FI Capital Invoice Finance
FI Capital is an independent invoice finance provider offering facilities from around £100,000 for UK SMEs. They provide factoring and invoice discounting solutions with the flexibility and speed of decision-making that comes from being an independent operation free from bank ownership.
FI Capital is an independent UK invoice finance provider offering factoring and discounting from around £100,000, with advance rates around 85% and service charges from 0.8%.
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Summary
FI Capital is a bank-independent invoice finance provider funding UK SMEs from around £100,000. It offers both factoring and invoice discounting with advance rates to about 85%, service charges from 0.8% and discount charges at base rate plus 3.5%. Its independence supports flexible terms and fast decisions free from bank ownership.
This page covers
FI Capital invoice finance products, minimum facility, advance rate and pricing
Not covered here
General invoice finance education (see /guides/), sector pages (see /industries/), the full provider directory (see /providers/)
Key Facts
When FI Capital Invoice Finance Fits
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Manufacturing or distribution businesses with £500k-£3m turnover needing working capital without bank bureaucracy
FI Capital's independent structure allows faster credit decisions and more flexible terms than high-street banks, particularly useful for businesses with seasonal inventory cycles or complex supply chains.
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Recruitment agencies or staffing firms invoicing £150k+ monthly with 30-60 day payment terms
Independent providers like FI Capital typically understand sector-specific cash flow pressures better than larger institutions and can advance funds within 24 hours of invoice approval, critical for meeting weekly payroll.
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Established SMEs graduating from smaller facilities at providers like Pulse Cashflow or needing more hands-on relationship management
Once turnover exceeds £1m and invoice volumes justify a £100k+ facility, FI Capital's dedicated account management and bespoke underwriting becomes cost-effective compared to automated platforms.
When to Look Elsewhere
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Start-ups or businesses invoicing under £80k monthly
Better fit: Triver. Triver offers selective invoice finance from lower volumes with no minimum facility size, better suited to newer or smaller businesses.
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Businesses wanting confidential discounting with full online control and minimal human contact
Better fit: Lloyds Bank Invoice Finance. Major banks provide sophisticated online portals and lower service charges for businesses happy with standardised processes and credit scoring.
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Construction subcontractors needing application-based funding against individual invoices
Better fit: Sonovate. Sonovate specialises in payment protection and single invoice finance for project-based sectors, avoiding the need for a whole-ledger facility.
How FI Capital Invoice Finance Compares
| Provider | Type | Min facility | Fee from | Advance to | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Finance | both | £50k | 0.5% | 90% | 2-3 days |
| Bibby Financial Services | both | £100k | 0.75% | 85% | 3-5 days |
| Time Finance | both | £50k | 0.6% | 85% | 3-4 days |
| IGF Invoice Finance | both | £250k | 0.5% | 90% | 5-7 days |
vs Ultimate Finance: Lower entry point and typically faster online application process, but FI Capital offers more flexible covenant structures for complex trading histories.
vs Bibby Financial Services: Bibby has international operations and multi-currency capability which FI Capital lacks, but FI Capital's independent ownership allows faster credit committee decisions.
vs Time Finance: Time Finance is AIM-listed with asset finance cross-sell, while FI Capital focuses purely on invoice finance with more personalised underwriting for non-standard cases.
vs IGF Invoice Finance: IGF targets larger SMEs with higher minimum facilities and international trade expertise, whereas FI Capital serves a broader £100k+ market with faster turnaround.
Worked Example
A Midlands metal fabrication business with £1.2m turnover supplying automotive suppliers on 45-day terms
Setting Up With FI Capital Invoice Finance
- 1
Initial enquiry and ledger review
Contact FI Capital directly or through a broker with six months of sales ledger data and management accounts. As an independent, they typically provide an indicative proposal within 48 hours rather than the week-plus timescales common at bank-owned providers.
- 2
Credit assessment and due diligence
FI Capital reviews your debtor book quality, trading history, and any existing security. Expect debtor verification calls and a review of your last two years' accounts. Independent providers often accept lower credit scores than banks if debtor quality is strong.
- 3
Legal documentation and first drawdown
Once approved, solicitors draft a debenture and facility agreement, typically taking 5-10 working days. First funds are usually available within 24 hours of signing, with ongoing advances processed same-day once invoices are uploaded and approved.
FAQs
What makes FI Capital different from bank-owned invoice finance providers?
FI Capital operates independently without bank ownership, meaning credit decisions are made in-house without referring to remote credit committees. This typically results in faster approvals, more flexibility on covenant breaches, and willingness to support businesses that don't fit high-street bank scorecards. However, they may charge slightly higher rates than heavily subsidised bank divisions to reflect their cost of funds.
Can FI Capital fund businesses with County Court Judgments or previous defaults?
As an independent provider, FI Capital can take a more nuanced view of adverse credit history than automated bank systems. They focus primarily on debtor quality rather than solely the applicant's credit score. Businesses with CCJs satisfied over 12 months ago and strong order books are often acceptable, though rates will reflect the additional risk and lower advance rates may apply initially.
Does FI Capital require personal guarantees from directors?
Personal guarantees are standard across UK invoice finance for facilities over £100k, including at FI Capital. The guarantee is typically capped at 12-24 months of fees plus any shortfall if debtors don't pay. Independent providers sometimes negotiate limited guarantees more readily than banks if the business has strong assets or long trading history.
How quickly can FI Capital set up a new facility compared to high-street banks?
FI Capital typically completes from application to first drawdown in 10-15 working days for straightforward cases, compared to 4-6 weeks at banks like Lloyds or NatWest. The speed advantage comes from in-house underwriting and fewer compliance layers. However, complex groups or international debtors will still require 3-4 weeks for proper due diligence regardless of provider.
Our Verdict
FI Capital is a competent independent provider for SMEs seeking straightforward invoice finance. The £100k minimum is accessible, and their independence means decisions can be made quickly without bank committee delays. A good option to include when comparing quotes alongside larger providers.
Director, Market Invoice
Oliver leads Market Invoice's editorial and comparison research. With a background in UK commercial finance, he oversees provider analysis, rate verification, and industry reporting across all verticals.
Last reviewed: 8 April 2026