Huge rise in specialist business lending revealed

01/09/2015

British businesses are flocking towards specialist forms of funding in increasing numbers, according to new research.

In total, £76 billion worth of funding is being used by UK companies through the likes of invoice finance, asset finance and crowdfunding, an annual increase of 43%.

This impressive growth comes as lending through traditional loans and overdrafts fell by 5% over the same period, to £163 billion according to Bank of England data, as businesses benefit from the increasing range of funding solutions on the market.

Invoice finance and asset finance have led the charge in many ways, and currently account for £46 billion of lending. As opposed to traditional bank finance, the funding is secured to help businesses achieve specific requirements, for instance to improve access to working capital or to purchase new assets without tying up cash flow.

So how do these funding solutions work?

Invoice finance

By releasing cash against the value of unpaid invoices, businesses can improve their cash flow and secure the funding that’s required to pay suppliers and meet their day-to-day commitments in advance of being paid by customers. Invoice finance companies advance up to 90% of the invoice’s value within 24 hours of its issue, and can additionally provide a sales ledger management service and even incorporate debtor protection, thereby safeguarding cash flow against the threat of bad debt.

Get a quote to find out how much you could release…

Asset finance

Buying new plant and machinery isn’t just expensive, it can also tie up cash flow for long periods and cause short-term financial difficulty. Asset finance solutions such as hire purchase and finance leases therefore enable businesses to pay for new assets in monthly instalments, helping to ease the financial impact.

Request a call back to discuss your asset finance options…

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding gives entrepreneurs an alternative method of getting a new business idea off the ground, without the need to burden the company with debt right at the start. By pitching your business idea to thousands of investors, interested parties will contribute in return for either a reward or equity in the business.

Find out how crowdfunding could help your business in our guide to business finance…

As an independent commercial finance broker, Hilton-Baird Financial Solutions can help you to secure the most suitable funding facility for your business. We have a proven track record at helping businesses from a range of sectors, with 100% of the companies we’ve helped saying they’d recommend us to others.

To find out how we can help your company too, call us on 0800 9774833 or email info@hiltonbaird.co.uk.