Close Brothers vs Skipton
Close Brothers and Skipton are the two cheapest invoice finance providers in the UK, both starting from 0.5% service charge. Close Brothers is a merchant bank (est. 1878) accepting businesses from £50k turnover with specialist construction and recruitment teams. Skipton is a building society (est. 1853) requiring £100k minimum with transparent, straightforward pricing.
Close Brothers and Skipton both charge from 0.5%, making them joint cheapest. Choose Close Brothers for lower minimum turnover (£50k) and sector expertise. Choose Skipton for businesses above £100k wanting transparent building society pricing. More detail + scope
Summary
Both providers offer the UK's lowest invoice finance rates at 0.5%. Close Brothers is a merchant bank with £50k minimum and specialist sector teams. Skipton is a building society requiring £100k minimum but offering simple, transparent pricing. Both are well-established institutions.
This page covers
Close Brothers vs Skipton comparison on rates, minimums, institution type, sectors, and pricing transparency
Not covered here
Other providers, detailed sector guides, asset finance products
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Close Brothers | Skipton |
|---|---|---|
| Service charge from | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Min turnover | £50,000 | £100,000 |
| Advance rate | Up to 90% | Up to 90% |
| Type | Merchant bank (LSE listed) | Building society |
| Established | 1878 | 1853 |
| Sector specialists | Construction, recruitment | Generalist |
| Pricing style | Tailored | Transparent |
Choose Close Brothers If...
- Your turnover is between £50k and £100k
- You need construction or recruitment expertise
- You want a bank-backed provider with LSE listing
Choose Skipton If...
- Your turnover exceeds £100k and you want transparent pricing
- You value straightforward terms with no hidden fees
- You prefer a mutual building society over a bank
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.
Last reviewed: 20 May 2026