Manufacturing business loans in the UK — how much funding can you access?

Summary: Via UK Business Loans, UK manufacturers can be matched to funding from around £10,000 for small equipment or working capital up to £5m+ for major plant, property or development finance. The precise amount available depends on product type, turnover, security and lender criteria. Start a free eligibility check to see likely borrowing ranges and get matched to the right lenders and brokers: Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

Important disclosure: We do not lend money or provide regulated financial advice. UK Business Loans introduces businesses to lenders and brokers. Submitting an enquiry is free and no obligation. Lenders may carry out credit checks only if you proceed.

Quick answer — typical borrowing range for UK manufacturers

Short answer: manufacturers introduced via UK Business Loans can typically access finance from roughly £10,000 up to £5m+, depending on the product, security and underwriting. Below is a practical breakdown of common ranges and the products that typically sit within them.

• £10,000–£100,000 — small asset & equipment finance, short-term working capital, unsecured business loans, merchant cash advances.
• £100,000–£500,000 — larger equipment packages, invoice finance facilities, secured or unsecured business loans for expansion or tooling.
• £500,000–£2m — multi-asset finance packages, commercial refinance, combined asset + working capital facilities for growth or export support.
• £2m–£5m+ — commercial mortgages, development or acquisition finance, large secured lending for new plants or M&A deals.

These are indicative bands only — availability depends on turnover, trading history, collateral and the specific lender or broker matched to you. To quickly check your likely range, Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

How UK Business Loans helps manufacturers access the right finance

We act as an introducer: you complete a short enquiry, we match you to lenders and brokers who specialise in manufacturing and related sectors, then those partners contact you with options. The service is free and there’s no obligation to proceed.

1. Complete a quick enquiry (under 2 minutes).
2. We match you to the most relevant brokers/lenders for manufacturers.
3. Receive quotes and discuss terms directly with providers.
4. Choose the best offer and progress to formal application.

Start Your Enquiry — Free Eligibility Check

Which finance types are best for manufacturers — and typical borrowing capacity

Choosing the right product depends entirely on purpose: buying machinery, smoothing cashflow, buying premises or funding a major expansion. Below are common products and the amounts you might expect.

Asset & equipment finance

Hire purchase, finance leases and chattel mortgages allow manufacturers to fund new or used machinery. Typical funding ranges from £10,000 up to several million depending on the asset value and lender appetite. Security is often the asset itself, meaning larger deals are possible where equipment has strong resale value.

Invoice finance & factoring

Invoice discounting and factoring convert unpaid invoices into cash. Facilities usually start around £50,000 and can scale to £3m+ where turnover and invoice volume justify it. Ideal for manufacturers with long payment terms or growing export sales.

Working capital and business loans

Unsecured or secured business loans can provide quick working capital. Typical unsecured amounts range from £10,000–£250,000 (some specialist lenders go higher). Secured loans can increase capacity where business assets or property are offered.

Commercial mortgages & property finance

For buying or refinancing factories and warehouses, lenders provide loans from £100,000 up to £5m+. Size depends on property value, loan-to-value (LTV) and borrower strength.

Development finance & large-scale expansion

For major plant builds, factory extensions or acquisitions you may need £500,000 to multi‑million facilities. Lenders will expect detailed project plans, staged drawdowns and strong security packages.

Bridging, contract and specialist lines

Short-term bridging or contract finance covers timing gaps or one-off opportunities. Amounts vary widely and can be arranged rapidly where there is tangible security or confirmed contracts.

For tailored guidance and to see which products match your needs, Free Eligibility Check.

What lenders look for — key eligibility factors for manufacturers

Lenders assess manufacturing businesses on a mix of financial, operational and sector-specific factors:

• Turnover: many lenders set minimums (varies by product).
• Profitability and margins: consistent or improving margins strengthen applications.
• Trading history: 1–3+ years typical for mainstream products; specialist lenders may accept less.
• Order book / contracts: confirmed contracts improve underwriting and can increase advance rates for invoice finance.
• Debtor profile: concentration or long payment terms affects invoice finance offers.
• Asset values: machinery, plant and property support secured lending.
• Management experience: lender confidence increases with experienced leadership.
• Credit history: company and director credit records are considered for many products.
• Sector risk: some sub-sectors (e.g., high-tech precision engineering) attract better terms than higher-risk manufacturing lines.

Example: a subcontract manufacturer trading 3+ years with £1m turnover and 60-day debtors could typically secure an invoice finance facility of £250k–£500k, depending on debtor quality and lender terms. All figures are indicative — lenders’ underwriting determines actual offers.

Typical timeline from enquiry to funds

Expect the following general timelines (subject to product complexity):

• Initial contact after your enquiry: often within hours during business hours.
• Simple products (small equipment finance, working capital): indicative quotes in 24–72 hours; funds within days to a few weeks.
• Invoice facilities: initial offer in days; facility setup in 1–3 weeks typical.
• Commercial mortgages, development or large multi-product packages: 4–12+ weeks depending on valuations, legal work and conditions.

Common documents lenders request: trading accounts, management accounts, VAT returns, bank statements, business plan/projections (for development or expansion), asset invoices/specs and proof of ownership. Having documents ready speeds the process.

Real (anonymised) examples

Case study 1 — Small equipment upgrade

A precision parts manufacturer needed new CNC kit. Matched to an asset finance specialist, they secured £35,000 via hire purchase and had delivery completed within 48 hours of acceptance.

Case study 2 — Seasonal working capital

A food packaging manufacturer with rising invoice volumes gained a £600,000 invoice discounting facility to fund peaks in raw material purchasing and fulfil larger distributor contracts.

Case study 3 — New plant & premises

An expanding sheet‑metal fabricator secured a combined package: £2.5m commercial mortgage plus asset finance for production line upgrades, enabling a move to a new 40,000 sq ft plant.

How to choose the right lender/product — practical tips

• Match the product to the need: use asset finance for machinery, invoice finance for receivable-led cashflow gaps, and mortgages or development finance for property/expansion.
• Compare total cost (rate + fees), terms, penalties and flexibility.
• Check whether the lender has manufacturing sector experience — specialist lenders understand installation, staged draws and equipment valuation.
• Ask for an illustrative repayment schedule and total cost over the term.
• Where possible, request staged drawdown options for phased plant installs.

Ready to compare options? Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

Costs & risks — what to check before you apply

Costs vary widely by product and risk profile. Key items to check:

• Interest rate and whether it’s fixed or variable.
• Arrangement, valuation and exit fees.
• Early repayment charges and refinancing costs.
• Security required: asset-only security vs fixed & floating charges or personal guarantees.
• Impact on cashflow: monthly repayments vs repayment by invoice proceeds.

All offers are subject to lender underwriting. We help you get matched — lenders or brokers provide full costed quotes for your review.

FAQs

Can new or younger manufacturers get finance?

Yes — specialist lenders and brokers work with younger businesses. Product availability and terms depend on turnover, contracts, asset value and directors’ backing.

Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?

No. Submitting an enquiry via UK Business Loans does not affect your credit score. Individual lenders may run credit checks if you proceed with an application.

How quickly will lenders contact me?

Typically within hours during business hours; full quotes in 24–72 hours for simple requests.

Can I apply for more than one product at the same time?

Yes — many manufacturers combine products (e.g., asset finance + invoice facility). Complete the enquiry and we’ll match you to partners who can structure combined solutions.

Does UK Business Loans charge for introductions?

No — submitting an enquiry is free and no obligation. Providers you are introduced to will discuss any fees associated with their products.

Are the lenders and brokers you introduce experienced in manufacturing?

We focus on matching manufacturers to lenders and brokers with sector experience to improve your chances of a suitable offer.

Want a quick personalised indication? Free Eligibility Check.

Final summary & next steps

To recap: UK manufacturers introduced via UK Business Loans can typically access funding from around £10,000 up to £5m+, with the exact sum determined by product type, turnover, security and lender underwriting. Whether you need equipment, invoice finance, short-term working capital or large-scale property/development funding, our free enquiry will match you to lenders and brokers who understand manufacturing.

Complete a short, no‑obligation form and we’ll connect you to the most relevant finance partners: Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

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For more on manufacturing-specific finance options see our industry overview: manufacturing business loans.