Bibby vs Ultimate Finance

Bibby Financial Services and Ultimate Finance are both UK independents, and neither publishes a service charge or minimum turnover. Bibby (formed 1982, and describing itself as one of Europe's largest independent invoice finance providers) advances up to 85% and has a specialist export finance product. Ultimate Finance advances up to 95% and says it can set up a facility within one week.

Bibby suits export, construction and recruitment ledgers. Ultimate Finance suits businesses that want the higher advance ceiling and a facility inside a week. More detail + scope

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Bibby vs Ultimate Finance head-to-head comparison including rates, advance, setup speed, export, sectors

Not covered here

Bank-backed providers, other independents, detailed sector guides

Head-to-Head Comparison

FeatureBibbyUltimate Finance
Service charge fromNot publishedNot published
Advance rateUp to 85%Up to 95%
Setup speedAround 5 working daysWithin one week
Export factoringSpecialist export productNot a stated specialism
Back-office supportFull serviceAvailable
Minimum turnoverNot publishedNot published
TypeIndependent (Bibby Line Group)Independent

Choose Bibby If...

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AP

Adam Parker

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.

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Bibby vs Ultimate Finance FAQ

Which gives a higher advance rate, Bibby or Ultimate Finance?

Ultimate Finance says it advances up to 95% of unpaid invoice value; Bibby says up to 85%. If maximising day-one cash release is your priority, Ultimate has the higher ceiling, though the advance you are actually offered depends on your debtor book.

Which is better for export businesses?

Bibby, on the evidence of what each advertises: Bibby runs a specialist export finance product for overseas trade, while Ultimate Finance does not present export as a specialism. Ask both how they treat overseas debtors before choosing.

Can startups use either provider?

Both will look at young businesses. Bibby's own case studies include funding a new business its bank would not help, and Ultimate Finance says it sets up facilities within one week. Neither publishes a minimum trading history, so eligibility is decided case by case.

Bibby or Ultimate Finance: which is faster to set up?

There is little between them. Ultimate Finance says a facility is set up within one week, with funds paid within 24 hours of invoices once live; Bibby typically takes around 5 working days and says funds usually arrive within 24 hours once the facility is set up. The gap only matters if you need cash inside a week for payroll or a supplier deadline.

Bibby or Ultimate Finance: which is cheaper?

Neither publishes a service charge or a minimum turnover, so there is no honest headline comparison: both quote per facility. The price you are offered depends on turnover, debtor quality, sector and whether the facility is confidential. The only reliable way to compare them is side-by-side quotes for the same ledger.

Which provider is better for construction?

Bibby Financial Services has dedicated sector underwriters for construction, who handle stage payments, retentions and pay-when-paid clauses common in UK subcontracting. Ultimate Finance writes some construction business but is more cautious on stage-payment models. In June 2023 Bibby also bought Aldermore's Working Capital Finance division (announced by Bibby). For construction SMEs invoicing main contractors, Bibby is usually the first one to ask.

Which provider is better for smaller businesses?

Neither publishes a minimum turnover, so both will look at smaller SMEs case by case. Ultimate Finance's pitch is quick decisions and setup within one week; Bibby's is sector-specialist underwriting. For sub-£100,000 turnover or pre-revenue startups, neither is the ideal fit: Hydr for selective invoice finance is usually the right answer.