Flex ABL Invoice Finance
FlexABL (Flex ABL Limited, Rickmansworth) is an independent invoice finance lender for small businesses incorporated in England or Wales. It asks for annual turnover of at least £200,000 and typically offers facilities from £25,000 up to £500,000, based on the value of your eligible debtors, on a confidential or disclosed basis. Despite the "ABL" in the name, its published products are invoice finance, plus BridgeABL property-secured loans for existing clients.
FlexABL publishes its pricing options: PayABL, an all-in fee of typically 2.5% of each invoice assigned; AdaptABL, a daily borrowing fee of 0.05% to 0.1%; or a traditional service charge plus a discount charge over base rate. More detail + scope
This page covers
FlexABL eligibility, facility size, published pricing options, set-up process and how it compares
Not covered here
Asset-based lending against stock or plant (see /providers/), general invoice finance education (see /guides/), sector pages (see /industries/)
Key Facts
Source: FlexABL FAQs, checked 24 Sep 2026.
When Flex ABL Invoice Finance Fits
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Small B2B businesses turning over £200k+ that need £25k to £500k
That is FlexABL's stated range. Clients deal with a decision-making director rather than a central credit team.
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Businesses that don't want a long contract
FlexABL says it can offer a one-month rolling contract as well as longer terms, which is unusual in invoice finance.
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Smaller firms wanting a confidential facility
FlexABL says it specialises in confidential facilities for smaller businesses, so your customers need not know. Disclosed facilities with credit control are also available.
When to Look Elsewhere
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Recruitment agencies below FlexABL's £200,000 turnover threshold
Better fit: Sonovate. Sonovate is a recruitment specialist with no minimum turnover, so it can take on newer agencies that FlexABL's eligibility rules exclude.
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Businesses needing more than £500,000, or borrowing against stock and plant
Better fit: Ultimate Finance. Ultimate offers facilities up to £10m, above FlexABL's £500,000 ceiling. FlexABL doesn't publish any stock or plant lending.
How Flex ABL Invoice Finance Compares
| Provider | Type | Min facility | Fee from | Advance to | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlexABL | both | £25k facility (£200k turnover) | 2.5% all-in (PayABL option) | Not published | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Close Brothers Invoice Finance | both | Not published | Not published | 90% | 10 days |
| Bibby Financial Services | both | Not published | Not published | 85% | 7 days |
| Secure Trust Bank | both | £250k | 0.4% | 85% | 14 days |
vs Close Brothers Invoice Finance: Close Brothers is a bank-owned lender working with larger facilities; FlexABL is a small independent aimed at firms needing £25,000 to £500,000.
vs Bibby Financial Services: Bibby operates at scale across SME and mid-market; at FlexABL you deal directly with a decision-making director, and short rolling contracts are available.
vs Secure Trust Bank: Secure Trust Bank also offers asset finance; FlexABL sticks to invoice finance, with a property-secured BridgeABL loan (£25,000 to £250,000) available to its own clients.
Illustrative worked example
Hypothetical: a small B2B services firm turning over £600k, raising £50,000 of invoices a month
Not a real client. The charges are illustrative assumptions, not FlexABL's published rates; FlexABL quotes each facility individually. Monthly cost = £500 service charge (1% of £50,000) plus about £242 discount charge (7.25% a year on £40,000 drawn for a month, at the 3.75% Bank of England base rate).
Setting Up With Flex ABL Invoice Finance
- 1
Application and agreement in principle
FlexABL usually asks for identity documents for the directors and beneficial owners, your aged debtor report and your latest accounts. You can connect your accounting software to speed things up. It aims to respond with an agreement in principle and a quote within 24 hours where possible.
- 2
Approval and onboarding
FlexABL says approval and onboarding normally take 2 to 4 weeks, though it can move faster. Agreements are signed electronically, and directors are normally asked for a personal guarantee or warranty.
- 3
Go live
Customers you choose to notify pay into a trust account held in your business name. You can see your borrowing position online at any time and draw against new invoices as you raise them.
FAQs
Does FlexABL lend against stock, plant or property?
Not as part of its invoice finance. Its published facilities are based on the value of your eligible debtors. The one exception is BridgeABL, a property-secured business loan of £25,000 to £250,000 offered to FlexABL clients. If you want to borrow against stock or machinery, you need an asset-based lender instead.
How much does FlexABL charge?
It lists three main charges: a service charge on invoices assigned, a discount charge calculated daily as a margin over base rate, and any additional fees such as an arrangement fee. It also offers PayABL (typically 2.5% of each invoice, all in), AdaptABL (a daily borrowing fee of 0.05% to 0.1%) and ReliABL (a fixed monthly fee plus a daily discount rate).
Does FlexABL require personal guarantees from directors?
Normally yes: it asks for some form of personal guarantee or warranty from the directors, with the level depending on your circumstances.
Will I be tied into a long contract?
FlexABL says it can offer a one-month rolling contract or a longer commitment, depending on what suits you.
Facts on this page are from FlexABL's FAQs and BridgeABL page, checked 24 Sep 2026.
Our Verdict
FlexABL suits small businesses turning over £200,000 or more that want £25,000 to £500,000 against their invoices, a director they can call, and the option of a short contract. It's not an asset-based lender in the stock-and-plant sense, so if you need to borrow against more than your debtor book, or need more than £500,000, look elsewhere.
Official site: Flex ABL
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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