Ultimate Finance Review
Market Invoice is an independent UK invoice finance comparison site that ranks Ultimate Finance against 89 UK invoice finance providers.
Ultimate Finance offers invoice factoring and discounting with advance rates of up to 95% of unpaid invoice value, among the highest available in the UK, and funding lines up to £10 million. It does not publish service charges or a minimum turnover; facilities are quoted individually. With setup in as little as 3 working days, it is one of the fastest-moving mainstream providers, with appetite for startups, turnaround situations, and businesses declined by banks. Owned by Tavistock Group since 2013 and headquartered in Bristol.
Last updated: 5 May 2026.
Ultimate Finance is a UK independent specialist invoice finance provider, owned by Tavistock Group. It advances up to 95% of unpaid invoice value, among the highest UK advance rates, with funding lines to £10 million and setup in as little as 3 working days. Fees and minimum turnover are not published; facilities are quoted individually. More detail + scope
Summary
Ultimate Finance is a speed-led UK invoice finance independent. It advances up to 95% of unpaid invoice value, among the highest in the market, with funding lines to £10 million and setup in as little as 3 working days. It publishes no service-charge figures and no minimum turnover; facilities are quoted individually, with appetite for startups, turnaround and bank-declined cases. Tavistock Group-owned since 2013.
This page covers
Ultimate Finance products, rates, eligibility, ownership, FCA status, and how Ultimate compares to alternatives like Close Brothers, Bibby, Skipton, Aldermore and Hydr
Not covered here
General invoice finance education (see /guides/), individual sector pages (see /industries/), full provider directory (see /providers/)
Key Facts
Ultimate Finance vs Alternatives
| Provider | Fee from | Advance rate | Setup | Startup-friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Finance | Quoted per facility | Up to 95% | 3 days | Yes |
| Close Brothers | 0.5% | 90% | 5 days | Limited |
| Bibby | 0.75% | 90% | 5 days | Yes |
| Skipton | 0.5% | 90% | 7 days | No (£100k+) |
| Hydr | 0.5% | 85% | Same-day (selective) | Yes |
Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Highest advance rate in UK market (95%)
- Fastest setup of any mainstream provider (3 working days)
- No published minimum turnover; files assessed individually
- Accepts startups and businesses declined by banks
- Flexible contracts
- Tavistock Group capital backing since 2013
- Strong digital onboarding
Limitations
- No published pricing, so it cannot be compared on headline rate with Close Brothers or Skipton (published 0.5% starting charges)
- Smaller provider, less well-known brand than banks
- Limited international/export capability
- No specialist construction or recruitment-only team
- Personal guarantee usual on most facilities
Who Is Ultimate Finance Best For?
Ultimate Finance is the right choice for UK businesses prioritising any of three things: maximum cash extraction (95% advance rate vs 85-90% from competitors), fastest possible setup (3 days vs 5-15 from alternatives), or willingness to take on harder credit cases. They are the strongest mainstream choice for startups, post-CCJ recovery, turnaround situations, businesses with concentration in a single large customer, or those declined by clearing banks.
If you prioritise the lowest cost over speed and flexibility, Close Brothers or Skipton at 0.5% are cheaper. For per-invoice spot factoring rather than whole-turnover, Hydr or Triver. For sector specialism (recruitment, construction, transport), Bibby. For international export, HSBC or Bibby.
Our Verdict
Ultimate Finance stands out for speed, advance rate, and accessibility. The 95% advance rate is genuinely market-leading and worth real money to working-capital-constrained businesses (a £100k invoice releases £95k versus £85-90k elsewhere). The 3-day setup is unmatched.
Pricing is slightly above bank-owned providers but the trade-off, speed, flexibility, willingness to take on harder cases, is right for many situations. Ultimate is our top recommendation for startups, turnaround, and any business where time-to-cash matters more than absolute lowest price.
Source: Ultimate Finance, invoice finance (advances up to 95% of unpaid invoice value, funding lines up to £10 million). Ultimate Finance does not publish service charges or a minimum turnover; those are quoted per facility.
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 reviewed: 30 July 2026