Allianz Trade vs Skipton Business Finance: UK Invoice Finance Comparison 2026
See how Allianz Trade compares to Skipton Business Finance side by side, then get three tailored quotes to weigh alongside them. Free, no obligation, and nothing to pay if you decide not to proceed.
Start here: what fits your business?
These are different products rather than like-for-like invoice finance rivals (Allianz Trade: trade credit insurance and bad debt protection; Skipton Business Finance: invoice finance). UK businesses still weigh them side by side, so the real question is which job you need doing, not which is the better invoice finance line. Allianz Trade typically takes 1 to 3 weeks (policy underwriting) to set up; Skipton Business Finance advances up to 90%, setup typically in 5 working days. Allianz Trade has no turnover minimum as such; eligibility is set by policy underwriting, Skipton Business Finance needs £100k minimum turnover. Read the side-by-side below, then jump to the "when X wins" sections.
Side-by-side
Full reviews: Allianz Trade · Skipton Business Finance
| Compared on | Allianz Trade | Skipton Business Finance |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Trade credit insurance and bad debt protection | Invoice finance (CID, factoring, ABL) |
| Min turnover | Set by policy underwriting | £100k |
| Advance rate | N/A (insurance, not advance against ledger) | Up to 90% |
| Typical fee | Premium as a percentage of insured turnover | Not published (quoted per facility) |
| Confidential available? | N/A | Yes |
| Factoring available? | N/A | Yes |
| Setup speed | 1 to 3 weeks (policy underwriting) | 5 working days |
Sources for these figures: Skipton Business Finance: advance rate · Skipton Select: set-up fee plus a service charge set by turnover band (no figures published) · Skipton: confidential invoice discounting arranged for SMEs with turnover as small as £100k (no formal threshold published)
When Allianz Trade wins
- One of the world's largest trade credit insurers, with deep debtor risk data.
- Protects against customer insolvency and protracted default.
- Can be added alongside an existing invoice finance facility.
- Strengthens funding terms when a ledger is insured.
Best for
Protecting against customer non-payment, Insuring an existing IF ledger, Exporters managing debtor risk.
Watch outs
- Not invoice finance: it insures debt, it does not advance cash.
- Provides no working capital on its own.
- Premiums and underwriting add cost and lead time.
When Skipton Business Finance wins
- Skipton Select: a set-up fee plus a service charge banded by turnover, with no interest charge.
- Wholly owned subsidiary of Skipton Building Society.
- Strong regional UK manufacturing and wholesale presence.
- Funding lines up to £10m.
Best for
SME manufacturing and wholesale, Yorkshire/Northern businesses, Building-society-backed funder preference.
Watch outs
- Smaller team than the largest mainstream providers.
- Less aggressive on recruitment sector than specialists.
- Less digital-led than fintech alternatives.
FAQ
Allianz Trade or Skipton Business Finance: which fits your business in 2026?
They do different jobs (see the product types above), so pick by the job you need doing. Allianz Trade is the stronger fit for protecting against customer non-payment; Skipton Business Finance fits SME manufacturing and wholesale better. The "when X wins" sections above break this down by profile, and the commercials are covered in the next question.
How do Allianz Trade and Skipton Business Finance price their facilities?
Pricing: Allianz Trade, premium as a percentage of insured turnover; Skipton Business Finance, not published, quoted per facility. The table above sets advance rate, setup speed and minimum turnover side by side.
Can I get a confidential facility with either Allianz Trade or Skipton Business Finance?
Allianz Trade is not an invoice finance facility, so confidential invoice discounting does not apply. Skipton Business Finance offers confidential invoice discounting (your customers are not notified).
Where does each one struggle?
Allianz Trade is the wrong fit for businesses that need cash now. Skipton Business Finance is the wrong fit for recruitment specialists. If either describes your business, browse the side-by-side or get 3 free quotes through our quote form.
Can Market Invoice help me choose between Allianz Trade and Skipton Business Finance?
Yes. marketinvoice.co.uk is an independent comparison and introducer service operated by Best Business Loans Ltd (company 16833937), and is not tied to either provider. Share your turnover, sector and debtor profile and eCapital, our introduction partner, handles your enquiry and comes back to you with quotes, with no obligation to proceed.
Related
- Full Allianz Trade review
- Full Skipton Business Finance review
- Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Ultimate Finance
- Aldermore Invoice Finance vs Close Brothers Invoice Finance
- Allianz Trade vs Close Brothers Invoice Finance
- All UK invoice finance comparisons
- Browse every reviewed UK invoice finance provider
- UK invoice finance by region
Sources
- Rates, advance percentages and product details checked against Allianz Trade's own site.
- Rates, advance percentages and product details checked against Skipton Business Finance's own site.
- Skipton Business Finance: advance rate
- Skipton Select: set-up fee plus a service charge set by turnover band (no figures published)
- Skipton: confidential invoice discounting arranged for SMEs with turnover as small as £100k (no formal threshold published)
Get 3 free quotes
Tell us monthly turnover, sector, debtor profile and whether the facility needs to be confidential. eCapital, our introduction partner, handles your enquiry and comes back to you with quotes. Free, and no obligation to proceed.
Get my 3 quotes →Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937), directed by Oliver Mackman, owns and operates Market Invoice. Last updated: .
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How we make money: Market Invoice is an independent comparison service, not a lender. Our introduction partner pays us a fixed fee for each business we introduce, whether or not you go ahead; you never pay us and it is never added to your costs. How we are funded.
Disclosure: marketinvoice.co.uk is an independent invoice finance comparison and introducer service operated by Best Business Loans Ltd (company number 16833937). It is a separate business and is not connected to Kriya, Allica Bank or to any provider named on this page. Our introduction partner pays us a fixed fee for each business we introduce, whether or not a facility follows; this is never added to your costs. Invoice finance for limited companies is not a regulated activity, so this comparison is general information rather than regulated financial advice. Figures are indicative; larger facilities are commonly priced bespoke, so confirm terms directly with the provider before you sign.