Flo Group (Cash Flo) Invoice Finance
Flo Group, trading as Cash Flo, is an independent invoice finance provider offering facilities from around £50,000 for UK SMEs. The low entry point makes them accessible to smaller businesses, and their independence allows for flexible structuring and fast funding decisions.
Flo Group, trading as Cash Flo, is an independent UK invoice finance provider offering facilities from around £50,000, with advance rates around 85% and service charges from 0.5%.
More detail + scope
Summary
Flo Group, trading as Cash Flo, is an independent invoice finance provider funding UK SMEs from around £50,000. Advance rates run to about 85% with service charges from 0.5% and discount charges at base rate plus 3.5%. The low entry point makes it accessible to smaller businesses, and its independence allows flexible structuring and fast funding decisions.
This page covers
Flo Group (Cash Flo) invoice finance minimum facility, advance rate, pricing and accessibility for smaller businesses
Not covered here
General invoice finance education (see /guides/), sector pages (see /industries/), the full provider directory (see /providers/)
Key Facts
When Flo Group (Cash Flo) Invoice Finance Fits
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Manufacturing or engineering firms with £300k-£2m turnover invoicing B2B customers on 30-60 day terms
The £50k minimum facility suits smaller manufacturers who need working capital but fall below the typical £100k-£250k thresholds at banks. Independence allows flexible sector decisions without rigid credit scoring.
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New-to-invoice-finance businesses in wholesale, distribution or professional services wanting a quick first facility
Flo Group's independent structure typically delivers faster credit decisions than bank-owned lenders, and their lower minimum means businesses don't need to wait until they scale to £500k+ turnover.
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Recruitment agencies or staffing businesses with £500k-£1.5m turnover needing confidential invoice discounting
Lower facility minimums suit smaller agencies, and the independent model often permits more tailored contract reviews for temporary staffing invoices where debtor concentration can be high.
When to Look Elsewhere
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Turnover below £250k or monthly invoicing under £15k
Better fit: Sonovate. Sonovate specialises in micro-contractors and small recruitment firms with facilities as low as £10k, better suited to very early-stage businesses.
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Large construction or IT contractors invoicing £3m+ annually who need integrated project finance or retention release
Better fit: Ultimate Finance. Ultimate Finance operates dedicated construction and contracting divisions with retention finance products that Flo Group doesn't typically offer at scale.
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Businesses wanting peer-to-peer pricing or tech-led self-service platforms
Better fit: Kriya. Kriya's tech platform offers faster online decisioning and transparent pricing structures for digitally native businesses, whereas Flo Group operates a traditional broker-and-underwriter model.
How Flo Group (Cash Flo) Invoice Finance Compares
| Provider | Type | Min facility | Fee from | Advance to | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skipton Business Finance | both | £50k | 0.4% | 90% | 5-7 days |
| IGF Invoice Finance | both | £50k | 0.35% | 85% | 7-10 days |
| Pulse Cashflow | both | £100k | 0.45% | 90% | 3-5 days |
vs Skipton Business Finance: Skipton is bank-owned with deeper reserves for larger facilities but typically stricter credit policies; Flo Group's independence allows more discretion on marginal cases.
vs IGF Invoice Finance: IGF is also independent but focuses heavily on professional services; Flo Group has broader sectoral appetite including light manufacturing and wholesale.
vs Pulse Cashflow: Pulse Cashflow's £100k minimum excludes smaller SMEs that Flo Group serves, though Pulse offers faster digital onboarding for businesses above that threshold.
Worked Example
A Midlands-based engineering components supplier with £600k turnover
Setting Up With Flo Group (Cash Flo) Invoice Finance
- 1
Initial enquiry and eligibility check
Contact Flo Group directly or via a broker. They'll assess monthly invoicing volume, debtor quality, and sector. Expect a preliminary decision within 48 hours if you meet the £50k minimum and invoice creditworthy UK businesses.
- 2
Credit assessment and proposal
Submit six months' bank statements, aged debtor reports, and VAT returns. Flo Group underwrites your sales ledger and major debtors. Independent status means underwriters have discretion to approve borderline cases that bank-owned lenders might auto-decline.
- 3
Legal documentation and go-live
Sign the facility agreement and debenture (usually within 5-7 days of approval). Flo Group notifies your customers (factoring) or remains confidential (discounting). First advance typically funds within 24 hours of invoice upload to their portal.
FAQs
What does the 'from £50k' minimum actually mean in practice?
The £50k refers to the overall facility limit, not your first invoice. In practice, you need consistent monthly invoicing of around £15k-£20k to justify a £50k facility. If your monthly invoicing is below £10k, most providers including Flo Group will struggle to cover their fixed costs, so you'd be better suited to Sonovate or selective invoice finance.
Does Flo Group's independence mean higher risk or less protection?
No. Flo Group is FCA-authorised for consumer credit (though most invoice finance is commercial and outside FCA perimeter) and holds professional indemnity insurance. Independence means they're not constrained by parent-bank credit policies, often resulting in faster decisions and more flexibility on non-standard sectors. Client funds are held in separate trust accounts.
Can I use Flo Group if I already have a bank overdraft or loan?
Usually yes, but you'll need your bank to subordinate their charge or release it on debtor balances. Flo Group takes a first legal charge over your sales ledger. In practice, many businesses refinance their overdraft with the invoice finance facility because it releases more cash and scales with turnover.
How does pricing compare to bank-owned providers like Lloyds or Barclays?
Service charges are typically similar (0.4-0.6% of monthly invoicing), but discount charges can be 0.5-1% higher at independents because their cost of capital is higher than High Street banks. However, Flo Group's lower minimum and faster approval often outweigh the marginal cost difference for businesses under £1m turnover who wouldn't qualify at the banks.
Our Verdict
Flo Group is a useful option for smaller SMEs that need invoice finance from a provider with a low minimum facility size. The Cash Flo brand reflects their focus on helping businesses improve cash flow, and the independent structure means they can act quickly without the layers of approval found at 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