Invoice Finance for UK Businesses
Beacon Finance Brokers helps UK businesses explore suitable invoice finance to support cash flow, working capital and growth, with access to 200+ lenders and a whole-of-market approach.
Discuss Your FinanceWhat Is Invoice Finance?
Invoice finance allows a business to access funding against eligible unpaid invoices rather than waiting for customers to pay within their normal payment terms.
Depending on the facility, a lender or finance provider may advance funds against eligible invoices while the business continues to trade and its customers pay their invoices in the normal way.
The appropriate structure depends on the business, its customers, the invoices being financed and the lender's criteria.
How Invoice Finance Works
1. Raise the Invoice
The business provides goods or services to its customer and raises an invoice in the normal way.
2. Submit Eligible Invoices
Eligible invoices are submitted under the agreed finance facility.
3. Funding Is Made Available
Subject to the facility and lender criteria, funding can be made available against eligible invoices.
4. Customer Pays the Invoice
The customer pays the invoice according to the agreed payment terms.
5. The Facility Is Reconciled
The invoice proceeds are used to settle the relevant finance, with any remaining balance handled according to the agreed facility.
Types of Invoice Finance
Invoice Factoring
With factoring, the finance provider may provide funding against eligible invoices and can also take responsibility for credit control and collection of customer payments, depending on the arrangement.
Invoice Discounting
Invoice discounting allows a business to raise funding against eligible invoices while the business generally retains responsibility for collecting payment from its customers, subject to the facility.
Selective Invoice Finance
Some facilities allow a business to choose particular invoices or customers to fund rather than financing its entire sales ledger. Availability depends on lender appetite and the circumstances.
Confidential Invoice Finance
Some invoice finance facilities can be structured so that the customer's relationship with its finance provider is not necessarily visible to the debtor, subject to lender criteria and the structure agreed.
When Invoice Finance Can Help
Working Capital
Improve access to working capital where customers pay invoices after agreed payment terms.
Business Growth
Support growth where sales are increasing but cash is tied up in outstanding invoices.
Cash Flow Management
Help manage the timing difference between paying business costs and receiving customer payments.
Large Customer Contracts
Provide potential funding support where larger contracts create a significant level of outstanding invoices.
Seasonal Trading
Help businesses manage working-capital requirements during periods of increased activity.
Expansion
Support investment in people, stock, equipment or other business requirements where eligible invoice funding is appropriate.
Who We Help
Established Businesses
Businesses with an established customer base and ongoing invoice-led trading.
Growing Businesses
Businesses where increasing sales are creating additional working-capital requirements.
Businesses With Longer Payment Terms
Businesses where customers typically take time to settle invoices.
Businesses With Significant Debtor Books
Businesses with a meaningful level of outstanding business-to-business invoices.
Why Invoice Finance Is Not One-Size-Fits-All
Invoice finance is assessed around the underlying invoices, the business and the customers who owe the money. The most appropriate facility can therefore vary significantly between businesses.
- Customer profile
- Quality and age of invoices
- Payment terms
- Concentration of customers
- Trading history
- Business performance
- Sector
- Contractual arrangements
- Credit quality of debtors
- Existing borrowing
- Funding requirement
- How credit control is managed
- Whether the facility is disclosed or confidential
- Overall business circumstances
The facility with the most attractive headline terms is not necessarily the facility best suited to the business. The structure, lender criteria and overall suitability need to work for the underlying sales ledger and funding requirement.
What Invoice Finance Lenders Look At
1. The Invoices
Whether the invoices are eligible and supported by genuine completed trading activity.
2. The Debtors
The financial strength, payment behaviour and profile of the customers who owe the invoices.
3. Customer Concentration
How much of the outstanding ledger is represented by individual customers.
4. Payment Terms
The agreed terms between the business and its customers.
5. Trading History
The business's trading history and financial performance.
6. Sector
The sector in which the business operates and any associated commercial considerations.
7. Credit Control
How customer payments are managed and collected.
8. Overall Funding Requirement
The amount and structure of funding required in the context of the wider business.
200+ Lenders. A Whole-of-Market Approach.
We have access to 200+ lenders through our established panel. Where appropriate, we can also approach lenders outside our established panel to explore suitable finance options for your circumstances.
How It Works
1. Discuss Your Requirement
Tell us what you're trying to achieve and we'll talk it through.
2. Understand the Deal
We look at the details of your situation and the finance required.
3. Explore Suitable Options
We research relevant lending options and explain them in plain English.
4. Progress the Application
If you decide to proceed, we help in managing the application process to completion.
Related Finance & Sectors
Explore other finance solutions and specialist sectors relevant to your requirements.
Business Finance
Funding options for working capital, growth, acquisitions and other business requirements.
Asset Finance
Funding options for business equipment, machinery, vehicles and other assets.
Commercial Mortgages
Finance for the purchase or refinance of commercial property.
Buy-to-Let Finance
Finance for landlords with single properties or portfolios.
Care Home Finance
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Hospitality Finance
Mortgages for guesthouses, B&Bs and small hotels.
Dental Practice Finance
Mortgages for dental practice premises and practice acquisitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is invoice finance?
Invoice finance is a form of business funding that can provide access to finance against eligible unpaid invoices, helping a business manage the timing difference between raising invoices and receiving customer payment.
How does invoice finance work?
Eligible invoices are submitted under an agreed facility and, subject to lender criteria, funding may be made available against them. When the customer pays the invoice, the facility is then reconciled according to the agreed structure.
What is the difference between invoice factoring and invoice discounting?
Factoring can involve the finance provider taking responsibility for credit control and collecting customer payments, depending on the arrangement. Invoice discounting generally allows the business to retain responsibility for collecting payment from its customers. The precise structure depends on the lender and facility.
Can I choose which invoices are financed?
Some invoice finance facilities can be structured around selected invoices or customers, while others are designed around a wider sales ledger. Availability depends on the lender and the circumstances of the business.
Will my customers know that I use invoice finance?
That depends on the facility. Some arrangements involve the finance provider being visible to customers, while other facilities may be structured differently. The available options depend on lender criteria and the circumstances.
Can a growing business use invoice finance?
Potentially. Invoice finance can be considered where a growing business has eligible invoices and needs additional working capital as sales increase. Suitability depends on the business, its customers and the lender's criteria.
How much invoice finance can I get?
There is no single amount that applies to every business. The level of funding available depends on factors including the value and quality of eligible invoices, debtor profile, trading history, business performance and lender criteria.
Speak to a Broker
Tell us about your business, your outstanding invoices and what you're trying to achieve, and we'll come back to you to discuss your options.
Discuss Your Finance