Invoice Finance for Equipment Hire Companies UK
Market Invoice is an independent UK invoice finance comparison site that helps UK plant, tool, access and event equipment hire companies find the right factoring partner.
UK equipment hire companies face two cash flow pressures: capital tied up in fleet (plant, scaffolding, tools, generators, lifts, AV, marquees) and customers paying 30-60 days after the hire period ends. Invoice finance advances 75-90% of hire invoices within 24 hours of issue, freeing cash for fleet expansion or replacement. The product suits plant hire, tool hire, scaffolding hire, access platform hire, generator hire, AV equipment hire, and event equipment hire businesses billing UK construction firms, contractors, event organisers and corporates. Available from £50,000 turnover. Asset-based lending (combining invoice finance with fleet finance) often the optimal product above £500k turnover.
Equipment hire companies use invoice finance to advance 75% to 90% of hire invoices within 24 hours, freeing capital tied up in fleet while customers pay 30 to 60 days after the hire ends. It is available from £50,000 turnover. More detail + scope
This page covers
Invoice finance and asset-based lending for UK equipment hire companies, advance rates, fleet capital and turnover thresholds
Not covered here
Specific provider reviews (see /providers/), general invoice finance education (see /guides/), other sectors (see /industries/)
Why invoice finance fits equipment hire
Hire companies sit on capital-intensive fleets that depreciate. Every pound of revenue is the result of fleet that was paid for months or years ago, and the next fleet purchase is always around the corner. When customer payment lags 30-60 days, working capital pressure compounds with fleet replacement.
Invoice finance bridges the receivables gap. Asset-based lending goes further, combining invoice advance with a facility against the hire fleet itself, releasing locked-in capital for fleet expansion. Bibby, Aldermore and Close Brothers all have asset-finance teams that bundle these.
What's different for equipment hire
- Hire period vs invoice date: Some providers won't advance until the hire period ends and the final invoice is raised. For long hires (3+ months), interim invoicing is essential.
- Damage and excess charges: Variable charges (damage, late return, fuel) added after the initial invoice may be excluded from the advance until paid.
- Fleet finance bundling: Combining invoice finance with refinanced fleet often gets better rates on both. Aldermore and Close Brothers strongest at this.
- Construction customer concentration: If 60%+ of your hire goes to one or two main contractors, providers may cap advance against those debtors. Diversified customer bases get better terms.
Providers with UK equipment-hire experience
| Provider | Min Turnover | Asset Finance Bundle? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldermore | £750k | Yes | Plant + access + scaffolding hire £1m+ |
| Close Brothers | £750k | Yes | Bundled invoice + asset |
| Bibby | Not published | Yes | Tool + AV + event hire |
| Ultimate Finance | Not published | Limited | Setup within one week, growing fleets |
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 updated: