Ashley Business Finance, trading as Ashley Commercial Finance Limited, is a UK independent lender established in 1993. It specialises in offering working-capital finance and property bridging loans tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises. The lender serves businesses that might not meet high street bank criteria by providing flexible invoice finance, short-term loans, and bridging facilities. Ashley Business Finance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer credit activities. It is worth considering for firms seeking alternative funding solutions with a focus on speed and flexibility. For more insights into such financing options, refer to our invoice financing overview and business loans guide.
Key Features of Ashley Business Finance
The lender emphasises operational ease and client service, aiding SME borrowers in managing funds and credit efficiently.
- Access to an online client portal for up-to-date balance and draw-down management.
- Dedicated relationship manager and in-house credit control team support.
- Optional bad-debt protection available as a non-recourse facility add-on.
- Combination of products like invoice finance and loans under a single agreement enhances funding flexibility.
- Same-day funding on approved invoices without reliance on automated call centres.
Funding Eligibility
Eligibility varies by product but generally requires a minimum trading period between three to twelve months and turnover thresholds. You may qualify if your business is registered in the UK and meets the revenue benchmarks. The lender excludes certain sectors such as gambling, adult entertainment, and arms manufacturing. For detailed requirements, see our business loan eligibility guide and startup loans information.
Loan Options
Ashley Business Finance offers a range of products catering to working capital and bridging needs with varied terms and amounts.
- Unsecured Business Cashflow Loan: £10,000 to £100,000, terms from 3 to 12 months, with monthly fees from 1.3% to 3.0% flat (approximate 29% to 48% APR). See our unsecured business loans page for details.
- Invoice Finance (Factoring & Confidential Invoice Discounting): £5,000 to £1,000,000, generally up to 90% of invoice value, with rolling 12-month contracts. Fees include a service fee of 0.5% to 3.0% plus discount charge 1.5% to 3.0% over base rate. Further information is at invoice financing resources.
- Property Bridging Loan: £50,000 to £2,000,000 over 3 to 18 months, interest rates between 0.75% and 1.20% per month. Applicable in England and Wales only. See bridging loans explanations for specifics.
- Trade & Stock Finance Add-On: £25,000 to £500,000 per transaction, terms of 30 to 120 days, with fees from 2.0% to 3.5% per cycle. Designed for existing invoice finance clients. Refer to trade finance options.
How to Apply
Applications are streamlined with a focus on speed and convenience, using online and telephone channels.
- Submit an enquiry online or by telephone to initiate the process via Funding Agent's form.
- Provide essential documents such as recent bank statements, management accounts, and debtor schedules as required.
- Expect indicative decisions within 24 hours and funding typically within 24 hours for loans or same day for invoice finance draw-downs.
- Contracts require signing once approval is granted; bridging loans take 7-10 working days for completion.
Funding Agent’s view on Ashley Business Finance
Ashley Business Finance provides a flexible alternative for UK SMEs needing quick working capital or bridging finance. Its openness to startups and those with imperfect credit makes it suitable for businesses outside mainstream bank criteria. However, pricing tends to be higher and personal guarantees are commonly required. To investigate further, use our funding suitability tools and lender comparison pages.
