#1 MATCHMarketInvoice routes you to the best fit, free
We compare every UK provider that fits this profile and surface the ones most likely to approve at the lowest cost. Independent, no obligation, 2-minute quote.
Get matched in 2 minutes →MarketInvoice is the whole-of-market match for this need: we compare every UK provider that fits and route you to the best match in 2 minutes, free. The fastest full-facility setup in the UK is Ultimate Finance at 3 working days with same-day invoice funding once live (Kriya’s single-invoice product onboards in about 1 working day, but it is not a whole-ledger facility). Close Brothers and Bibby follow at 5 days. High street banks are slowest at 10-15 days. We ranked the 23 invoice finance providers with published setup terms by setup speed and ongoing funding speed.
The fastest full-facility invoice finance setup in the UK is Ultimate Finance, completing setup in as little as 3 working days with same-day invoice funding once live. Kriya’s single-invoice product onboards in about 1 working day. Close Brothers and Bibby follow at 5 days. High street banks are slowest at 10-15 days. More detail + scope
Summary
We ranked the 23 invoice finance providers with published setup terms by setup speed and ongoing funding speed. Ultimate Finance leads full facilities at 3 days (48-hour fast track available). Across all 18 non-high-street providers with published terms, setup averages 5.6 days vs 12.5 for high street banks; the table below shows only the fastest, so its rows average quicker. Once live, most providers fund individual invoices within 24 hours via CHAPS.
This page covers
All providers ranked by setup time and ongoing invoice funding speed, how to get set up faster, what documents to prepare, and what causes delays
Not covered here
Cost comparison (see cheapest guide), individual provider reviews, sector-specific guides
Providers Ranked by Speed
| # | Provider | Setup Time | Invoice Funding | Fast Track? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ultimate Finance | 3 days | Same day | Yes - 48hr |
| 2 | Close Brothers | 5 days | Same day | Case by case |
| 3 | Bibby | 5 days | Same day | Case by case |
| 4 | IGF | 5 days | Next day | Yes |
| 5 | Skipton | 7 days | Next day | No |
| 6 | Aldermore | 7 days | Same day | No |
| 7 | Novuna | 7 days | Same day | No |
| 8 | Secure Trust | 10 days | Same day | No |
| 9-12 | High street banks | 10-15 days | Next day | No |
How to Get Set Up Faster
The speed of setup depends more on YOU than the provider. Have these ready before you apply and you'll hit the shortest possible timeline:
- 1. Aged debtor report - current, showing all outstanding invoices by customer and age
- 2. Last 6 months bank statements - digital PDFs, not screenshots
- 3. Sample invoices - 3-5 recent invoices to show the format and terms
- 4. Customer list - names, addresses, estimated annual billing per customer
- 5. Latest accounts - filed or management accounts (startups: a cash flow forecast)
Missing any of these adds 2-5 days while the provider chases you for them. Have everything in a folder before you start the application and you'll get to first funding faster.
For a detailed timeline of the setup process, see our setup speed guide.
Founder & Managing Director, Muswell Rose, founder and PSC of Best Business Loans Ltd
Adam is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and a founder of Best Business Loans Ltd, the company behind Market Invoice. He spent over three years as managing director of Penny, a UK invoice finance business, and his career runs through insurance, mortgages, commercial finance and fintech lending. He writes the Market Invoice library.
Last reviewed: 31 July 2026