Jardine Norton Review
Jardine Norton is an independent invoice finance provider offering factoring and invoice discounting facilities starting from £100,000. They provide a relationship-led service aimed at SMEs that need a more personal approach than the larger bank-backed lenders typically offer, with flexible facility structuring and direct access to decision-makers.
Jardine Norton is an independent UK invoice finance provider offering factoring and discounting from £100,000, with advance rates around 85% and service charges from 0.8%.
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Summary
Jardine Norton is a bank-independent invoice finance provider offering factoring and invoice discounting from £100,000. Advance rates run to about 85% with service charges from 0.8% and discount charges at base rate plus 3.5%. It provides a relationship-led service for SMEs wanting a more personal approach, with flexible structuring and direct access to decision-makers.
This page covers
Jardine Norton 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 Jardine Norton Fits
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Manufacturing or wholesale businesses with £500k-£3m turnover and predictable B2B invoicing
Jardine Norton's independent structure allows for sector-focused underwriting without rigid credit-scoring algorithms, making them well-suited to asset-rich trading businesses where invoice quality matters more than balance sheet strength.
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Businesses switching from a bank-owned facility who want direct decision-maker access
As an independent, Jardine Norton typically assigns a relationship director who underwrites and manages the facility, avoiding the layered approval processes common at Lloyds Bank Invoice Finance or HSBC Invoice Finance.
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Mid-sized staffing or recruitment agencies with £1m+ turnover needing confidential discounting
Their £100k minimum suits established agencies that have outgrown peer-to-peer platforms like Kriya but want the confidential client relationships that factoring would disrupt, with flexible reserve management for seasonal hiring peaks.
When to Look Elsewhere
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Startups or businesses invoicing under £30k monthly
Better fit: Kriya. Kriya's selective invoice finance starts from lower volumes and offers faster digital onboarding for smaller-scale operations.
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Construction or long-payment-term contractors needing application-based staging
Better fit: Sonovate. Sonovate specialises in contract and milestone funding structures that Jardine Norton's traditional invoice model doesn't cover.
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Businesses requiring seven-day setup for urgent cashflow gaps
Better fit: Close Brothers. Close Brothers' bank infrastructure typically delivers faster documentation turnaround for standard factoring cases, though with less underwriting flexibility.
How Jardine Norton Compares
| Provider | Type | Min facility | Fee from | Advance to | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IGF Invoice Finance | both | £100k | 0.75% | 90% | 10-14 days |
| Ultimate Finance | both | £50k | 0.5% | 90% | 7-10 days |
| Aldermore | both | £250k | 0.6% | 85% | 14-21 days |
vs IGF Invoice Finance: IGF operates a similar independent model but with stronger focus on turnaround and distressed cases, whereas Jardine Norton targets stable trading businesses.
vs Ultimate Finance: Ultimate Finance accepts smaller facilities and typically offers faster setup, but Jardine Norton provides longer-term relationship continuity with lower staff turnover.
vs Aldermore: Aldermore's bank backing suits larger facilities but brings more rigid covenant structures, while Jardine Norton's independence allows for mid-covenant negotiation on trading performance.
Worked Example
A Midlands-based packaging distributor with £1.2m turnover
Setting Up With Jardine Norton
- 1
Initial credit assessment
Jardine Norton reviews your sales ledger aged debt report, last two years' accounts, and debtor spread. They typically want to see no single debtor over 30% concentration and at least 60% of invoices paid within terms. Expect a face-to-face or video meeting with the underwriting director.
- 2
Facility structuring and legal documentation
Once approved in principle, solicitors draft a debenture over book debts and agree reserve percentages, advance rates per debtor, and any concentration limits. Jardine Norton's legal process typically takes 10-14 days, slightly longer than bank-backed rivals but with more scope to negotiate prepayment terms.
- 3
Ledger integration and first funding
Your accounts team notifies Jardine Norton of new invoices via email or portal upload. First advances typically release within 48 hours of invoice verification. For discounting clients, they remain confidential and you continue collecting payments as normal, sweeping funds to the trust account.
FAQs
Does Jardine Norton take personal guarantees from directors?
Yes, for most facilities. As an independent without bank capital backing, Jardine Norton typically requires limited personal guarantees capped at 12-24 months of estimated fees, or sometimes a percentage of the facility limit. The exact structure depends on business strength and whether you're using factoring (where they control collections) or confidential discounting. Businesses with strong balance sheets and low debtor concentration may negotiate lighter guarantee terms.
Can I use Jardine Norton if some customers are overseas?
Jardine Norton primarily funds UK domestic invoices. They may consider export invoicing on a selective basis where debtors are in low-risk jurisdictions (typically Western Europe) and you have credit insurance in place, but expect lower advance rates (typically 70-75%) and higher service charges due to collection complexity. If over 30% of your ledger is export, a specialist like eCapital may be more suitable.
What happens if a customer disputes an invoice or asks for a credit note?
Under factoring, Jardine Norton manages the dispute directly and typically reverses the advance until resolved, which can create short-term cashflow strain. Under confidential discounting, you handle disputes as normal but must notify them immediately to avoid breaching the funding agreement. Frequent credit notes (above 5% of monthly invoicing) may trigger facility reviews or reserve increases. It's critical to have clear dispute resolution terms with customers before onboarding.
How quickly can I exit the facility if my cashflow improves?
Most Jardine Norton agreements include a 12-month initial term, then roll to 90 days' notice. Early exit within the first year usually incurs a penalty calculated as the remaining months' estimated service charges, though this is negotiable at setup. Unlike bank facilities, there's typically no debenture release fee, but you must clear all outstanding advances and ensure the ledger is fully collected before legal discharge, which can take 60-90 days from notice.
Our Verdict
Jardine Norton is a solid independent choice for businesses with turnover supporting a £100k+ facility that want direct senior access and flexible terms. The independent model means faster decisions and less bureaucracy than the banks. However, businesses needing very large facilities may need a provider with deeper capitalisation.
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