Fast Business Loans — Building Services Business Loans
Quickly find the right finance for electrical, mechanical, M&E and facilities contractors across the UK. We match limited companies and LLPs to lenders and brokers for funding from £10,000 upwards. Free, no-obligation eligibility checks and fast introductions.
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Building Services Business Loans & Finance: Fast UK Funding Options
Quick answer: Building services firms can secure tailored funding quickly by identifying the right product (invoice finance, asset finance, bridging, working capital, hire purchase, retention finance, VAT funding) and matching to lenders or brokers who specialise in M&E, electrical and mechanical contracting. Fast Business Loans is an introducer: complete a short enquiry and we will match your limited company or LLP with the best lenders/brokers for your needs (funding from £10,000+). Start a Free Eligibility Check now to get matched.
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Why Building Services Firms Need Specialist Funding Partners
Building services businesses — including M&E contractors, electrical contractors, mechanical installers and facilities firms — face cashflow and contract-specific challenges that general high-street lenders often don’t understand. Common pressures include project mobilisation costs, retention withholding, staged payments, CIS and PAYE complexities, and the need to buy materials and hire plant quickly.
Industry snapshot
Typical clients are limited companies or LLPs working on commercial, residential or public-sector contracts, often operating with supply chains, subcontractors and staged invoicing. Funding needs frequently arise when a large contract is won or when retentions are withheld until project completion.
Cashflow challenges unique to building services
- Contract mobilisation (materials, labour, plant hire) before invoices are paid.
- Retentions and delayed final payments tying up working capital.
- Bulk purchases of equipment and tools for specific contracts.
- Seasonal or project-driven revenue spikes and troughs.
Financing Solutions Tailored to Building Services
The right product depends on why you need money and how quickly you need it. Below are commonly used options for building services firms.
Quick comparison
(Purpose → Typical product)
- Short-term working capital → Invoice finance, short-term business loan
- Buy plant/equipment → Asset finance, hire purchase, equipment finance
- Bridge a payment gap or property-related timing issues → Bridging finance
- Cover VAT bills → VAT loans
- Release retentions → Retention finance or factoring with retention release
Key product details
Invoice finance / factoring — Convert unpaid invoices into immediate cash. Suited to firms with ongoing invoicing. Typical amounts: from £10k upwards. Pros: fast access to cash; flexible. Considerations: fees vary by client risk and invoice profile.
Asset & equipment finance — Spread the cost of tools, plant or vehicles over time using hire purchase or lease agreements. Typical terms: 2–5 years. Pros: preserves working capital, often VAT-efficient. Considerations: agreement terms differ by lender.
Short-term business loans & bridging — Useful for tight timings or when invoicing will follow soon. Bridging is specialist and often secured; short-term loans can be unsecured or secured. Typical amounts and rates vary widely — lender decisioning applies.
Retention release & contract finance — Specialist products to release retention sums held by main contractors or to finance staged payments during long projects. Pros: improves cashflow; helps win larger contracts. Considerations: lenders will assess contract terms and counterparty strength.
Responsible borrowing note: product suitability, rates and terms depend on business accounts, contract strength and director credit profiles. Lenders make the final decision.
How Fast Business Loans Supports Building Services Companies
Our 4-step matching process
- Short enquiry — tell us about your business, funding need and amount (takes ~2 minutes).
- Intelligent match — we connect you with lenders/brokers who specialise in your sector and situation.
- Rapid response — partners typically call or email with options and next steps.
- Compare and decide — choose the provider and product that fits your goals; proceed direct with the lender/broker.
What to expect after you enquire
Once you submit the enquiry we’ll share your details with selected partners. Expect contact within hours during business days. Partners may request documents and run credit checks only if you choose to progress; the initial matching and eligibility check has no impact on your credit score.
Eligibility & Documentation Checklist
We match limited companies and LLPs seeking from £10,000 upwards. Exact lender requirements differ, but the following improves your chances and speeds decisions.
Typical eligibility
- Trading entity: limited company or LLP (we do not handle sole traders or professional loans)
- Minimum trading history: many lenders expect 6–12 months trading, though specialist lenders can consider newer businesses
- Turnover: lenders vary — many specialise in small-to-medium turnovers typical of contractors
- Credit profile: flexible options exist for businesses with previous credit events, but terms will vary
Documents that speed approval
- Recent management accounts or full accounts
- Outstanding invoices and aged debtor listings
- Signed contracts or purchase orders (for contract finance)
- Proof of identity for directors and beneficial owners
- Bank statements (typically 3–6 months)
Note: lenders make the final lending decision. Submitting an enquiry does not guarantee approval.
Funding Scenarios We Help With
1) Mobilising a new £250k contract
Need: materials and labour cover for first 90 days. Typical solution: invoice finance or short-term loan. Example: £50k–£250k facility depending on invoicing profile and contract terms.
2) Replacing plant and vehicles (£30k–£150k)
Need: new vans and specialist equipment. Typical solution: asset finance or hire purchase over 2–5 years to manage cashflow and preserve capital.
3) Releasing retention on completed work
Need: release retention withheld by a main contractor to fund new projects. Typical solution: retention finance or factoring with retention release — amounts linked to retention value and counterparty strength.
Costs, Rates & Responsible Borrowing
Costs depend on product, lender, contract risk and credit profile. Typical pricing ranges vary widely: invoice finance fees can range from low single digits to high single digits as a percentage of invoices; asset finance rates depend on term and residual value. Always compare APR, fees, arrangement charges and early repayment terms.
We encourage responsible borrowing: only agree to funding your business can sustain, and read all terms. Fast Business Loans introduces you to providers who will explain all costs. We don’t lend and we don’t guarantee outcomes.
Timeline: From Enquiry to Funding
Typical timescales (indicative):
- Day 0 — Enquiry submitted.
- Day 0–1 — Matching and partner contact (often within hours).
- Day 1–7 — Document submission and underwriting (quicker for invoice/asset finance, longer for secured or large facilities).
- Day 3–14+ — Decision and funds released (depends on product and security required).
Complex cases or property-secured lending can take longer. Your matched broker or lender will advise a realistic timeline after initial assessment.
FAQ: Building Services Business Loans
Will enquiring affect our credit score?
No — submitting an initial enquiry through Fast Business Loans does not affect your credit score. Lenders may run checks only if you decide to proceed.
What’s the minimum funding available?
Our partners typically consider facilities from around £10,000 upwards.
Can you help if we already have existing loans?
Yes. Many lenders and brokers specialise in refinance and consolidation for businesses with existing facilities. Eligibility depends on the full financial picture.
Do you work with contractors on CIS structures?
Yes — many partners understand CIS and subcontractor payment structures and can offer appropriate products.
What happens after we submit the form?
We match you to suitable partners who will contact you directly to discuss options. You choose whether to progress; the introducer service is free and no-obligation.
Are approvals guaranteed?
No. Fast Business Loans introduces you to lenders and brokers. Each provider assesses and decides whether to offer funding.
Ready to Explore Your Building Services Finance Options?
Fast Business Loans makes it quick and simple to compare specialist lending options for M&E, electrical and mechanical contractors. Complete our short enquiry and we’ll connect you to the best lenders and brokers for your business case.
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Free, secure and no obligation — we introduce you to trusted finance professionals who can help.
Read more about applying for building services finance on our pillar guide: building services business loans.
– What types of building services business loans and finance can M&E, electrical and mechanical contractors access?
Options include invoice finance/factoring, working capital loans, asset and equipment finance, hire purchase, bridging finance, VAT loans and retention finance tailored to contractors.
– How fast can building services contractors get funding after an enquiry?
You’ll usually be contacted within hours and, depending on the product and underwriting, funds can be released in a few days to around two weeks.
– Does the Free Eligibility Check affect our credit score?
No—your initial enquiry/matchmaking does not impact your credit score, and any credit checks only happen if you choose to proceed with a lender.
– What is the minimum funding amount and who is eligible?
We match UK limited companies and LLPs to facilities from £10,000 upwards; sole traders aren’t supported and lender criteria vary.
– Do you support CIS/PAYE contractors and retention release funding?
Yes—partners experienced with CIS, staged payments and retentions can arrange solutions such as retention finance and contract funding.
– Can you help if we already have existing loans or have had credit issues?
Yes—many lenders can consider refinance, consolidation and cases with previous credit events, subject to full assessment.
– What documents will lenders typically ask for?
Expect to provide recent accounts, 3–6 months of bank statements, director ID, relevant contracts or purchase orders, and invoice/aged debtor reports.
– Do we need security or personal guarantees for building services finance?
It depends on the product—asset finance is usually secured on the asset, bridging is typically secured, and some short-term loans can be unsecured but may require a director guarantee.
– How much do building services finance products cost?
Pricing varies by product and risk—invoice finance fees are often in the low to high single digits of the invoice value, while loans/HP depend on term, security and credit, so always compare APR and fees.
– Are you a lender, and is there any fee or obligation to use the service?
Fast Business Loans is an introducer (not a lender), the service is free and no-obligation, and the enquiry is not an application but information to match you with suitable lenders/brokers.
