Printing business loans — Unsecured working capital for paper, board & ink

Summary: Yes — many UK printing companies can access unsecured working capital to cover consumables such as paper, board and ink. Options include unsecured business loans, business overdrafts/lines of credit, merchant cash advances, invoice finance and short-term bridging. Each option has trade-offs on speed, cost and eligibility. UK Business Loans introduces businesses to specialist lenders and brokers for a free, no‑obligation eligibility check to find the most suitable solution from £10,000 upwards. Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

Quick answer — can printers get unsecured working capital?

Short answer: yes. Many UK printers and packaging suppliers can access unsecured working capital to buy paper, board and inks. Lenders and specialist brokers provide a range of products designed to bridge gaps between buying materials and receiving customer payments or to fund spikes in stock for seasonal demand. Unsecured options typically enable faster access to cash and require less paperwork than secured lending, but they usually cost more and may have stricter affordability checks.

Important: UK Business Loans introduces you to lenders and brokers — we are not a lender and do not provide regulated financial advice. Our service is free and your enquiry is not an application. If you want a quick sector-focused match, Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

Why printers need working capital

Printing businesses often operate on tight margins and with irregular payment timing. Typical pressures include:

• Large, upfront purchases of paper, board and inks for single or bulk jobs.
• Long customer payment terms (30–90+ days) or slow-paying corporate clients.
• Seasonal peaks (catalogues, packaging runs around retail events).
• One-off large orders that require immediate materials and consumables.
• Rapid response or short‑run work that needs immediate stock and labour.

When raw‑material costs spike or invoices are delayed, working capital keeps presses running and jobs on schedule — avoiding missed deadlines, penalties or lost clients.

Unsecured options printers can use

Unsecured business loans (term loans)

What they are: fixed‑term loans paid back over months or years. Use cases: funding a planned stock purchase, smoothing a seasonal stock build or financing a short-term growth phase.

Typical features: loan sizes commonly start around £10,000 and can go much higher depending on lender and business scale; terms 1–5 years are typical. Rates depend on credit profile and lender type — unsecured loans generally cost more than secured facilities but leave no asset as collateral.

Business overdrafts & lines of credit

What they are: revolving facilities allowing you to draw as needed up to an agreed limit. Good for ongoing consumable purchases and variable cash flow. Interest often charged only on amounts drawn; arranged overdrafts can be fast to access but limits may be lower for newer or riskier businesses.

Merchant cash advances (MCAs)

What they are: an advance against future card sales, with repayments taken as a percentage of daily card or debit transactions. Ideal if a printer has steady card transactions (retail, trade counters, or high-volume B2C sales). Pros: rapid funding and flexible repayments. Cons: total cost can be high (factor rates rather than APRs), so compare carefully.

Invoice finance / factoring

What it is: release up to 70–90% of the value of unpaid invoices immediately. Particularly valuable if your customers operate long payment terms. It’s not unsecured working capital in the strictest sense (the invoices act as security), but it effectively funds consumables such as paper and ink while you wait for client payments.

Asset finance / equipment loans

What it is: funding for presses or finishing equipment, repaid over time and typically secured against the equipment. While this doesn’t directly fund consumables, freeing up capital by financing equipment purchases can reduce short-term pressure on working capital.

Short-term bridging or emergency loans

What they are: quick-turn loans to cover immediate needs. Useful for urgent material purchases but often come with higher costs and shorter terms — suitable as a temporary fix, not a long-term solution.

Want a tailored match? If you need help deciding which option fits your business, we can connect you with sector-specialist brokers and lenders. Free Eligibility Check.

Typical eligibility and what lenders check

Lenders assess affordability, repayment capacity and risk. Common checks and requirements include:

• Business structure and registration details (limited companies are typically preferred).
• Minimum trading history — many lenders prefer at least 6–12 months trading.
• Annual turnover thresholds — depends on product and lender.
• Recent business bank statements (usually 3–6 months).
• Management accounts or VAT returns for established businesses.
• Personal credit checks for directors in some cases (and occasionally director guarantees).
• For invoice finance: copies of invoices and evidence of the debtor ledger.

Special considerations for printers: large single-job sales, fluctuating monthly turnover and seasonal inventory builds. Provide clear evidence of regular orders and bank statements showing stable receipts to improve eligibility.

Costs, APR and what to expect

Costs vary widely by product and lender. Key cost drivers:

• Whether the loan is secured or unsecured — unsecured is typically more expensive.
• Borrower credit profile and trading history.
• Loan term: shorter loans usually have higher monthly costs but lower total interest if repaid fast.
• Type of lender: challenger or specialist lenders may price differently to banks.

How to compare offers: look beyond headline rates. Ask for a representative example showing APR, fees, arrangement charges, any early repayment fees and the total cost of credit. If comparing MCAs, ask for the factor rate and an equivalent APR where possible.

Choosing the right product for consumables — scenarios

Scenario A — short gap between job completion and client payment: invoice finance or a short overdraft can be quickest and most cost-effective.

Scenario B — seasonal stock build (e.g., preparing for a major packaging run): a short-term unsecured loan or a revolving line of credit sized to the season could work well.

Scenario C — high card sales at a trade counter: a merchant cash advance gives rapid access without paperwork tied to invoices.

Scenario D — large equipment purchase tied to consumables savings: asset finance for presses frees cash to buy consumables without draining working capital.

How UK Business Loans helps printers

UK Business Loans connects printers with lenders and brokers experienced in the printing and packaging sector. Our straightforward process:

1. Complete a short enquiry — it’s just an information form (not an application).
2. We match your business with lenders/brokers that suit your sector and needs.
3. Partner lenders/brokers contact you with quotes or to request documents for a formal eligibility check.

We focus on businesses seeking loans from around £10,000 upwards. We are an introducer — we do not lend money or provide regulated financial advice. Your enquiry is free and carries no obligation. Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

Documents & information you’ll need for a fast quote

• Company name and registration number.
• Estimated loan amount and purpose (paper, board, ink, seasonal stock etc.).
• Recent business bank statements (3–6 months).
• Last 12 months turnover or management accounts.
• Copies of invoices or purchase orders (for invoice finance).
• Director ID and contact details (for quick verification).

Having these ready speeds up response times and often produces quicker, more accurate quotes.

Risks, safeguards and best practice

• Understand total repayment cost before borrowing — request a full repayment schedule and representative example.
• Avoid rollovers that increase cost; consider a short-term solution with a clear exit plan.
• Check whether the lender requires personal guarantees or charges on company assets.
• Explore non-debt alternatives where possible — supplier credit, negotiated payment terms, or staged deliveries.
• Speak to an accountant for tax and cashflow implications; this page is informational and not regulated advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can printers with imperfect credit still get funding?

Yes — some specialist lenders and brokers work with imperfect credit profiles, though rates and terms may be less favourable. Because we match you to multiple providers, you can see which partners will consider your situation.

Will enquiring through UK Business Loans affect my credit score?

No. Completing our enquiry form does not affect your credit score. Partner lenders may carry out credit checks only if you proceed with a formal application.

How quickly can I get funds?

Speed depends on the product and documents: MCAs and some unsecured short-term loans can be available in days; invoice finance and term loans usually take longer (several days to a few weeks) depending on checks.

Can I use the funds for both consumables and payroll?

Yes — most working capital products permit use for consumables, payroll and other operating needs. Be clear about the purpose when requesting quotes so lenders can match the right product.

What is the minimum amount you can help with?

We focus on loans and facilities starting at approximately £10,000 and upwards.

Short example (hypothetical)

A Lancashire printing company had a £25k materials bill for a major packaging run while awaiting a single large B2B payment due in 45 days. Using invoice finance they released 85% of the invoice value and paid suppliers on time, completed the job and avoided late penalties. The firm paid the finance cost from the invoice receipt once the customer settled.

Next steps — get a fast, free quote

If you need working capital for paper, board or ink, the easiest next step is a short enquiry so we can match you to appropriate lenders and brokers quickly. It takes less than two minutes and is free — we only share your details with selected partners who may be able to help. Get Started — Free Eligibility Check

---

Useful internal resource: learn more about sector-specific lending on our printing business loans page, which explains options tailored for printers and packaging firms.

Important: UK Business Loans is an introducer that connects businesses with lenders and brokers. We do not lend money and we do not provide regulated financial advice. All lending decisions, eligibility and terms are determined by partner lenders and brokers. Lending is subject to status and checks.

1. Can printers get unsecured working capital to buy paper, board and ink?
Yes — many UK printing and packaging businesses can access unsecured working capital through unsecured business loans, overdrafts, merchant cash advances and short-term bridging to cover consumables.

2. What types of finance work best for printing businesses needing consumables?
Common options for printers include unsecured term loans, business overdrafts/lines of credit, merchant cash advances, invoice finance, asset finance and short-term bridging depending on the need.

3. How quickly can a printing company access funds?
Speed varies by product: MCAs and some short-term unsecured loans can fund in days, arranged overdrafts are often fast, while invoice finance and term loans typically take several days to a few weeks.

4. Will submitting an enquiry through UK Business Loans affect my credit score?
No — completing our free enquiry form is not an application and won’t affect your credit score; partner lenders may only carry out credit checks if you proceed with a formal application.

5. What minimum loan size can UK Business Loans help me find?
We focus on matching businesses with lenders for facilities starting at around £10,000 and upwards.

6. Can printers with imperfect or poor credit still get funding?
Yes — some specialist lenders and brokers we work with consider imperfect credit profiles, although terms and rates may be less favourable.

7. What do lenders typically check when assessing eligibility for a printing business loan?
Lenders usually review business registration and structure, trading history, turnover thresholds, recent bank statements, management accounts or VAT returns, and may check directors’ personal credit.

8. Can working capital be used for both consumables (paper, ink) and payroll?
Yes — most working capital products allow funds to be used for consumables, payroll and other operating costs, but you should state the purpose when requesting quotes.

9. How should I compare the cost of different finance options for my printing business?
Compare representative APRs or factor rates, arrangement and early repayment fees, total cost of credit and the repayment schedule rather than just headline interest rates.

10. Is invoice finance a good option for printers with long customer payment terms?
Yes — invoice finance can release 70–90% of unpaid invoice value quickly and is often an effective solution for printers facing 30–90+ day payment terms.