Apollo Finance Review

Apollo Business Finance is a Manchester-based invoice finance lender for small and medium-sized businesses. Team Factors acquired it in 2024, but the two remain separate brands with their own market focus and client service teams, so Apollo still trades and takes new clients under its own name. It says it will fund businesses that other lenders turn away, including those with CCJs, poor credit history or a single debtor, and advances up to 90% of invoice value within 24 hours once you are set up.

What Happened to Apollo Finance?

Team Factors, backed by Firebird Capital, announced its acquisition of Apollo Business Finance in March 2024. The announcement said the two would remain separate brands within the same group, each keeping its own market focus and dedicated client services team (Business Money, March 2024). Apollo's own site still describes it as a Manchester-based invoice finance lender taking new enquiries.

If you are an existing Apollo client, your facility stays with Apollo. The practical change is the ownership behind it, so check with your Apollo contact if you are unsure whether any terms have changed.

When Apollo Finance Fits

• Businesses other lenders have turned down

  Apollo says it looks past CCJs, poor credit history, director issues and HMRC arrears that put off traditional lenders, and will fund a single debtor where others won't.

• Construction businesses and start-ups

  Apollo names construction as a specialism and says it can help businesses that are just getting started.

• Businesses that want to choose which invoices to fund

  You pick which customers' invoices to upload through Apollo's portal, receive up to 90% within 24 hours once set up, and get the balance, less the agreed fee, when your customer pays.

When to Look Elsewhere

• You need a new facility and want recent market pricing

  Better fit: IGF Invoice Finance. IGF works with businesses over £5m turnover, offering asset-based lending against receivables (up to 90%) and inventory (up to 85%).

• Your turnover exceeds £2m and you want a specialist high-street lender

  Better fit: Lloyds Bank Invoice Finance. Lloyds provides invoice finance integrated with business banking for established mid-market SMEs.

• You are a recruitment agency or contractor-led business

  Better fit: Sonovate. Sonovate specialises in pay and bill funding for recruitment and contracting, with automated ledger reconciliation.

• You want confidential invoice discounting without sales ledger outsourcing

  Better fit: Close Brothers. Close Brothers offers confidential invoice discounting, suitable for businesses managing their own credit control.

How Apollo Finance Compares

Illustrative worked example

Setting Up With Apollo Finance

• 1

  Enquire and upload invoices

  Apply through Apollo's website (enquiries@apollofinance.biz). Once set up, you choose which customers' invoices to fund and upload them to Apollo's portal.

• 2

  Compare quotes

  Apollo does not publish its fees. Get quotes from at least two or three providers on the same ledger so you can compare the all-in cost. Expect to supply recent accounts, an aged debt report and a sales ledger extract.

• 3

  Complete due diligence and sign facility

  Your chosen provider will audit your debtor ledger and verify invoices. Apollo says it pays up to 90% of an invoice within 24 hours once you are set up, and the balance, less its fee, when your customer settles.

FAQs

Our Verdict

Apollo Business Finance is still trading, now as part of the Team Factors group. Its pitch is appetite: it says it funds businesses with CCJs, poor credit or a single debtor that other lenders turn away. It publishes no fees, so get quotes from more than one provider before you sign.

Official site: Apollo Business Finance