How quickly can a building services contractor secure funding?

UK Business Loans is an introducer; we do not lend and we are not FCA authorised. We connect contractors with lenders and brokers. We do not provide regulated financial advice.

If you run an electrical, HVAC, plumbing, M&E or other building services contracting business, speed matters when turning opportunities into completed jobs. This page explains typical timescales by finance type, what speeds things up, what commonly causes delays and how UK Business Loans helps contractors move from enquiry to funds as fast as possible. Ready to get matched? Get Quote Now — our quick eligibility check takes under two minutes and is not an application.

Quick answer summary — TL;DR

Typical response and funding ranges (indicative):

• Lender/broker contact: often within hours; typically within 24–48 hours for simple enquiries.
• Invoice finance / factoring: funds can be available same day to 5 working days after approval.
• Asset & vehicle finance (vans, plant, tools): 24 hours to 10 working days.
• Unsecured business loans / merchant cash advances: decision in 24–72 hours; funds in 1–5 working days.
• Bridging / short-term loans: decision 24–72 hours; funding 1–7 days (valuations may extend times).
• Commercial mortgages / secured property lending: typically 2–12+ weeks because of legal and valuation steps.
• Development or contract finance: usually 2–12 weeks depending on complexity and due diligence.

Times are indicative — exact speed depends on product, documentation, complexity and lender appetite. For a fast, no-obligation match to lenders and brokers, Get Quote Now.

Why timing varies (key factors)

There’s no single answer because funding speed depends on multiple variables. The main ones are:

• Type of finance: invoice finance is transactional and fast; commercial mortgages and development finance involve property, legal checks and valuations so take longer.
• Documentation: complete bank statements, accounts and evidence of contracts speed approvals.
• Security & valuations: asset finance on a van is quicker than a secured property loan requiring a valuation and solicitor checks.
• Credit profile and trading history: established limited companies with clear trading data are quicker to process.
• Size and structure of funding: larger, bespoke facilities need more diligence.
• Lender/broker processes: each provider has its internal turnaround and underwriting rules.
• External factors: bank holidays, surveyor availability and legal timelines.

Typical funding timelines for building services contractors

Invoice finance / factoring

Indicative timeline: approval often in 24–72 hours; cash released same day or within 1–3 working days once set up. If you already have approved invoices and an existing relationship with a factor, funds can be released the same working day.

Speeds up when: invoices are valid, undisputed and you supply clear proof of delivery/contract. Delays occur if customer credit checks reveal problems or if invoices are disputed.

Asset & vehicle finance (vans, plant, tools)

Indicative timeline: conditional approval within 24–72 hours; documents signed and funds or delivery arranged in 1–10 working days. New equipment deliveries or hire-purchase contracts may add a short lead time.

Speeds up when: you provide asset details (age, mileage, quotes) and have clean company bank statements. Delays occur with unusual equipment, multi-asset packages or if end-of-life issues require extra checks.

Unsecured business loans / merchant cash advance (MCA)

Indicative timeline: decision in 24–72 hours; funds in 1–5 working days. These products suit shorter-term cashflow needs when security is not required.

Speeds up when: you have recent bank statements and turnover figures ready. Delays occur for larger unsecured amounts or where additional checks are needed on directors.

Bridging loans / short-term loans

Indicative timeline: offers in 24–72 hours for straightforward cases; funding in 1–7 days after documents and any valuations. Bridging against property often needs quick valuations, which can be scheduled fast but may be impacted by surveyor availability.

Commercial mortgages / secured lending

Indicative timeline: typically 2–12+ weeks. This covers acquisition finance, buy-to-let commercial properties or long-term secured facilities where legal conveyancing and valuations are essential.

Speeds up when: title packs and legal documentation are already prepared. Delays happen due to complex title issues, planning permissions, or lengthy solicitor timeframes.

Development & contract finance

Indicative timeline: 2–12 weeks depending on project complexity, security required and feasibility checks. Lenders analyse project cashflow, costs, experience and exit strategy.

Green / sustainability loans (e.g., EV chargers, retrofit work)

Indicative timeline: 1–6 weeks. Public grant links or third-party installers can affect timing—some lenders require evidence of grants or supplier contracts before funding.

Across all product types, the most common way to cut weeks from a process is to be organised: complete documents, clear contracts, up-to-date accounts and an accurate funding purpose.

How UK Business Loans speeds up funding for contractors

We do not lend. We introduce. Our service is designed to remove the legwork and fast-track your enquiry to lenders/brokers who specialise in building services. Typical steps and expected timings:

1. Complete our quick enquiry → takes under 2 minutes (Get Quote Now).
2. Instant matching → we route your enquiry to 1–3 lenders or brokers who best match your needs and size.
3. Initial contact → many partners make first contact within hours; for simpler products you may receive a quote within 24–48 hours.
4. Acceptance to funds → short products (invoice, asset finance) can move to funds in days; complex packages follow the timelines above.

We regularly see lenders or brokers contact clients within hours and deliver competitive proposals within 24–72 hours for simpler products, but every case is unique and subject to lender checks. Start your free eligibility check here.

What contractors should have ready to speed up approval

Have these documents and details ready to reduce delays:

• Company registration number & date of incorporation
• Recent bank statements — typically last 3–6 months
• Management accounts or statutory accounts — last 1–2 years if available
• VAT returns (if applicable)
• Invoices, purchase orders or signed contracts (for invoice/contract finance)
• Asset details (make, model, age, mileage) for van/plant finance
• Director ID (passport or driving licence) and contact details
• Clear purpose and amount required and an indication of desired timeframe

Preparing these ahead of time typically shortens underwriting and speeds up the offer-to-funds stage.

Realistic example scenarios

Example 1 — Electrician needing a van and tools

Situation: Limited company with 3 years’ trading, steady turnover, needs a new van and conversion equipment, funding required: £25,000.

Outcome: Enquiry submitted via our form → matched to a specialist asset finance broker within hours → conditional offer same day → documentation signed and delivery financed within 7 working days. Result: contractor kept the job booked for the following week and avoided losing the contract.

Example 2 — M&E contractor with unpaid invoices

Situation: M&E contractor has £80k of approved, unpaid invoices tied up across a small number of large clients. Short-term cashflow pressure.

Outcome: Enquiry matched to invoice finance providers → initial contact within 24 hours → facility approved in 48 hours → first drawdown same or next working day against cleared invoices. Result: payroll met and materials ordered without project delay.

Want to see how your situation maps? Free Eligibility Check.

Fees, rates and transparency

Costs vary by lender, product, term and security offered. UK Business Loans’ service is free for businesses to use — we introduce you to lenders/brokers who then provide tailored quotes that set out fees, APRs or factoring charges. Any indicative rates or timescales you receive are provided by the lender and are not guaranteed until formal underwriting is complete.

Frequently asked questions

Next steps — get a fast, free eligibility check

Want to know how quickly your business could access funding? Complete a short enquiry now — it’s free, doesn’t affect your credit score and helps us match you to the right lender or broker. Get Quote Now.

Privacy note: when you submit your enquiry we will share the details with selected lenders/brokers so they can provide quotes. See our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions for full details.

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Introducer statement: UK Business Loans is an introducer; we do not lend and we are not FCA authorised. We connect contractors with lenders and brokers and do not provide regulated financial advice. Any lender fees, rates and timescales shown are indicative — final terms depend on lender checks.

Recommended further reading: If you want more industry-specific details see our dedicated industry page on building services business loans which explains products commonly used by contractors.

Author: Content Team, UK Business Loans — Last updated: 30 October 2025

1. How quickly can a building services contractor secure funding?
Typical timescales range from same day (invoice finance) to 1–7 working days for most short-term products and 2–12+ weeks for commercial mortgages or complex development finance, depending on product, documentation and lender checks.

2. What documents should I have ready to speed up a business loan?
Have your company registration, recent bank statements (3–6 months), management/statutory accounts, VAT returns (if applicable), invoices/purchase orders or contracts, asset details (make/model/age) and director ID ready to shorten underwriting.

3. Will submitting an enquiry via UK Business Loans affect my credit score?
No — submitting our quick, no‑obligation enquiry is a soft check and does not affect your credit score, with lenders only running formal credit searches if you progress to an application.

4. How quickly will a lender or broker contact me after I submit an enquiry?
Many partners contact businesses within hours during business hours, with typical responses within 24–48 hours for simple enquiries.

5. Can I get money the same day for an urgent contractor job?
Yes — some products (particularly invoice finance or fast unsecured facilities) can release funds the same or next working day after approval and verification.

6. What types of finance are most suitable for building services contractors?
Common options include invoice finance/factoring, asset and vehicle finance, unsecured business loans/MCAs, bridging loans, commercial mortgages, development/contract finance and green/sustainability loans.

7. Can I get funding with poor credit or limited trading history?
Possibly — specialist lenders and brokers in our network consider imperfect credit profiles and startups, though terms, rates and required security will reflect the higher risk.

8. What loan amounts can your partners provide?
Our network typically offers facilities from around £10,000 up to multi‑million pound packages depending on the product, security and lender appetite.

9. Does UK Business Loans charge a fee to match me with lenders or brokers?
No — our introducer and matching service is free for businesses, although individual lenders or brokers may charge fees which will be disclosed in their quotes.

10. How can I speed up the process to move from enquiry to funds?
Be organised: provide complete documentation, clear contracts or invoices, accurate asset information and a concise funding purpose to reduce delays and accelerate offers to funds.