Head to head
Aldermore vs Time Finance: Which UK Business Finance Provider in 2026?
Independent, side by side. Rate, ticket band, decision speed and eligibility compared for UK limited companies and LLPs.
Start here · What do you need?
Aldermore is the stronger all-round pick in our reviews, but Time Finance wins on specific files. Aldermore offers asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages (ticket range: Not published for asset or invoice finance; commercial real estate loans of £3m to £100m (its own figures); rate: Quoted per deal (not published)); Time Finance offers asset finance, invoice finance, vehicle finance (ticket range: Not published overall; secured loans of £50k to £500k (its own figures); rate: Bespoke). The right answer depends on ticket size, trading history and sector. Time Finance beats Aldermore for mid-ticket Ltds combining asset finance, invoice finance and vehicle under one lender. Read the side-by-side, then jump to the "When Aldermore wins" and "When Time Finance wins" sections for the buyer-fit logic.
Source: FundBiz methodology. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).
Aldermore, at a glance
- Product
- Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages
- Ticket range
- Not published for asset or invoice finance; commercial real estate loans of £3m to £100m (its own figures)
- Typical rate
- Quoted per deal (not published)
- Decision time
- Not published
- FundBiz editorial view
- Stronger all-round; best for established Ltds wanting asset finance or invoice finance with a real bank
Time Finance, at a glance
- Product
- Asset finance, invoice finance, vehicle finance
- Ticket range
- Not published overall; secured loans of £50k to £500k (its own figures)
- Typical rate
- Bespoke
- Decision time
- Not published
- FundBiz editorial view
- Wins on specific files; best for mid-ticket Ltds combining asset finance, invoice finance and vehicle under one lender
Side-by-side
Full profiles: Aldermore · Time Finance
| Compared on | Aldermore | Time Finance |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages | Asset finance, invoice finance, vehicle finance |
| Ticket range | Not published for asset or invoice finance; commercial real estate loans of £3m to £100m (its own figures) | Not published overall; secured loans of £50k to £500k (its own figures) |
| Typical rate | Quoted per deal (not published) | Bespoke |
| Decision time | Not published | Not published |
| Soft search at quote | No (hard search) | Yes |
| Ltd-only? | Yes | No |
Sources: Aldermore's own site · Time Finance's own site. Figures change; confirm with the lender before you rely on one.
FundBiz enquiries are for limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners. Some lenders on this page also accept other business types; we do not arrange those and do not recommend a lender on that basis.
When Aldermore wins
- Specialist asset finance and invoice finance lines that mainstream banks no longer prioritise.
- Strong commercial mortgage product for property-backed Ltd borrowers at £150k+.
- Established underwriting team with sector specialism, useful for files with complexity that needs a human.
- PRA-regulated bank, which matters to applicants who want a deposit-taking institution rather than a fintech.
Best for
Established Ltds wanting asset finance or invoice finance with a real bank, Commercial property tickets £150k+ where the applicant has 2 weeks for underwriting, Broker-introduced deals with sector complexity.
Watch outs
- Slower than fintech alternatives, so borrowers who need cash inside the week may prefer iwoca, Capify or YouLend.
- Hard search at full application, so it is worth applying only once you're committed.
- Sub-£25k tickets aren't for them; smaller asks may suit iwoca or Capify.
When Time Finance wins
- Multiple complementary product lines under one roof, so one relationship can cover asset, invoice and vehicle finance.
- Sector specialism in transport, manufacturing and hospitality.
- AIM-listed transparency on filings, useful for applicants who want a public-market institutional view.
- Faster than Aldermore or Shawbrook on bespoke asset deals, often inside 5 business days.
Best for
Mid-ticket Ltds combining asset finance, invoice finance and vehicle under one lender, Transport, manufacturing and hospitality SIC codes, £25k to £500k asset-backed Ltds wanting a faster route than Aldermore.
Watch outs
- Broker-distributed for most product flow rather than self-serve.
- Pricing varies materially by deal, so there's no tight rate guide before the conversation.
- Smaller brand presence than Aldermore or Shawbrook, borrowers who want the bigger name may prefer those.
FAQ
Aldermore or Time Finance: which is the better UK business finance provider in 2026?
Aldermore is our stronger all-round pick in our reviews, but the right answer depends on what your file looks like. Aldermore is the stronger pick for established Ltds wanting asset finance or invoice finance with a real bank, while Time Finance is the stronger pick for mid-ticket Ltds combining asset finance, invoice finance and vehicle under one lender. If your file sits in one of those buckets, pick the right fit rather than the headline. See our /methodology/ for how we assess each lender.
What does each product look like, Aldermore vs Time Finance?
Aldermore offers asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages (ticket range: Not published for asset or invoice finance; commercial real estate loans of £3m to £100m (its own figures); rate: Quoted per deal (not published); decision time: Not published).
Time Finance offers asset finance, invoice finance, vehicle finance (ticket range: Not published overall; secured loans of £50k to £500k (its own figures); rate: Bespoke; decision time: Not published). Aldermore runs a hard credit search at full application. Time Finance uses a soft search at quote.
Verify live commercials before signing because lender pricing moves and bespoke rates are common above £100k tickets.
Which is weakest for what?
Aldermore is the wrong answer for speed-critical files, consider iwoca, Capify or YouLend. Time Finance is the wrong answer for sub-£10k self-serve tickets, consider iwoca. If either of those describes your file, look at the side-by-side table for the alternative, or read our other lender reviews.
Can FundBiz help with Aldermore or Time Finance?
FundBiz is not a lender and is independent of both. This comparison and our lender reviews are editorial research to help you decide which to approach. FundBiz doesn't send enquiries to lenders. If you send an enquiry through FundBiz, we pass it to a business finance broker, who will contact you about your options.
Who can send an enquiry through FundBiz?
The FundBiz enquiry form is for limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners. Eligibility for Aldermore and Time Finance is set by each lender, and trading history requirements vary, so check each lender's own criteria.
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How we ranked these lenders
Every lender is scored on the same four FundBiz criteria: pricing transparency, eligibility clarity, decision speed and treatment of declined applicants. Scores are our own desk-research assessment built from the FCA Register, Companies House filings and each lender's published product sheets, not customer reviews and not hands-on product testing. Each comparison shows the date it was last updated. Inclusion is never paid for, and FundBiz receives no commission from lenders. FundBiz is paid a fixed fee by a business finance broker for each enquiry we pass on. See our full methodology.
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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. Last updated: . Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).