.

Can businesses with previous refusals still apply?

Yes. Because we work with a range of partners, it is often possible to find lenders who will consider businesses declined elsewhere. Be transparent about past issues so we can match appropriately.

Do you charge fees for the introduction?

Our matching service is free for business owners. Any fees related to underwriting, broker services or lender fees will be discussed by the broker/lender before you proceed.

For a tailored reply, Get a Free Eligibility Check and we’ll match you to the best manufacturing finance partners.

Start your free manufacturing finance enquiry

Ready to explore finance that keeps your production on track? Complete our short enquiry and we’ll match you with lenders and brokers who specialise in manufacturing. The process is quick, no-obligation and won’t affect your credit score at this stage.

Get Started – Free Eligibility Check

Privacy note: your information is used only to match you with relevant finance partners. Fast Business Loans is an introducer and does not provide loans or regulated financial advice.