A new business can sometimes get invoice finance, as long as it sends invoices to other businesses that can pay. No lender we compare publishes a minimum trading period, so you have to ask. Ultimate Finance says you won't need to show years of accounts. Hydr and Sonovate (recruitment only) publish no minimum turnover, and single-invoice lenders such as Hydr and Triver let you fund one invoice at a time. Market Invoice compares the UK providers that fit this need, and you can get 3 free quotes through our introduction partner, a UK invoice finance provider.
What this page covers
This page covers
Lenders a startup can ask, what lenders check without trading history, and how to prepare
Not covered here
General provider comparisons (see /providers/), established business rates (see /guides/costs/), application process (see /invoice-finance-eligibility/)
Lenders a startup can ask
| Lender | Published minimum turnover | Paid up front | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Finance | None published | Up to 95% | ultimatefinance.co.uk |
| Hydr | No minimum (one invoice at a time) | Up to 100% per invoice | hydr.co.uk |
| Sonovate | No minimum (recruitment only) | Up to 100% | sonovate.com |
Figures as published on each lender's own website, checked 13 October 2026. Most of these lenders do not publish their fees.
Triver also funds single invoices. It says invoices can be from £100 to £100,000, with a daily fee from 0.06% (about 1.8% on a 30-day invoice) and a minimum upfront charge of 10 days' fees. Invoices must be to UK limited companies, LLPs, public sector bodies or large overseas companies, not to consumers or sole traders (triver.com, read 14 Oct 2026).
What lenders look at instead of trading history
- Your customers. This matters most. Invoices to large companies or public bodies with a good payment record are much easier to fund than invoices to other new businesses.
- Signed contracts or confirmed orders. A contract with agreed prices and payment terms shows the invoices are real. A confirmed purchase order or a letter of engagement is better than nothing.
- Proof the work was done. Signed timesheets, delivery notes or proof of shipment make an invoice easier to fund. Invoices tied to project milestones are harder.
- The directors. Experience in the same industry helps, and lenders will usually check the directors' own credit.
- A cash flow forecast. A realistic one shows how you will use the money. Don't inflate it.
Tips for startup applicants
- 1.Get contracts in writing. A verbal agreement is no use to a lender. Get a signed contract, a purchase order, or at least an email from the customer confirming the work and the payment terms.
- 2.Use a separate business bank account. Lenders want to see the business's money on its own. Run everything through one business account from the start.
- 3.Use proper invoicing software. Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent invoices with clear payment terms are easier for a lender to check.
- 4.Write a one-page plan. What you do, who your customers are, expected turnover and why you need the facility.
- 5.Ask about personal guarantees early. Find out whether one is needed, for how much, and whether it can be capped.
After a year or so of trading, your bank statements and payment record give lenders much more to go on, so it is worth asking for better terms or comparing other lenders.
Founder & Managing Director, Muswell Rose, founder and PSC of Best Business Loans Ltd
Adam is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and a founder of Best Business Loans Ltd, the company behind Market Invoice. He spent over three years as managing director of Penny, a UK invoice finance business, and his career runs through insurance, mortgages, commercial finance and fintech lending. He writes the Market Invoice library.
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