Printing business loans: how long approval usually takes for printing finance (asset, working capital & invoice finance)
Fast summary: Typical approval times for printing finance vary by product. Invoice finance can often be set up in 24–72 hours for straightforward cases (sometimes same day); asset finance (hire purchase/lease) usually completes in
Quick summary: what this page covers
This page explains typical approval times for printing finance in the UK — focusing on invoice finance, asset finance (for presses, finishing kit, vehicles) and working capital / business loans. You’ll find realistic time ranges, what slows or speeds applications, a step-by-step process, documents lenders commonly request, short anonymised examples, and practical tips to shorten the timeline. Ready to proceed? Free Eligibility Check — Get Quote Now.
Why speed matters for printing businesses
Printing companies work on tight schedules and margins. Finance may be needed to buy a replacement press, fund a large seasonal stock purchase of paper and inks, cover payroll between big client invoices, or bridge long payment terms. Delays can mean missed delivery deadlines, lost contracts or opportunistic savings on equipment purchases.
For example, a mid-sized printer winning a last-minute contract may need immediate working capital to buy materials. Slow approval could force them to outsource or lose the job. That’s why matching with the right lender — one experienced in printing and equipment funding — is vital. Get started with a fast, no-obligation quote: Get Quote Now.
Overview: three common finance types for printing businesses
Asset finance
Used to fund new or used presses, cutters, binders and finishing kit. Structures include hire purchase, finance leases and equipment loans. Typical deals range from £10,000 upwards and the asset itself often acts as primary security.
Working capital / business loans
Term loans or short-term facilities to manage day-to-day cashflow, seasonal stock or expansion. These can be unsecured (smaller amounts) or secured (property or debenture), depending on lender and size.
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You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
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Invoice finance
Factoring or invoice discounting to unlock cash tied up in unpaid invoices. This is often the fastest way to free working capital, particularly for printers with stable debtor profiles.
For more detail about tailored lending for the sector, see our overview of printing business loans.
Our Business Finance Matching Process
Step 1
Complete Your Details
It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.
Step 2
We Match Your Business
With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.
Step 3
You Get Free Quote + Advice
You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.
Typical approval timeframes — realistic ranges and examples
All times below are typical ranges. Actual speed depends on documentation, lender type, asset inspections, security and more.
- Invoice finance: initial lender response often within hours. For simple invoice discounting or factoring, facility setup is commonly 1–7 days with frontline funders; some specialist providers can complete within 24–48 hours. Complex factoring arrangements or bespoke debtor-mixing provisions may take 1–3 weeks.
- Asset finance (hire purchase / lease): pre-qualification or soft decision usually in 24–72 hours for straightforward deals. Final credit decision and paperwork typically take 3–14 days depending on whether the asset is new (supplier invoice available) or used (valuation/inspection required). Large-ticket or specialist presses can add time for surveys or delivery scheduling.
- Working capital / business loans: soft eligibility checks can be done in hours. Formal decisions for typical unsecured or small secured loans commonly occur in 24 hours–2 weeks. Where property charges, debentures or solicitor work are needed, expect 2–6 weeks (sometimes longer for very large facilities).
Example: A small digital printer set up an invoice discounting facility and received funds within 48 hours once bank statements, debtor list and sample invoices were provided. By contrast, a £250k working capital facility secured on property required solicitor searches and took 3 weeks from document submission to funds.
What affects approval speed
Several common factors determine how fast a lender moves:
- Completeness of paperwork: ready 12–24 months’ accounts, VAT returns, bank statements and management accounts speed decisions significantly.
- Credit history and director information: clarity around director credit, prior defaults, CCJs or historic disputes matters.
- Type and value of asset: new equipment with supplier invoice is quicker; used presses often need inspections or independent valuation.
- Lender type: specialist asset funders and invoice financiers are generally faster than traditional high-street banks for sector-specific deals.
- Security required: unsecured finance is usually quicker; loans requiring property charges need solicitor involvement and searches, adding days or weeks.
- Broker involvement: experienced brokers pre-qualify and prepare paperwork, often cutting weeks from the process.
- Lender workload & seasonality: funder backlogs around year-end, holiday periods or during market stress can slow turnaround.
Practical tips to speed your approval:
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- Have last 12–24 months of accounts and recent bank statements ready.
- Prepare VAT returns and samples of invoices (for invoice finance).
- Obtain supplier quotes and full specs for equipment to avoid valuation delays.
- Provide director ID and proof of address up front.
- Use a specialist broker or a matching service to pre-qualify and target the right lenders.
All times quoted are typical ranges and not guaranteed. Offers are subject to lender terms, status and affordability checks.
Step-by-step approval process for a printing business
- Quick enquiry & soft eligibility check — usually within hours. A soft check preserves credit score.
- Document request & submission — 1–3 days typically, depending how prepared you are.
- Lender credit decision / valuation — 24–72 hours for invoice or small asset deals; 48 hours–2 weeks for larger loans or detailed underwriting.
- Offer issued (indicative vs formal) — a few days to receive formal documentation after approval.
- Contract signing & security steps — 1–14+ days; solicitor work and searches extend times.
- Funds released / facility live — same day to a few days after completion and receipt of signed documents.
Experienced brokers coordinate valuations and solicitor steps which can shave several days or weeks off the timeline. Start the process now with a simple enquiry: Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.
Examples / anonymised mini case studies
Case A — Small digital print shop (invoice finance)
Situation: Needed immediate cashflow for repeat orders. Outcome: Matched to an invoice discounter, provided debtor list, 3 months’ bank statements and VAT returns. Facility live in 48 hours.
Case B — Medium printer buying a new press (asset finance)
Situation: Supplier provided invoice for a new digital press. Outcome: Hire purchase approved after credit checks and supplier invoice — funding completed in 10 days.
Case C — Established print firm needing £250k (working capital)
Situation: Requested a larger facility secured with a property charge. Outcome: Initial approval in 7 days, solicitor searches and completion took a further 2 weeks — total ~3 weeks.
Documents & information lenders typically ask for
Prepare the following to speed any printing finance application:
- Company registration details and recent confirmation documents
- Last 12–24 months’ filed accounts and management accounts
- VAT returns (recent periods) and 3–6 months’ business bank statements
- Copies of major invoices / debtor ledger (for invoice finance)
- Asset quotes, photos/specs and supplier invoices (for asset finance)
- Director ID & proof of address
- Business plan, cashflow forecasts or debtor profile for larger or new facilities
Have these ready? Get Quote Now and we’ll match you to the lenders/brokers most likely to approve quickly.
Pricing, fees & transparency
Faster decisions can sometimes come with higher fees or slightly different pricing. Invoice finance typically carries fees and a discount rate plus service charges; asset finance will have fixed or variable interest/lease rentals over the term; working capital loan rates depend on security, term and credit profile.
Costs vary by lender. We do not lend and we do not provide regulated financial advice. We introduce businesses to brokers and lenders who will provide full pricing, terms and affordability assessments.
To get indicative costs for your business, start a Free Eligibility Check: Get Quote Now.
Our Business Finance Matching Process
Step 1
Complete Your Details
It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.
Step 2
We Match Your Business
With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.
Step 3
You Get Free Quote + Advice
You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.
It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.
How UK Business Loans speeds approvals for printers
We match printing businesses to lenders and brokers with sector experience so you avoid wasteful applications and delays. Our service helps by:
- Identifying lenders that specialise in printing equipment and invoice finance;
- Pre-qualifying your business to rule out unsuitable routes;
- Providing a simple documents checklist so you can submit complete applications;
- Putting you in direct contact with brokers or lenders who typically respond quickly — often within hours to 48 hours for initial contact.
We organise finance from around £10,000 and up. Start your no-obligation enquiry here: Free Eligibility Check — Get Quote Now.
We are an introducer. We do not lend or provide regulated financial advice. We connect you with trusted lenders and brokers.
All funding is subject to lender terms, status and affordability checks. Times quoted are typical ranges and not guaranteed.
FAQs
Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?
No. Our initial enquiry and matching process uses soft checks only — lenders may carry out hard credit checks only if you decide to proceed with a formal application.
Can I get funding the same day?
Sometimes — invoice finance and some short-term facilities can fund the same day once documentation is complete. Most setups take 24–72 hours to a week.
How long does funding a second‑hand press take?
Usually longer than new equipment: expect extra time for valuation or inspection. Add 3–7 days commonly, depending on the asset condition and valuer availability.
Do start-ups get funded?
Some lenders provide facilities to newer businesses, though underwriting is stricter. Invoice finance for businesses with reliable debtor profiles is commonly available sooner than unsecured term loans.
What if my credit history isn’t perfect?
Specialist lenders and brokers may consider imperfect credit. Terms and pricing will differ. We can match you to partners who understand your situation.
Is UK Business Loans a lender?
No. We are an introducer and will connect you with lenders and brokers who handle the lending directly.
Get started — quick, no-obligation check
If you need funding to buy or upgrade presses, free up working capital or unlock invoice cash, start with a short enquiry and we’ll match you to lenders and brokers who specialise in printing. It takes under two minutes to get started.
Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check
No obligation • Free • We share details only with relevant partners. All offers subject to lender terms, status and affordability checks. Submitting a form won’t affect your credit score.
Written by the UK Business Loans team — specialists in matching UK SMEs to lenders and brokers who understand printing businesses. We don’t lend; we help you find lenders or brokers who can supply funding.
1. How long does approval usually take for printing business loans and printing finance?
Typical approval times vary by product — invoice finance often 24–72 hours (1–7 days for many setups), asset finance commonly 3–14 days, and working capital/business loans usually 24 hours–2 weeks for routine facilities or 2–6 weeks for larger secured deals.
2. Can I get same‑day funding for my printing business?
Sometimes — invoice finance and a few short‑term facilities can fund the same day once all documentation is complete, though most setups take 24–72 hours to a week.
3. Which type of printing finance is fastest: invoice finance, asset finance or working capital?
Invoice finance is generally the fastest way to unlock cash for printers, followed by asset finance for new equipment and then working capital or larger secured loans.
4. What documents do lenders typically require for printing business loans and invoice finance?
Lenders usually ask for company registration details, 12–24 months’ accounts, recent VAT returns, 3–6 months’ bank statements, debtor ledgers/sample invoices (for invoice finance), asset quotes/photos/supplier invoices (for asset finance) and director ID/address.
5. Will submitting an enquiry via UK Business Loans affect my credit score?
No — the initial enquiry and matching process uses soft checks only, and lenders will typically carry out hard credit checks only if you proceed with a formal application.
6. How can I speed up approval for printing finance applications?
Prepare complete paperwork (accounts, bank statements, VAT returns, debtor lists), have supplier invoices or asset specs ready, provide director ID, and use a specialist broker or matching service to target the right lenders.
7. Can start‑ups or businesses with imperfect credit obtain printing business finance?
Yes — some specialist lenders and brokers will consider start‑ups or imperfect credit profiles, with invoice finance often more accessible than unsecured term loans.
8. How long does asset finance for a new or second‑hand press typically take?
New equipment with a supplier invoice usually completes in about 3–14 days, while second‑hand presses often require valuations/inspections that can add several days (commonly an extra 3–7 days).
9. What fees and pricing should I expect for printing finance (invoice, asset or working capital)?
Costs vary by product and risk — invoice finance charges discount rates and service fees, asset finance uses fixed or variable rentals/interest, and working capital loan pricing depends on amount, term, security and credit profile.
10. Is UK Business Loans the lender and what does the enquiry form actually do?
No — UK Business Loans is an introducer that uses your enquiry (not a formal application) to match your printing business to suitable lenders and brokers who will then provide offers and carry out formal checks.