Interface Financial Group (IFG)
Interface Financial Group (IFG) is an international invoice finance provider of North American origin with UK operations, offering single invoice finance that it says comes without minimums or long-term commitments; it introduced single invoice finance in the 1970s. Unlike traditional factoring where you assign your entire ledger, IFG allows businesses to sell individual invoices as needed, providing maximum flexibility over which invoices to fund.
IFG does not publish its UK advance rate or fees; each invoice is quoted individually, based mainly on your customer's creditworthiness. More detail + scope
This page covers
IFG single invoice purchasing model, minimum facility, advance rate and pricing
Not covered here
Whole-ledger factoring and discounting (see /providers/), general invoice finance education (see /guides/), sector pages (see /industries/)
Key Facts
When Interface Financial Group (IFG) Fits
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Project-based businesses (£500k-£5m turnover) with large, one-off invoices
Single invoice purchasing suits contractors, consultancies and professional services firms who bill sporadically for major projects rather than maintaining steady monthly ledgers. You only pay fees on invoices you choose to finance, avoiding the commitment of whole-ledger factoring.
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International traders needing cross-border invoice funding
IFG's North American heritage and international network can support businesses exporting to or importing from overseas markets, particularly where invoices are denominated in USD or CAD and UK high-street banks lack appetite.
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Businesses requiring occasional cashflow support without long-term contracts
The single invoice model allows selective funding during cashflow gaps (e.g. covering payroll before a major client pays) without signing up to ongoing facility minimums that traditional confidential invoice discounting requires.
When to Look Elsewhere
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Small invoices under £20k or high-volume low-value ledgers
Better fit: Sonovate. Per-invoice fees make single invoice finance expensive for lots of small invoices. High-volume sectors like recruitment or staffing are better served by specialist platforms charging lower per-transaction fees.
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Businesses wanting ongoing confidential facilities under £250k
Better fit: Skipton Business Finance. For sustained funding against a regular sales ledger, confidential invoice discounting from £100k upwards typically offers lower cost per pound advanced than cherry-picking individual invoices.
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Startups or businesses with unpredictable creditworthy debtors
Better fit: Hydr. IFG assesses each invoice's credit risk individually. Businesses with emerging or untested customer bases may find automated platforms with no minimum turnover and faster decisions more accessible.
How Interface Financial Group (IFG) Compares
| Provider | Type | Min facility | Fee from | Advance to | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Finance | factoring | Not published | Not published | 95% | Within 1 week |
| Hydr | selective | No minimum | Fixed fee | 100% | Same day to 24 hours |
| Bibby Financial Services | both | Not published | Not published | 85% | 5-7 days |
vs Ultimate Finance: Ultimate provides whole-ledger factoring with advances up to 95%, but requires assigning your entire debtor book rather than selecting individual invoices.
vs Hydr: Hydr offers automated single invoice financing with no minimum turnover and same-day to 24-hour decisions, a lower entry point but less suited to complex cross-border or large-value transactions.
vs Bibby Financial Services: Bibby's selective invoice discounting allows choosing invoices within a broader facility, but it is a facility you set up and keep, rather than IFG's transaction-by-transaction approach.
Illustrative worked example
Hypothetical: an IT consultancy with £1.2m turnover selling one £50,000 project invoice, outstanding for a month
Not a real client. The charges are illustrative assumptions, not IFG's published rates; IFG quotes each facility individually. Monthly cost = £1,250 service charge (2.5% of £50,000) plus about £257 discount charge (7.25% a year on £42,500 drawn for a month, at the 3.75% Bank of England base rate).
Setting Up With Interface Financial Group (IFG)
- 1
Submit invoice details
Provide the specific invoice(s) you wish to finance, along with supporting documentation (purchase orders, contracts, proof of delivery). IFG assesses the creditworthiness of your debtor rather than requiring full balance sheet analysis of your business.
- 2
Credit approval and terms
IFG evaluates the debtor's payment history and commercial profile. For international invoices, this includes cross-border credit checks. Repeat invoices against customers IFG already knows are usually quicker. You'll receive a quote specifying advance rate and fees for that specific invoice.
- 3
Funds released and collection
Once you accept terms, IFG advances the agreed percentage. Your client pays IFG directly at invoice maturity. IFG then releases the reserve (minus fees) to you. Subsequent invoices follow a faster approval process using established debtor relationships.
FAQs
Can I use IFG alongside my existing bank facilities?
Yes. Single invoice purchasing doesn't typically require debenture registration or prevent you maintaining overdrafts, term loans or other facilities. You're selling specific invoices as individual transactions rather than assigning your entire debtor book, so there's no conflict with existing security. Always confirm with your bank if covenants restrict invoice assignment.
What happens if my customer disputes the invoice or doesn't pay?
IFG doesn't publish whether its UK invoice purchases are with or without recourse, so ask before you sign: on a non-recourse deal the funder carries the risk of your customer becoming insolvent. Either way, you normally remain liable if the invoice is disputed due to service quality issues, delivery failures or contractual disagreements. Clear documentation and proof of satisfied delivery are essential before submitting invoices for purchase.
How does pricing compare to factoring for businesses using it occasionally?
Single invoice purchasing charges higher percentage fees (often 2-4% per invoice) than whole-ledger factoring (0.5-1.5% of turnover), but you avoid monthly minimums, management fees and unused facility charges. If you're funding fewer than 30-40% of invoices annually, selective purchasing often proves cheaper overall than committing to a full factoring agreement with minimum usage requirements.
Does IFG handle international invoices in foreign currencies?
IFG's international network supports cross-border invoice financing, particularly for USD and CAD denominated invoices to North American debtors. Currency conversion terms and foreign exchange risk are addressed in individual transaction quotes. UK domestic providers like Lloyds Bank Invoice Finance or HSBC Invoice Finance may offer more competitive rates for EUR or GBP-only ledgers within Europe.
Our Verdict
IFG is ideal for businesses that want selective invoice finance without committing their entire ledger. The single invoice purchasing model gives you complete control over which invoices to fund and when, making it well suited to businesses with occasional large invoices or seasonal cash flow gaps. The international network is a bonus for businesses trading overseas.
Official site: Interface Financial Group
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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