Independent ranking
Business Asset Finance UK: Best Providers
Independent UK lender rankings from desk research, post-decline options included. FundBiz does not run a credit check. Typical decision times vary by product and lender and are stated in the ranking below.
Start here · What do you need?
Asset finance is product-by-product not lender-by-lender; the right specialist depends on the asset class. These are the strongest UK options across vehicles, plant, machinery and IT. This FundBiz ranking assesses 5 UK lenders for "business asset finance uk: best providers", weighting primarily on asset-class coverage (30%), transparency (20%), decision speed (20%) (see the full weighted criteria below). Scores are our own desk-research assessment built from the FCA Register, Companies House filings and each lender's published product criteria, not customer reviews and not paid placement. Lenders don't pay for inclusion or rankings. If you send an enquiry, we pass it to a business finance broker, who pays us a fixed fee; you pay nothing.
Source: FundBiz methodology. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).
Founder & Managing Director, Muswell Rose, FundBiz
Adam is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and a founder of Best Business Loans Ltd, the company behind FundBiz. His background runs through commercial finance, mortgages and fintech, including as managing director of an invoice finance business. He oversees FundBiz's guides and lender reviews.
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SME term loan, asset finance + commercial mortgage · £25k to £150k (business loans); up to £15m (commercial mortgages) · Money in days on business loans; longer for larger facilities
Asset finance from £25k to £2.5m (Allica's own range); PRA-regulated bank.
Our assessment: Transparency: top tier · Decision speed: average (money in days on business loans; longer for larger facilities).
Read full Allica Bank review → -
Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages · Not published for asset or invoice finance; commercial real estate loans of £3m to £100m (its own figures) · Not published
Established broker-channel asset finance with deep sector specialisms.
Our assessment: Transparency: strong · Decision speed: average (not published).
Read full Aldermore review → -
Asset finance, invoice finance, vehicle finance · Not published overall; secured loans of £50k to £500k (its own figures) · Not published
AIM-listed alternative-finance specialist; mid-ticket sweet spot.
Our assessment: Transparency: average · Decision speed: strong (not published).
Read full Time Finance review → -
Term loans, asset finance, commercial property · Not published as one range; specialist business lending facilities from £1m (its own figures) · Not published
Bespoke deals for £100k+ tickets and complex assets.
Our assessment: Transparency: average · Decision speed: average (not published).
Read full Shawbrook Bank review → -
SME term loan + bridging · £1m to tens of millions · Typically funds within weeks (OakNorth's own wording)
Top-end asset-backed deals from £1m via bespoke structuring.
Our assessment: Transparency: average · Decision speed: average (typically funds within weeks (OakNorth's own wording)).
Read full OakNorth review →
Side-by-side comparison
| Lender | Typical rate | Ticket | Decision | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allica Bank | Business loans 9.90% to 13.75% interest; other products quoted per deal | £25k to £150k (business loans); up to £15m (commercial mortgages) | Money in days on business loans; longer for larger facilities | Established Ltd companies with three or more years of filed accounts |
| Aldermore | Quoted per deal (not published) | Not published for asset or invoice finance; commercial real estate loans of £3m to £100m (its own figures) | Not published | Established Ltds wanting asset finance or invoice finance with a real bank |
| Time Finance | Bespoke | Not published overall; secured loans of £50k to £500k (its own figures) | Not published | Mid-ticket Ltds combining asset finance, invoice finance and vehicle under one lender |
| Shawbrook Bank | Bespoke | Not published as one range; specialist business lending facilities from £1m (its own figures) | Not published | £500k+ commercial property |
| OakNorth | Bespoke | £1m to tens of millions | Typically funds within weeks (OakNorth's own wording) | £1m+ tickets backed by clear acquisition, growth or property story |
Sources: each lender's own published product pages: Allica Bank · Aldermore · Time Finance · Shawbrook Bank · OakNorth. Figures change; confirm with the lender before you rely on one.
What is asset finance for UK SMBs?
A loan secured against a specific asset: vehicle, plant, machinery, IT or fit-out. Three structures: hire purchase (you own at end), finance lease (you rent), operating lease (lender takes residual risk). The asset is the primary security, which lowers eligibility hurdles versus unsecured term debt.
How does hire purchase differ from leasing for UK businesses?
Hire purchase: pay deposit and monthly instalments, own the asset at end of term. Best for assets you keep long term. Leasing: pay monthly, lender owns the asset, you return or buy at end. Best for assets you replace on a cycle (vehicles, IT). Tax and accounting differ.
What rate should I expect on UK asset finance in 2026?
Most asset finance lenders quote per case rather than publishing a rate. New assets and established Ltd companies with clean credit usually get better prices than used assets or weaker profiles, and asset finance often prices below unsecured debt for the same borrower because the asset is security.
As recorded in our lender reviews: Allica Bank: business loans 9.90% to 13.75% interest; other products quoted per deal. Aldermore: quoted per deal (not published). Time Finance: bespoke. Shawbrook Bank: bespoke. OakNorth: bespoke. Lenders price each case individually, so confirm the cost on a real quote.
Can a UK sole trader get asset finance?
Yes, but options are narrower. Most asset finance lenders prefer Ltd-co structures. Sole traders carry personal liability through structure, which substitutes for the PG requirement. Vehicle finance and small-ticket plant finance are the most accessible asset classes for sole traders.
What is sale and leaseback in UK asset finance?
You sell an existing owned asset to a finance lender at market value, then lease it back on a fixed term. Releases tied-up balance-sheet cash. Useful for established manufacturers and contractors with paid-down plant. Our asset-refinance guide names Time Finance and Aldermore for this, and Haydock Finance runs a refinance product.
How we ranked these
We weight asset-class coverage (30%), transparency (20%), decision speed (20%), eligibility breadth (15%), post-decline acceptance (15%). Rankings reflect our published editorial methodology, not any commercial arrangement. See our /methodology/ for the full basis.
Methodology weights
Weights specific to "Business Asset Finance UK: Best Providers":
- Asset-class coverage30%
- Transparency20%
- Decision speed20%
- Eligibility breadth15%
- Post-decline acceptance15%
Read the full methodology for how we score and rank the lenders we review.
Also considered
- Close Brothers Asset Finance
- Haydock Finance
- Liberty Leasing
Not for
Sole traders requiring sub-£10k tickets; IT-software-only deals where mainstream lenders are cautious.
Send an enquiry
Tell us what you need in 2 minutes. FundBiz is not a lender and does not run a credit check. We pass your enquiry to a business finance broker, who will contact you about your options. For limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners.
Send an enquiry →FundBiz is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).