Get an Advance on Your Invoices
An invoice advance gives you 70-95% of your unpaid invoice value on the same day you raise it - no more waiting 30, 60, or 90 days for customers to pay. It costs between 0.5% and 3% of the invoice value, and most UK businesses with at least £50,000 annual turnover can qualify. Once your facility is set up, individual invoices are typically funded within hours.
An invoice advance releases 70-95% of an unpaid invoice's value within 24 hours. The advance rate depends on your industry and customer quality. Costs are 0.5-3% of invoice value. The remaining balance (minus fees) is released when your customer pays. More detail + scope
Summary
Invoice advances work through invoice finance providers who purchase or lend against your unpaid invoices. Advance rates: 70-80% (higher risk industries like construction), 80-90% (standard businesses), 90-95% (blue-chip debtors). Cost components: service charge (0.5-3%) plus discount charge (base rate + 1-3%). Setup takes 3-10 days; once live, same-day funding per invoice. Available from £50k annual turnover.
This page covers
How invoice advances work, advance rates by industry, costs, speed of funding, and eligibility requirements
Not covered here
Provider comparison (see /compare/), full cost breakdown (see /guides/costs/), same-day options for new facilities (see /best/same-day-invoice-finance/)
How Much Will You Actually Get?
The "advance rate" is the percentage of each invoice you receive upfront. It is not one-size-fits-all - it depends on your industry and who your customers are.
| Scenario | Typical Advance | On a £10,000 Invoice |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing a FTSE 100 company | 90-95% | £9,000-£9,500 |
| Invoicing a stable mid-sized business | 80-90% | £8,000-£9,000 |
| Construction (applications for payment) | 75-85% | £7,500-£8,500 |
| Newer or smaller debtors | 70-80% | £7,000-£8,000 |
How Fast Is It?
There are two stages, and people often confuse them:
Setting up the facility
This is the one-off process of getting approved and signed up. Takes 3-10 working days with most providers. Some offer a 48-hour fast-track.
Funding individual invoices
Once you are live, submitting an invoice and receiving cash is usually same day. Upload the invoice in the morning, money in your account by the afternoon.
What It Costs
Two charges to know about:
- Service charge:0.5-3% of the invoice value. This covers the provider's admin, credit checking, and collections work.
- Discount charge:Interest on the amount advanced, charged daily until your customer pays. Typically base rate + 1-3%.
On a £10,000 invoice with a 1.5% service charge and 45-day payment terms, your total cost would be approximately £150-£200. That is the price of getting £8,500 today instead of £10,000 in 45 days. For a detailed worked example, see our full cost breakdown.
Who Can Get an Invoice Advance?
If you invoice other businesses (not consumers) and have at least £50,000 in annual turnover, you almost certainly qualify. Your own credit history matters less than your customers' creditworthiness - the provider is lending against your invoices, not against you. Even businesses with poor credit can get approved.
Director, Market Invoice
Oliver leads Market Invoice's editorial and comparison research. With a background in UK commercial finance, he oversees provider analysis, rate verification, and industry reporting across all verticals.
Last reviewed: 7 April 2026