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%, setup typically in 5 working days; Ultimate Finance advances up to 95%, setup typically in within one week (up to 5 working days). Close Brothers Invoice Finance needs £750k 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
| Compared on | Close Brothers Invoice Finance | Ultimate Finance |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Invoice finance (CID, factoring, ABL) | Invoice finance (factoring, CID), bridging, asset finance |
| Min turnover | £750k | Not published |
| Advance rate | Up to 90% | Up to 95% |
| Typical fee | Not published (quoted per facility) | Quoted per facility (not published) |
| Confidential available? | Yes | Yes |
| Factoring available? | Yes | Yes |
| Setup speed | 5 working days | Within one week (up to 5 working days) |
Sources for these figures: Close Brothers Invoice Finance: invoice factoring (minimum turnover £750k a year, up to 90%) · Close Brothers Invoice Finance: invoice discounting (minimum turnover £750k a year, up to 90%) · Close Brothers Invoice Finance: our fees (all agreements individually priced; no rate published) · Ultimate Finance: advance rate and setup (facility set up within one week) · Ultimate Finance: founding date · Ultimate Finance, invoice finance (advance up to 95%, funding to £10m)
When Close Brothers Invoice Finance wins
- Published eligibility: £750k minimum turnover and up to 90% advance for both factoring and discounting.
- Merchant banking heritage; FCA regulated under Close Brothers Group plc.
- Strong on confidential invoice discounting (no customer notification).
Best for
£750k+ turnover Ltd companies, Confidential discounting use cases, Established trading businesses wanting a bank-backed lender.
Watch outs
- £750k minimum turnover (published for both factoring and invoice discounting) excludes smaller businesses.
- No published pricing: each agreement is individually priced, so it can only be compared on a quote.
- Setup 5 days, fine but no faster than mid-tier competitors.
When Ultimate Finance wins
- Facility set up within one week; funds within 24 hours of invoices once live.
- 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 benchmarked on headline rate without a quote.
- 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 £750k+ 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.
How do Close Brothers Invoice Finance and Ultimate Finance price their facilities?
Neither publishes its pricing; both quote per facility. The table above sets advance rate, setup speed and minimum turnover side by side.
Can I get a confidential facility with either Close Brothers Invoice Finance or Ultimate Finance?
Both Close Brothers Invoice Finance and Ultimate Finance offer confidential invoice discounting (your customers are not notified).
Where does each one struggle?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance is the wrong fit for sub-£750k turnover. Ultimate Finance is the wrong fit for lowest-cost facility seekers. 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 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 eCapital, our introduction partner, handles your enquiry and comes back to you with quotes, with no obligation to proceed.
Related
- Full Close Brothers Invoice Finance review
- Full Ultimate Finance review
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- Allianz Trade vs Close Brothers Invoice Finance
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- 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.
- Rates, advance percentages and product details checked against Ultimate Finance's own site.
- Close Brothers Invoice Finance: invoice factoring (minimum turnover £750k a year, up to 90%)
- Close Brothers Invoice Finance: invoice discounting (minimum turnover £750k a year, up to 90%)
- Close Brothers Invoice Finance: our fees (all agreements individually priced; no rate published)
- Ultimate Finance: advance rate and setup (facility set up within one week)
- Ultimate Finance: founding date
- Ultimate Finance, invoice finance (advance up to 95%, funding to £10m)
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.