Skipton Business Finance vs Ultimate Finance: UK Invoice Finance Comparison 2026
See how Skipton Business 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. Skipton Business 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). Skipton Business Finance needs £100k 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: Skipton Business Finance · Ultimate Finance
| Compared on | Skipton Business Finance | Ultimate Finance |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Invoice finance (CID, factoring, ABL) | Invoice finance (factoring, CID), bridging, asset finance |
| Min turnover | £100k | 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: 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) · 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 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.
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
Skipton Business Finance or Ultimate Finance: which is the better fit for UK invoice finance in 2026?
Skipton Business Finance is the stronger fit for SME manufacturing and wholesale; 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 Skipton Business 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 Skipton Business Finance or Ultimate Finance?
Both Skipton Business Finance and Ultimate Finance offer confidential invoice discounting (your customers are not notified).
Where does each one struggle?
Skipton Business Finance is the wrong fit for recruitment specialists. 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 Skipton Business 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 Skipton Business Finance review
- Full Ultimate 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 Skipton Business Finance's own site.
- Rates, advance percentages and product details checked against Ultimate 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)
- 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.