Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Touch Financial: UK Invoice Finance Comparison 2026

Close Brothers Invoice Finance edges this one in our 2026 UK review at 4.5 of 5 against 4.0 for Touch Financial. Both are UK independent invoice finance providers, freer than banks on covenants and faster on decisioning. The difference is sector specialism, headline rate and minimum turnover floor. Close Brothers Invoice Finance advances up to 90% with setup in 5 working days; Touch Financial advances up to 90% (funder dependent) with setup in 3 to 10 working days. Touch Financial still wins where smes wanting one application sent to several funders matters more than the headline score. Read the side-by-side, then check the "when X wins" sections for the buyer-fit logic.

Side-by-side

As of 2026-05-27. Headline rates and advance percentages reflect each provider's published or commonly-offered position; bespoke pricing applies above ~£1m ledger so verify before signing.
Close Brothers Invoice Finance Touch Financial
Cluster independentindependent
Product type Invoice finance (CID, factoring, ABL)Invoice finance broker (whole-of-market)
Min turnover £500kVaries by funder
Advance rate Up to 90%Up to 90% (funder dependent)
Typical fee From 0.5% service chargeFunder rates; no broker fee to client
Contract / commitment Whole-ledger or selectiveWhole-ledger or selective
Confidential available? YesYes
Factoring available? YesYes
Setup speed 5 working days3 to 10 working days
Best for £500k+ turnover Ltd companies; Confidential discounting use cases; Cost-sensitive established trading businessesSMEs wanting one application sent to several funders; Businesses unsure which lender fits; Comparison-led buyers
Overall rating 4.5 / 54.0 / 5
Last reviewed 2026-05-122026-05-27

When Close Brothers Invoice Finance wins

  • 0.5% headline service charge, market-leading.
  • Merchant banking heritage; FCA regulated under Close Brothers Group plc.
  • Strong on confidential invoice discounting (no customer notification).
  • Published criteria, low headline-to-offered rate gap.

Best for

£500k+ turnover Ltd companies, Confidential discounting use cases, Cost-sensitive established trading businesses.

Watch outs

  • £500k+ minimum turnover excludes earlier-stage businesses.
  • Setup 5 days, fine but no faster than mid-tier competitors.
  • Less aggressive on construction-stage payments than Bibby or Ultimate.

When Touch Financial wins

  • Whole-of-market brokering across a panel of UK invoice finance lenders.
  • No fee charged to the client; commission paid by the funder.
  • Single application routed to multiple providers for comparison.
  • Handles factoring, confidential discounting and selective facilities.

Best for

SMEs wanting one application sent to several funders, Businesses unsure which lender fits, Comparison-led buyers.

Watch outs

  • A broker, not a lender, so it does not set rates or underwrite directly.
  • Final terms and speed depend entirely on the chosen funder.
  • Panel may not include every UK provider.

FAQ

Close Brothers Invoice Finance or Touch Financial: which is the better UK invoice finance provider in 2026?

Close Brothers Invoice Finance scores higher overall in our 2026 review at 4.5 of 5 versus 4.0 for Touch Financial. That headline does not settle the answer though. Close Brothers Invoice Finance is the stronger pick for £500k+ turnover ltd companies; Touch Financial is the stronger pick for smes wanting one application sent to several funders. If your business fits one of those use cases, ignore the rating and pick the right fit.

What are the headline commercials, Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Touch Financial?

Close Brothers Invoice Finance advances up to 90% at from 0.5% service charge. Touch Financial advances up to 90% (funder dependent) at funder rates; no broker fee to client. Minimum turnover is £500k for Close Brothers Invoice Finance and Varies by funder for Touch Financial. Setup runs 5 working days for Close Brothers Invoice Finance and 3 to 10 working days for Touch Financial. Bespoke pricing is common above £1m ledger so verify before signing.

Can I get a confidential facility with either Close Brothers Invoice Finance or Touch Financial?

Close Brothers Invoice Finance offers confidential invoice discounting (your customers are not notified). Touch Financial offers confidential invoice discounting. If your customer relationships make disclosure a non-starter, that determines the answer regardless of headline rate.

Where does each one struggle?

Close Brothers Invoice Finance is the wrong fit for sub-£500k turnover. Touch Financial is the wrong fit for businesses wanting a direct lender relationship. If either describes your business, browse the side-by-side or get matched against the wider UK panel via our quote form.

Can Market Invoice help me choose between Close Brothers Invoice Finance and Touch Financial?

Yes. We are an independent UK invoice finance comparison operated by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937). We are not tied to either provider. Tell us monthly turnover, sector, debtor profile and whether you need the facility confidential. We match you against the UK invoice finance providers most likely to approve at a competitive rate, then stay your editorial reference for life.

Related

Get matched in two minutes

Tell us monthly turnover, sector, debtor profile and whether the facility needs to be confidential. We match you against the UK invoice finance providers most likely to approve at a competitive rate, then stay your editorial reference for life.

Get quotes →

Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-05-27. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).