Secure the vital asset
Asset financeFund the equipment.
Fund the equipment.
Keep the cash flow.
Spread the cost of vehicles, machinery and business-critical assets over their useful life — without draining working capital.
Book a callThe problem
Paying cash for vital assets can strain the rest of your business
A £180k machine. A new fleet of vans. A site fit-out. One large purchase drains months of working capital — money you need for stock, payroll and the next contract.
What we fund
Vans, machinery and the specialist kit your business runs on
Commercial vehicles
Vans, trucks, HGVs and fleet refresh — new or used.
Plant & machinery
Manufacturing lines, production kit, agricultural and construction equipment.
Warehouse & logistics
Forklifts, racking, handling equipment, fit-outs.
IT & office
Hardware, telecoms, software-bundled deals, office refits.
Specialist equipment
Medical, dental, veterinary, catering, renewables.
Refinance owned assets
Release cash from equipment you already own.
Five ways to structure asset finance
Own or lease? Short or long term?
The right structure depends on whether you want to own the asset, how long you'll use it, and what you need from your cash flow.
| Ownership during term | Ownership at end | Balance sheet | Maintenance / risk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hire purchaseOwn the asset at the end. Fixed monthly payments, ownership transfers to you. | Asset and corresponding liability are recorded on your balance sheet. | You handle repairs, insurance, and bear obsolescence risk. | ||
Finance leaseUse the asset for most of its life. Lender owns it, you pay to use it. | Often appears on the balance sheet. | You handle repairs and insurance. | ||
Operating leaseUse it for part of its life. Good when you'll upgrade regularly. | Usually sits off-balance-sheet (disclosed in notes). | Often included in the contract by the lessor. | ||
Asset refinanceRelease cash from an asset you already own. | Title never changes, but acts as security for the funder. | Asset stays on your balance sheet. Loan liability is added. | You remain fully responsible for the asset. | |
Sale & HP backSell an asset to a lender, lease it back. Cash now, no disruption. | You sell title to the lender. Usually buy it back at the end (HP) or not (Lease). | Retain usage — usually return the asset or lease a new one. | Equipment remains on the balance sheet; a lease/loan liability is added. | You maintain the asset as usual during the contract. |
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Why Stable
Your bank shows you one product, Stable shows you the market.
Your bank will recommend their asset finance product. Stable shows you the whole market — including the specialist lenders banks do not list.
Learn moreIndependent and whole-of-market
We're not tied to one lender. We compare the market and stay fee-transparent, so you see every option — not just one bank's product.
Advisory and benchmarking on supplier competitiveness
We benchmark deposit, term, total cost of credit, early settlement and lender appetite for your sector. The cheapest monthly payment is rarely the best deal — we tell you why.
Access to over 40 asset finance lenders on the Stable panel
Save time and energy — we've already got partners vetted who can offer solutions.
Lender criteria
What lenders actually look at
A business-critical asset with a strong resale market is often easier to fund than a hard-to-value specialist piece — even for younger businesses.
Book a callThe asset
New or used, resale value, supplier credibility.
The business
Turnover, profitability, trading history, existing debt.
The director
Credit profile and bank conduct.
Affordability
Repayments against current and forecast cash flow.
Before you sign
Five questions worth answering first
Before continuing, have a think about these critical questions.
Need help? Talk to us- 1. Do you want to own the asset at the end?
- 2. Does the term match the useful life of the asset?
- 3. Is VAT funded, or do you need to pay it upfront?
- 4. What are the early settlement and upgrade terms?
- 5. How does this facility affect your borrowing capacity elsewhere?
Get started
Fund the kit your business runs on
Whether it is a vehicle, a production line or your first piece of specialist equipment, Stable helps UK SMEs get the right asset finance from the right lender — at a price that makes commercial sense.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Is invoice discounting confidential?+
Usually yes. Most facilities are confidential — your customers continue paying you as normal and need not know a lender is involved.
How much can I borrow?+
It depends on your debtor book, turnover, customer quality and the lender's advance rate. Many facilities advance a percentage of eligible invoice value.
Is invoice discounting a loan?+
Not quite. It is a funding facility secured against unpaid invoices. The amount available moves in line with your sales ledger.
What is the difference between invoice discounting and factoring?+
With discounting, you keep control of collections. With factoring, the lender manages customer collections for you.
Can it replace an overdraft?+
Often yes. For businesses with strong debtor balances, invoice discounting can be a more flexible working capital facility than an overdraft.
How quickly can it be arranged?+
Timescales depend on the lender, your accounts, debtor book, systems and facility size. Some facilities can be arranged quickly if information is ready.
Will it affect customer relationships?+
Confidential invoice discounting is designed to minimise disruption. You continue managing the customer relationship directly.