When your business pays wages and suppliers before customers settle their invoices, the gap can put pressure on cash flow. Invoice finance can provide an advance against eligible unpaid invoices, with the remaining balance released after payment and agreed charges. How the main arrangements differ Invoice factoring: the provider generally takes on collection of the…
A reliable van or car can be essential to everyday business operations. Financing a vehicle spreads the upfront cost, but the right arrangement depends on how you will use it, whether you want to own it and the commitment your business can support. Ownership or use? Hire purchase is generally structured towards ownership once the…
New equipment can help a business increase capacity, improve reliability or replace machinery that is becoming expensive to maintain. Asset finance spreads the cost, allowing the business to use an asset while making payments over an agreed period. Common approaches Hire purchase: payments are made over an agreed term, with ownership transferring once the agreement’s…
Buying your own premises is a significant decision for a small business. A commercial mortgage may help finance the purchase or refinance a property you already own, but the borrowing needs to fit your business plans and capacity to repay. How does a commercial mortgage work? A commercial mortgage is secured against property. Owner-occupied mortgages…
A loan that suited your business when you took it out may no longer fit its cash flow or plans. Refinancing and debt consolidation are ways of reviewing existing borrowing, but a new agreement needs to be assessed on its full costs and commitments. What is the difference? Refinancing replaces an existing finance agreement with…
Overseas receipts and supplier payments expose a business to exchange rates as well as transfer charges. Compare the amount that will actually arrive and the timing, rather than a headline “fee-free” claim. How it works Banks and specialist payment providers use different exchange-rate margins, fees and processing routes. Some offer forward contracts to fix an…
Insurance helps manage the financial impact of specified events, but cover depends on the policy. The aim is to protect the business’s ability to keep operating and the people who depend on it. How it works Different policies address different risks, such as public liability, professional indemnity, property, cyber incidents and business interruption. Some insurance…
An energy review can help a business understand its ongoing costs and renewal choices. A useful comparison looks at the whole contract, rather than a single unit price or a promised saving. How it works Suppliers offer different tariff structures and contract lengths. A broker may help compare options, but charges or commission can be…
A business credit report helps lenders and suppliers assess payment risk. There is no single universal score: agencies use different information and lenders apply their own assessment. How it works Reports can draw on filed accounts, company records, payment experience and public records such as judgments. A lender may also consider directors’ credit history, current…
Sales and cash receipts do not always arrive at the same time as wages, rent and supplier bills. Working capital funding can help bridge a timing gap, such as buying stock before a busy season or meeting costs while waiting for customers to pay. Different ways to fund the gap Options can include a business…
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