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    Invoice finance

    Unlock the value of your unpaid invoices with invoice finance - get steady cash flow to run and invest in your business.

    What is invoice finance?


    Invoice financing can help SMEs maintain steady cash flow by unlocking the value tied up in your invoices. It allows you to receive 90% of your invoice value upfront, helping you run your business or invest in growth. Once your customer pays, we take a small fee. Ultimately, it’s a way to access the value of your invoices sooner, without having to wait the 30, 60 or 90 days for customers to pay.


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    How does invoice finance work?


    Invoice financing is simple. You invoice your customer, and we advance 90% of the invoice value. When your customer pays the invoice, we send you the remaining balance, minus our fee. Your available funding flexes with your sales: as your invoices increase or decrease, so does your facility. This means seasonal peaks or dips don’t usually require renegotiation, unlike a traditional overdraft.


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    Benefits of invoice finance

    Improve cash flow

    Invoice finance gives your business the money tied up in invoices before your customers have paid. We advance 90% of the invoices upfront, so you don’t have to wait for payment terms to run their course.

    Reduce financial stress

    Invoices usually start at 30-day terms, but many customers take 45–60 days to pay and some larger companies prefer up to 90-day terms. This can put a strain on your cash flow. Invoice finance provides greater certainty, helping you run your business more smoothly or plan growth with confidence.

    Flexible business funding

    We finance your full sales ledger, so if your business is seasonal or experiences fluctuations, your funding flexes accordingly. There’s no need to renegotiate limits as your invoice values change.

    Types of invoice finance

    Asset based lending

    Asset based lending (ABL) supports larger funding requirements by lending against a wider pool of business assets, such as machinery, property or stock, alongside an invoice finance facility. An asset based lending facility can be a great solution for businesses planning significant strategic growth or acquisition.

    Invoice factoring

    With invoice factoring, we can manage your credit control and collect payments on your behalf. Invoice factoring finance suits fast-growing businesses that don’t yet have an in-house credit team, freeing up time and reducing the burden of chasing payments.

    Invoice discounting

    Invoice discounting allows you to receive 90% of the value of your unpaid invoices as soon as they are raised, while you retain control of collections.

    Access extra funding with the government-backed Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS)


    Designed to support growing businesses - especially small and medium sized businesses - the Growth Guarantee Scheme is delivered by the British Business Bank and may provide additional funding alongside invoice finance.

    Access extra funding for my business

    Why choose Close Brothers Invoice Finance?

    Tailored finance solutions

    High street banks often rely heavily on automated credit decisions. At Close Brothers Invoice Finance, we take a more tailored approach, assessing your business holistically. With local underwriters and a sales team close to the decision-making process, we’re well placed to support businesses that have outgrown traditional bank funding.

    Award-winning service

    You’ll be supported by a dedicated client manager throughout your journey. Our online platform, IDeal, integrates with over 400 accounting packages, including Sage. When you raise an invoice in your system, it updates automatically on our platform, giving you a real-time view of invoices and payments in one place.

    Part of Close Brothers

    Close Brothers Invoice Finance is part of the Close Brothers Group, offering the reassurance of a long-established financial institution.

    What types of industries use invoice finance?


    Invoice finance is used across a wide range of sectors. We have particular experience supporting recruitment, manufacturing and logistics businesses, as well as engineering and healthcare. Many industries use invoice finance to access cash as soon as invoices are raised, helping them manage working capital more effectively.


    View all industries >

    Twenty20 Capital


    "Over the last four years, the business has grown incredibly with the partnership that we have created with Close Brothers. We've beaten all expectations and I think that's again testimony to the relationship that we have with them."

    Read this case study

    Frequently asked questions

    How quickly can I get funds with invoice financing?

    Timing depends on the complexity of your business and funding requirements. Once approved and onboarded, money is often available within a couple of weeks. After setup, cash is typically advanced within 24 hours of submitting eligible invoices.

    How long does invoice financing take?

    Following a review of your business, customers and invoicing history, the first drawdown may be available within 24 hours of completion. Once live, funding against new invoices is typically near-instant.

    What are typical invoice financing rates?

    Invoice finance costs depend on factors such as facility size, asset mix, debtor quality and payment terms. Our pricing consists of two main charges:


    • Service fee – covering the delivery costs of your facility, charged as a percentage of turnover
    • Discount fee – the cost of funds drawn, charged on the daily outstanding balance


    For more information on prices, please visit Our Fees.

    What are the advantages of invoice financing?

    Invoice finance helps free up cash flow so you can run your business or invest for the future. For example, it may allow you to invest in technology or infrastructure with greater confidence, knowing your working capital is supported by your sales ledger.

    • How quickly can I get funds with invoice financing?

      Timing depends on the complexity of your business and funding requirements. Once approved and onboarded, money is often available within a couple of weeks. After setup, cash is typically advanced within 24 hours of submitting eligible invoices.

    • How long does invoice financing take?

      Following a review of your business, customers and invoicing history, the first drawdown may be available within 24 hours of completion. Once live, funding against new invoices is typically near-instant.

    • What are typical invoice financing rates?

      Invoice finance costs depend on factors such as facility size, asset mix, debtor quality and payment terms. Our pricing consists of two main charges:


      • Service fee – covering the delivery costs of your facility, charged as a percentage of turnover
      • Discount fee – the cost of funds drawn, charged on the daily outstanding balance


      For more information on prices, please visit Our Fees.

    • What are the advantages of invoice financing?

      Invoice finance helps free up cash flow so you can run your business or invest for the future. For example, it may allow you to invest in technology or infrastructure with greater confidence, knowing your working capital is supported by your sales ledger.

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    Invoice Finance | Close Brothers Invoice Finance