Is financing available for CAD/CAM software, metrology equipment and testing rigs?

Short answer: Yes — UK businesses can access asset & equipment finance, hire purchase, leasing and other commercial facilities to fund CAD/CAM software, metrology instruments (CMMs, 3D scanners, laser systems) and bespoke testing rigs. Financing preserves cash, spreads cost and can be structured for subscriptions, perpetual licences and hardware — from small licence bundles up to large bespoke systems of £10,000 and above.

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We are an introducer — a free, no-obligation service. Submitting an enquiry is not an application and will not affect your credit score. We match your business with specialist lenders and brokers for fast quotes.

Quick answer — knowledge bomb

Yes — the market has a wide range of finance options that will cover software licences and subscriptions, capital equipment and bespoke test rigs. Common routes are:

• Asset/equipment finance or leasing for tangible metrology and test equipment
• Hire Purchase (HP) to buy and claim capital allowances
• Vendor or supplier finance (often bundled with installation and support)
• Subscription financing or rolling facilities for SaaS/CAD subscriptions
• Term business loans or invoice finance as alternative cash-based routes

Get a Free Eligibility Check to see which options match your business needs.

What can be financed?

CAD/CAM software

CAD/CAM purchases cover everything from desktop licences and high‑value multi-seat installations to specialist CAM post‑processors and simulation modules. Software is sold in different ways:

• Perpetual licence (one-off purchase + annual maintenance)
• Subscription/SaaS (monthly or annual fees)
• User seats or floating licences (multi-user arrangements)

How finance treats software depends on the supplier model. Perpetual licences and perpetual licences with a defined support contract are usually eligible for asset finance or hire purchase because they have a capital element. Subscription models can be financed by lenders that offer subscription financing or by wrapping the cost into a working‑capital facility or vendor finance agreement.

Typical items: SolidWorks, Autodesk (Inventor, AutoCAD), Siemens NX, Mastercam and specialist CAM plug‑ins; annual maintenance/support contracts may be included in packages.

Metrology equipment

Metrology gear is classic equipment finance territory. Examples:

• CMMs (bridge, gantry, portable arms)
• Optical comparators, vision systems
• Laser trackers, 3D laser scanners, structured light scanners
• Probing systems, gauge sets and calibration equipment

These are tangible assets with a measurable lifespan and resale value, so specialist lenders frequently lend against them. Typical lifespan for finance terms ranges from 3–7 years depending on asset type and depreciation.

Testing rigs & bespoke test equipment

Testing rigs span catalogue test benches to fully bespoke fatigue rigs, environmental chambers, calibration rigs and electrical test benches. Key financing points for bespoke rigs:

• Supplier quotes and technical specs are essential
• Staged payments (deposit, build milestones, final payment) are common
• Specialist lenders or vendor finance are often required for large bespoke builds

Types of finance available

• Asset finance / Equipment finance: Loan or lease secured against equipment. Preserves cash, can include VAT treatment advantages and allows fixed monthly payments.
• Hire Purchase (HP): Pay to own — fixed terms, asset transferred after final payment. Good for claiming capital allowances.
• Finance Lease / Operating Lease: Rental-style — may be better for fast-upgrade cycles (you effectively rent the asset).
• Vendor / supplier finance: Supplier-provided finance, often bundled with installation and service contracts. Check effective cost vs independent lenders.
• Subscription financing: For SaaS/CAD subscriptions — lenders can roll periodic fees into a facility or provide working capital to cover subscription rollouts.
• Term business loans: Unsecured or secured cash loans if you want immediate ownership or to pay suppliers directly.
• Invoice finance / asset-based lending: Useful to release working capital to pay for equipment while waiting on customer invoices.

If you’re unsure which route suits you, specialist brokers can recommend a mix — for example HP for hardware plus a working capital facility for annual software subscriptions.

Typical terms, deposits & sample costings (illustrative)

Rates and terms vary by lender, credit profile and asset. The examples below are illustrative only.

• Example A — CAD licence bundle
  Cost: £25,000. Option: Hire Purchase over 36 months. Typical deposit: 0–10%. Indicative monthly cost (after small deposit): approx. £750–£950 (depending on rate and lender). Final ownership after last payment.
• Example B — CMM purchase
  Cost: £120,000. Option: Equipment finance/lease over 60 months. Typical deposit: 0–20%. Indicative monthly cost: £2,200–£3,000. Longer terms reduce payments but consider asset life.
• Example C — Bespoke fatigue testing rig
  Cost: £300,000. Option: Staged vendor finance + asset finance final stage. Typical structure: 20% deposit, staged payments during build, final lease/HP over 5–7 years. Monthly costs vary with rate and deposit; lenders often require supplier quote and project plan.

Factors that influence cost: trading history, company accounts, residual value, asset age/type, deposit size and term length.

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What lenders and brokers look for — quick eligibility checklist

• Company trading history and structure (limited companies typically)
• Management accounts or audited accounts (last 12–36 months)
• Cashflow forecasts / business plan for bespoke builds
• Supplier quote or pro forma invoice (detailed prices & specs)
• Evidence of maintenance contracts (if included)
• Directors’ credit history (for security / guarantees on larger deals)
• Deposit or initial payment where required (0–20% typical)

Many specialist lenders consider businesses trading for 12+ months, but options exist for newer companies with strong contracts or backing. Have these documents ready to speed up matching and quotes.

Tax, VAT & accounting considerations (general guidance)

Always speak to your accountant for tailored advice. General points:

• VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim VAT on outright purchases; VAT on lease rentals may be recoverable depending on the lease type.
• Buying (HP/loan) usually allows capital allowances claims; leasing can affect balance-sheet treatment and tax timing differences.
• Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) rules and the classification of software as capital or revenue items can affect tax treatment.

This is general information, not tax advice — please consult your accountant to structure finance tax‑efficiently.

How UK Business Loans helps

We make the process fast and simple:

1. Complete a short enquiry (takes under 2 minutes) — this is not an application.
2. We match your request with specialist lenders and brokers experienced in engineering equipment and software finance.
3. Selected partners contact you with quotes and next steps — compare and choose.

Benefits: free, no-obligation matching, fewer calls chasing lenders, and access to specialist providers for CAD/CAM, metrology and bespoke rigs. If you want broader sector context, see our page on engineering business loans.

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Case studies — short examples

Case 1 — CNC workshop: CAD/CAM roll-out
A medium‑sized CNC shop needed multi‑seat CAM licences and post‑processors (£32,500). We introduced a broker who arranged a 36‑month HP with 5% deposit. The shop spread cost, kept cash for materials and completed the installation within two weeks of approval.

Case 2 — Manufacturer: bespoke fatigue rig
A manufacturer ordered a bespoke rig (£260,000). Supplier offered staged payments; a specialist lender provided the final 60% via asset finance. The structure matched build milestones and reduced upfront cash impact while keeping ownership options at term end.

Frequently asked questions (short)

Can I finance SaaS CAD subscriptions?

Yes — options include subscription financing, rolling facilities or using working capital / invoice finance to cover periodic fees.

Do lenders fund bespoke one-off rigs?

Yes, but they usually require supplier quotes, technical specs and may offer staged funding or specialist facilities.

How quickly can I get quotes?

Many brokers or lenders respond within hours to a day. Complex or bespoke projects may take longer (several days to weeks) depending on technical review and underwriting.

Will my enquiry affect my credit score?

No — completing our enquiry form is not an application and does not impact your credit file. Lenders may perform checks later if you apply.

Next steps & important legal note

Yes — financing is available for CAD/CAM software, metrology kit and testing rigs. If you’d like tailored options matched to your business, complete a short enquiry now and we’ll connect you to specialist lenders and brokers.

Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check

Important: UK Business Loans is an introducer. We do not lend money or provide regulated financial advice. Our service is free and non-binding. Submitting an enquiry does not affect your credit score. Lenders and brokers will perform their own checks and may request further documentation. Information on this page is general in nature and not a substitute for professional tax or accounting advice.

Need help right away? Call us or complete the quick form and a specialist will contact you to discuss suitable finance routes for CAD/CAM, metrology and testing rigs (minimum facility sizes typically start from around £10,000).

1. Can I finance CAD/CAM software and SaaS subscriptions? — Yes — UK lenders and specialist brokers can provide CAD/CAM finance for perpetual licences and structure subscription financing or working‑capital facilities for SaaS models.

2. What finance options exist for metrology equipment like CMMs and 3D scanners? — Asset/equipment finance, hire purchase and leasing are the most common routes for metrology equipment, typically over 3–7 years depending on asset life.

3. Can bespoke testing rigs and one‑off engineered systems be financed? — Yes — specialist lenders and vendor finance can fund bespoke rigs provided you supply detailed supplier quotes, technical specifications and usually a staged payment plan.

4. How much deposit is usually required for equipment finance? — Deposits typically range from 0–20% depending on the lender, asset type, residual value and your credit profile.

5. Will submitting an enquiry through UK Business Loans affect my credit score? — No — completing an enquiry with UK Business Loans is not a formal application and won’t affect your credit file, although lenders may perform checks later if you apply.

6. How quickly can I expect quotes for CAD/CAM or metrology finance? — Many brokers and lenders respond within hours to a day for standard equipment, while bespoke projects or large rigs can take several days to weeks for technical review.

7. Can I reclaim VAT or claim capital allowances on financed equipment? — Generally VAT‑registered businesses can reclaim VAT on outright purchases and hire purchase/ownership routes may allow capital allowances, but you should consult your accountant for tailored tax treatment.

8. What documents do lenders usually ask for when assessing equipment finance? — Lenders commonly request company accounts or management accounts, supplier quotes or pro forma invoices, cashflow forecasts for bespoke builds and director credit history for larger deals.

9. What minimum and maximum finance amounts are available for engineering equipment? — Typical facilities start from around £10,000 and can scale to several hundred thousand pounds for high‑value CMMs or bespoke testing rigs.

10. Can start‑ups or businesses with limited trading history get asset finance? — Yes — some specialist lenders and brokers will consider newer businesses if they can provide strong contracts, credible management accounts, or supporting guarantees.