Asset Finance for UK Businesses

Summary: Asset finance helps businesses buy or upgrade equipment, vehicles and machinery without paying the full cost upfront. Fast Business Loans is a free introducer that matches UK companies (minimum finance c. £10,000) with lenders and brokers best suited to their sector and needs. Submit a short enquiry — it’s not an application and won’t affect your credit score — and we’ll match you quickly with specialists who can provide personalised quotes.

No lender: we introduce you to brokers and lenders only. Free, no obligation.

What is asset finance & why it matters now?

Asset finance is a group of funding solutions that let businesses acquire or refinance physical assets—vehicles, plant, machinery, IT and other equipment—by spreading the cost over an agreed term. Instead of using cash reserves or a single large capital outlay, you pay predictable rentals or instalments that preserve working capital for day-to-day operations.

Why it matters today: equipment and vehicle prices are rising, supply chains remain unpredictable and many firms want to invest in productivity or greener technology without tying up cash. Asset finance provides flexibility to upgrade, scale or unlock equity from existing kit.

Check your asset finance options now.

How Fast Business Loans helps you secure asset finance

We’re a free introducer, not a lender

Fast Business Loans does not lend. We collect basic information from your short enquiry and use it to match you with lenders and brokers who specialise in your asset type or sector. Our service is free and there’s no obligation to proceed. The enquiry is for matching only — it’s not a formal application and won’t trigger a credit search.

Our 4-step matching process

1. Enquiry — you complete a short form with business details and the asset or amount you need.
2. Match — we identify the best brokers/lenders on our panel for your circumstances.
3. Response — selected partners contact you directly with questions and indicative terms.
4. Review & decide — compare offers, ask for clarifications, then choose the lender you prefer.

Get Matched with Asset Finance Specialists

Asset finance solutions available through our panel

Our broker and lender partners provide a full range of asset finance options. Below are the common solutions and when they’re usually used.

Hire Purchase (HP)

Hire Purchase lets you pay monthly instalments and take ownership at the end of the term once a final payment is made. Typical deposits vary but many HP agreements require a deposit or initial rental. Common for vehicles and high-value machinery.

Finance Lease

With a finance lease, the lender retains ownership while you get use of the asset for the lease term. It can offer tax and balance-sheet advantages depending on accounting treatment and is suited to assets you plan to use for a fixed term.

Operating Lease

Operating leases are shorter-term rentals where the residual value risk sits with the funder. Ideal for tech or vehicles you want to replace regularly without ownership responsibilities.

Asset refinance / Sale & leaseback

Sell existing equipment to a funder and lease it back to free up cash tied in capital assets—useful for improving cash flow, funding growth or repaying higher-cost debt.

Specialist sub-sectors

We connect you to brokers who specialise in:

• Vehicle fleets & HGVs
• Construction plant and yellow goods
• Manufacturing lines and industrial machinery
• Medical & dental equipment
• IT, telecoms and green/renewable technology

Talk to the right asset finance broker today.

Learn more about asset finance options on our pillar page for asset finance: asset finance.

Is your business eligible?

Typical eligibility criteria used by brokers and lenders include:

• Limited companies or incorporated entities (we do not handle sole trader personal loans).
• Trading history—many lenders prefer 12+ months trading but there are specialist options for newer businesses.
• Turnover and profitability relative to the loan size.
• Type, age and condition of the asset being financed.
• Ability to provide basic business documents (bank statements, recent accounts or management accounts).

Adverse credit, CCJs or previous refusals do not automatically exclude you—specialist brokers on our panel can help. Outcomes and exact checks vary by provider; lenders perform formal credit searches only if you choose to proceed with an application.

Find out if you qualify (no credit search)

Benefits of asset finance vs paying cash

Preserve working capital

Keep cash for operations, payroll and stock rather than spending a large lump sum on equipment.

Fixed, predictable repayments

Budget more effectively with set monthly costs and flexible term options.

Tax-efficient possibilities

Some asset finance solutions provide tax advantages under UK rules—speak to your accountant for tailored advice (we do not provide tax advice).

Keep equipment up-to-date

Leasing and shorter-term solutions make it easier to upgrade technology and fleets without large exits costs.

What this means: asset finance can improve cash flow, spread risk and allow faster adoption of productivity-enhancing kit compared with outright purchase.

See indicative asset finance terms in minutes

Typical costs & terms explained

Costs vary by asset, your business profile and the chosen product. Representative elements include:

• Interest or rental rate (expressed as APR or factor rate depending on product).
• Initial rental or deposit (sometimes 0% for packaged deals, often 5–20%).
• Residual or balloon payments for certain hires or leases.
• Arrangement or documentation fees in some cases.

Rates are influenced by asset age, sector risk, company credit profile and loan size. The exact offer comes from lenders/brokers after assessment; use our enquiry to get tailored, comparable quotes.

Get a personalised asset finance quote

Industries we help with asset finance

Our partners have experience across many UK sectors. Here are quick examples:

• Construction & trades: plant hire, diggers, vans.
• Manufacturing & engineering: production lines and CNC kit.
• Agriculture & rural: tractors, combines, specialist implements.
• Logistics & transport: fleets, HGVs, trailers.
• Hospitality: kitchen equipment and fit-outs.
• Healthcare: scanning, dental and diagnostic equipment.
• Retail & e-commerce: POS, racking, warehouse kit.
• Sustainable projects: solar panels, EV chargers, heat pumps.

Tell us about your sector — we’ll connect you quickly.

Step-by-step: from enquiry to funding

Typical timeline (illustrative):

• Day 0 — Submit short enquiry (takes under 2 minutes).
• Day 1 — We match and pass details to suitable brokers/lenders; you receive contact.
• Day 2–5 — Partners request documents, provide indicative terms and negotiate.
• Day 7+ — Formal offers, documentation and funds or finance start once contracts signed.

Common documents requested: recent bank statements, proof of asset quote/invoice, company accounts or management accounts, ID for directors.

Submit your asset finance enquiry (takes <2 minutes)

Why UK businesses choose Fast Business Loans

• Speed — quick matching to specialist lenders and brokers.
• Curated panel — we only introduce partners we believe can help your sector.
• Transparent — free service for businesses, no obligation to proceed.
• Secure handling of data — shared only with relevant partners to find the best match.

“Fast Business Loans helped us find a broker who understood our machinery needs — quick and hassle-free.” — anonymised client example

Compliance & transparency commitments

We act as an introducer, not a lender. Our service is free to businesses; if you take finance the broker or lender may pay a commission. We aim for clear, fair and non-misleading communication. The options and rates provided by partners vary and are not guaranteed until a formal offer is made. We do not provide financial or tax advice — consult qualified professionals for that.

FAQs about asset finance via Fast Business Loans

If you have another question, speak to an asset finance specialist.

Ready to compare asset finance offers?

Complete a short enquiry now (it’s not an application and won’t affect your credit score). We’ll match you with brokers and lenders who can provide tailored quotes for loans and leases from around £10,000 upwards.

Start Your Free Eligibility Check

Fast Business Loans is a trading style of Fast Business Loans. We are an introducer and may receive commission from brokers and lenders we introduce. We do not provide regulated financial advice. Always seek independent tax or accounting advice where needed.

– What is asset finance? Asset finance helps UK businesses fund equipment, vehicles and machinery by spreading the cost through hire purchase, leasing or sale-and-leaseback while preserving working capital.

– How does Fast Business Loans work? We’re a free introducer that uses your short enquiry to match you with suitable UK brokers and lenders for asset finance, with no obligation to proceed.

– Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score? No—your enquiry is not a loan application and won’t affect your credit score; lenders may run checks only if you choose to proceed.

– What is the minimum amount I can finance? Our panel typically offers asset finance from around £10,000 and upwards, depending on the lender and asset.

– How quickly can I get asset finance? You’ll usually receive a response within hours and, subject to documents and underwriting, many deals complete in a few days to a week or more.

– Am I eligible if I’m a start-up or have adverse credit? Many lenders prefer 12+ months’ trading, but specialists on our panel can consider newer businesses or those with credit issues case by case.

– What types of assets can be financed or refinanced? Vehicles, plant, machinery, IT and telecoms, medical equipment and green technology are commonly funded, with sale-and-leaseback available on owned assets.

– What’s the difference between hire purchase and leasing? Hire purchase leads to ownership at the end of the term, whereas with leasing you rent the asset while the funder retains ownership.

– Do I need a deposit and what are typical costs? Some deals require an initial rental or 5–20% deposit and costs vary by asset, profile and term, with fixed monthly repayments and tailored quotes provided by lenders.

– Do you charge businesses any fees? No—the service is free for businesses, and we may receive a commission from the broker or lender if you take finance.