Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Ultimate Finance: UK Invoice Finance Comparison 2026
See how Close Brothers Invoice Finance compares to Ultimate 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?
Both operate in UK independent invoice finance, outside the high street banks. They differ on sector focus, headline pricing and the minimum turnover they will consider. Close Brothers Invoice Finance advances up to 90% with setup typically in 5 working days; Ultimate Finance advances up to 95% with setup typically in 3 working days. Close Brothers Invoice Finance needs £500k minimum turnover, Ultimate Finance does not publish a minimum turnover figure. Read the side-by-side below, then jump to the "when X wins" sections.
Side-by-side
Full reviews: Close Brothers Invoice Finance · Ultimate Finance
| Close Brothers Invoice Finance | Ultimate Finance | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Invoice finance (CID, factoring, ABL) | Invoice finance (factoring, CID), bridging, asset finance |
| Min turnover | £500k | Not published |
| Advance rate | Up to 90% | Up to 95% |
| Typical fee | From 0.5% service charge | Quoted per facility (not published) |
| Confidential available? | Yes | Yes |
| Factoring available? | Yes | Yes |
| Setup speed | 5 working days | 3 working days |
| Last reviewed | 2026-05-12 | 2026-07-24 |
When Close Brothers Invoice Finance wins
- 0.5% headline service charge, among the lowest published by mainstream UK providers.
- 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 the sector specialists.
When Ultimate Finance wins
- Setup in 3 working days, among the fastest full-underwriting setups we track.
- Funding lines up to £10m.
- Multi-product (IF + bridging + asset) under one decision team.
- Flexible on industry, including some construction and recruitment.
Best for
SME urgent setup, Multi-product facility seekers, Hybrid IF + bridging needs.
Watch outs
- No published service charge, so it cannot be compared on headline rate with the published starting rates at Close Brothers or Aldermore.
- Smaller deal-team than the largest independents.
- Less competitive on £5m+ facilities than mid-market specialists.
FAQ
Close Brothers Invoice Finance or Ultimate Finance: which is the better fit for UK invoice finance in 2026?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance is the stronger fit for £500k+ turnover Ltd companies; Ultimate Finance fits SME urgent setup better. The "when X wins" sections above break this down by profile, and the commercials are covered in the next question.
What are the headline commercials, Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Ultimate Finance?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance advances up to 90% at from 0.5% service charge. Ultimate Finance advances up to 95% at quoted per facility (not published). Close Brothers Invoice Finance needs £500k minimum turnover, Ultimate Finance does not publish a minimum turnover figure. Setup runs 5 working days for Close Brothers Invoice Finance and 3 working days for Ultimate Finance.
Can I get a confidential facility with either Close Brothers Invoice Finance or Ultimate Finance?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance offers confidential invoice discounting (your customers are not notified). Ultimate Finance offers confidential invoice discounting (your customers are not notified).
Where does each one struggle?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance is the wrong fit for sub-£500k turnover. Ultimate Finance is the wrong fit for lowest-cost facility seekers. 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 Ultimate 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 we will match you against UK invoice finance providers likely to approve, with no obligation to proceed.
Related
- Full Close Brothers Invoice Finance review
- Full Ultimate Finance review
- Aldermore Invoice Finance vs Close Brothers Invoice Finance
- Allianz Trade vs Close Brothers Invoice Finance
- Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Novuna Business 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 Close Brothers Invoice Finance's own site as of 2026-05-12.
- Rates, advance percentages and product details checked against Ultimate Finance's own site as of 2026-07-24.
- Ultimate Finance, invoice finance (advance up to 95%, funding to £10m)
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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. Free, and no obligation to proceed.
Get quotes →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director, Best Business Loans Ltd. Last reviewed: 2026-07-24. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).
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How we make money: Market Invoice is an independent comparison service, not a lender. If you take a facility after we introduce you, the provider pays us a commission; 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 MarketFinance / Kriya or to any provider named on this page. If you take out a facility after we introduce you to a lender or broker, we may be paid a commission or referral fee by that party; 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.