Equipment finance for UK businesses — quick answer

Equipment finance helps UK limited companies and partnerships buy, lease or refinance business assets (from IT and machinery to vehicles and medical kit) without tying up cash. Fast Business Loans doesn’t lend — we match your business with specialist lenders and brokers so you receive tailored quotes quickly. If you want a no‑obligation, free eligibility check and quotes from suitable providers, Get Quote Now.

Key takeaways at a glance

• Fast matching service connects you with vetted lenders and brokers — free to use and no obligation.
• Typical funding from around £10,000 up to several million depending on asset and lender.
• Options include hire purchase, finance lease, operating lease and asset refinance — each suits different ownership and tax needs.
• We are an introducer only: not a lender and not giving regulated financial advice; decisions and agreements are between you and the lender/broker.

Free Eligibility Check

What is equipment finance and how does it work?

Equipment finance is a way for businesses to fund purchases of commercial assets — for example plant and construction equipment, manufacturing machinery, catering and hospitality kit, medical devices, HGVs and IT systems — without paying the full purchase price up front. Instead you spread the cost over a term that suits your cash flow.

Common structures:

• Hire Purchase (HP) — you pay in fixed instalments; ownership transfers to you at the end of the term once final payment is made. Ideal where you want to own the asset.
• Finance Lease — lender buys the equipment and leases it to you for an agreed term; usually you don’t own the asset but get long‑term use and predictable costs.
• Operating Lease (rental) — short to medium term rental with no ownership; useful for technology or assets you rotate frequently.
• Asset refinance / sale & leaseback — you release cash by selling owned equipment to a financier and leasing it back.

Examples of assets: plant & machinery, CNCs, commercial ovens, servers, diagnostic scanners, forklifts, HGVs.

Fast Business Loans is an introducer — we match you to lenders and brokers who can help. We do not provide regulated advice or make lending decisions.

Why UK companies choose Fast Business Loans for equipment funding

Match with specialist lenders and brokers

Rather than filling dozens of provider sites, submit one short enquiry and we match you with a small panel of lenders or brokers that specialise in your asset type and sector. This increases the chance of a competitive offer and speeds up the process.

Sector understanding

Lenders differ by industry experience: construction and plant, manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, logistics and agriculture all have specialised funders. We match you to partners who understand your asset life cycles and resale values.

Save time and protect cash flow

Financing preserves working capital and lets you upgrade without a large cash outlay. Our introductions save you research time and reduce the number of credit enquiries made on completion of an application.

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Free Eligibility Check – No obligation

*Credit checks: a soft check is used for eligibility in most cases; a hard credit search may be required later if you proceed with a lender.

Step‑by‑step: Your equipment finance journey

1. Submit a short enquiry (takes around 2 minutes). We ask about your business, the asset, amount required and basic financials.
2. We match you with suitable lenders or brokers who specialise in your sector and asset type.
3. Receive tailored quotes — providers contact you directly to discuss terms and may request documents.
4. Compare, negotiate and fund — review offers and choose the one that suits your goals; lenders arrange funding and delivery.

Your enquiry is not an application and does not commit you to a product. We handle your data securely and only share it with partners relevant to your request. Start Your Enquiry.

Equipment finance options compared

Matching the structure to your goals (tax treatment, ownership, balance sheet impact) matters. Use our enquiry to briefly explain what you want to achieve so we can match you appropriately.

Typical eligibility & documents checklist

Who can apply? Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) and trading businesses requiring £10,000 and above. Start-ups may be considered but often need supporting guarantors or evidence of contracts.

• Minimum typical loan: £10,000
• Trading history: many lenders prefer 12 months+ trading but some asset lenders can support newer businesses
• Credit profile: acceptable credit is helpful; specialist lenders can consider more complex cases

Common documents requested:

• Recent management accounts or last filed accounts
• Business bank statements (3–6 months)
• Invoice or supplier quotation for the equipment
• Director ID and proof of address
• Details of existing finance agreements

Unsure if you qualify? Request a free eligibility check.

How much can you borrow & what will it cost?

Typical funding ranges from about £10,000 to several million depending on the asset, lender risk appetite and business circumstances. Rates and structure depend on:

• Credit profile of the business and directors
• Type, age and resale value of the asset
• Deposit or initial rental amount
• Loan term and whether the lender takes asset security
• Sector and seasonal cash flow patterns

Illustrative example (for guidance only):

These figures are illustrative and not an offer. Final rates and costs are subject to lender assessment.

Buy outright vs finance: cash‑flow impact

• Buying outright preserves ownership but ties up capital and may reduce cash available for operations or growth.
• Financing preserves working capital, spreads cost, and often includes maintenance or upgrade options.
• Tax and accounting treatment vary — consult your accountant for the best structure for your business goals.

Frequently funded assets via Fast Business Loans

• Construction & plant (excavators, cranes, compactors)
• Manufacturing (CNC machines, assembly lines, robotics)
• Hospitality & catering (commercial ovens, extraction, POS)
• Healthcare (scan and diagnostic equipment, mobility aids)
• Logistics & transport (HGVs, vans, forklifts)
• Technology (servers, comms, specialist software licenses)

Alternative funding routes you can compare

If equipment finance isn’t the only route, you can compare:

• Invoice finance or factoring (improve cash flow)
• Working capital loans and overdrafts
• Sale & leaseback to release equity from existing assets
• Green or sustainability finance for energy‑efficient equipment

Use our enquiry to tell us if you’d like to compare multiple routes. Get My Free Equipment Finance Quote.

FAQs: Equipment finance with Fast Business Loans

How quickly can equipment finance be approved?

Many lenders provide indicative responses within hours of receiving an enquiry and documents; formal approval depends on asset checks and due diligence and can take days to a few weeks.

Will my enquiry affect my credit score?

No — submitting an enquiry to Fast Business Loans does not affect your credit score. Lenders may perform hard checks only if you proceed with an application.

Can I finance used or second‑hand equipment?

Yes — many lenders will fund used equipment; age, condition and resale value influence terms.

Do you charge businesses to use the service?

No — our service is free for businesses. Partners may pay us for introductions; any lender or broker fees will be made clear by them.

Can I get finance if I have a previous refusal?

Possibly. We work with a broad panel including specialist funders who look at cases others may have turned down. Submit details so we can match you to the best option.

Ready to unlock the equipment your business needs?

If you need equipment but prefer to preserve cash and move quickly, let us match you with lenders and brokers experienced in funding your asset type. Complete a short enquiry — it’s free, quick and not an application. Start Your Equipment Finance Enquiry.

Prefer to talk? Request a callback when you submit the enquiry and a UK‑based specialist will call you.

Important information & disclaimers

• Fast Business Loans is an introducer that connects businesses with lenders and brokers. We do not lend or offer regulated financial advice.
• All finance is subject to credit assessment and terms and conditions of the lender or broker you deal with.
• Our service is free for business owners; brokers or lenders may charge fees for their services — you will be informed by them in advance.
• We take care with your data and only share it with partners relevant to your request. By submitting an enquiry you consent to Fast Business Loans sharing details with selected lenders and brokers.
• *A hard credit search may be required by some lenders if you proceed — we will explain this before any such check.

Learn more about specialist equipment finance options and when each structure is appropriate.

1) What is equipment finance and how does it work?
It lets UK businesses acquire machinery, vehicles, and technology while spreading payments over time via hire purchase, finance lease, operating lease, or asset refinance instead of paying upfront.

2) How much can I borrow for equipment finance in the UK and what will it cost?
Typically from around £10,000 to several million depending on the asset and lender, with monthly costs driven by rate, term and deposit (e.g., about £1,900–£2,300 per month for £100k over five years as a guide).

3) How fast can equipment finance be approved?
You can often get an indicative decision within hours and full approval in days to a couple of weeks once documents and asset checks are completed.

4) Is Fast Business Loans a lender or financial adviser?
No—Fast Business Loans is an introducer that matches you with specialist UK lenders and brokers and does not provide regulated financial advice.

5) Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?
No—our free eligibility enquiry doesn’t affect your credit score, with any hard search only if you proceed with a chosen lender.

6) Is there any cost or obligation to use Fast Business Loans?
No—our matching service is free for businesses and there’s no obligation to proceed after you receive quotes.

7) What types of equipment can be financed, including used items?
Most commercial assets can be funded—plant and machinery, HGVs/vans, catering and medical equipment, IT and more—including used or second‑hand items subject to age, condition and resale value.

8) Do I need a deposit and will I own the asset?
Hire Purchase often requires a 0–20% deposit and transfers ownership at term end, while finance or operating leases typically need low/no deposit and you won’t own the asset.

9) Can start-ups or businesses with imperfect credit get equipment finance?
Yes—specialist lenders may consider newer businesses or complex credit profiles, sometimes with support such as guarantors or evidence of contracts.

10) What documents do lenders usually require for equipment finance?
Commonly recent accounts, 3–6 months of business bank statements, a supplier quote/invoice for the equipment, and director ID and proof of address.