Shire Invoice Finance Review
Shire Invoice Finance, which also trades as FundYourInvoice, is an independent invoice finance provider with facilities from £50,000. They offer factoring and invoice discounting to UK SMEs, providing a straightforward and personal service. The dual trading name gives them broader market reach while maintaining the same underlying service and team.
Shire Invoice Finance, also trading as FundYourInvoice, is an independent UK provider offering factoring and discounting from £50,000, with advance rates around 85% and service charges from 0.75%.
More detail + scope
Summary
Shire Invoice Finance, which also trades as FundYourInvoice, is a bank-independent provider offering factoring and invoice discounting from £50,000. Advance rates run to about 85% with service charges from 0.75% and discount charges at base rate plus 3.5%. The dual trading name gives broader market reach while maintaining the same underlying team and service.
This page covers
Shire Invoice Finance products, trading names, 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 Shire Invoice Finance Fits
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Manufacturing or distribution businesses with £200k-£3m turnover needing working capital
Shire's £50k entry point suits smaller manufacturers with lumpy order books. Their factoring service includes credit control, useful for engineering firms juggling multiple trade buyers.
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Recruitment agencies wanting confidential funding without client-facing involvement
Invoice discounting lets agencies keep full control of debtor management while accessing up to 90% of invoice value. The FundYourInvoice brand offers discretion for professional services firms.
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Growing service businesses outgrowing their accountant's overdraft referral
Independent brokers often recommend Shire for clients needing £50k-£150k facilities where high street banks decline or impose personal guarantees. Decision-making is faster than challenger bank processes.
When to Look Elsewhere
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Construction subcontractors with payment terms over 90 days
Better fit: an alternative provider. Consider Optimum Finance who specialise in longer-dated construction invoices and understand retention clauses better than general independents.
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Exporters invoicing overseas buyers in USD or EUR
Better fit: an alternative provider. Look at Bibby Financial Services or Close Brothers who operate multi-currency facilities and have credit insurance partnerships for overseas debtor risk.
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Micro-businesses needing under £30k or invoice-by-invoice funding
Better fit: an alternative provider. Kriya (formerly MarketFinance) offers single invoice finance from £1k with no minimum facility, better suited to occasional cash flow gaps than Shire's £50k commitment.
How Shire Invoice Finance Compares
| Provider | Type | Min facility | Fee from | Advance to | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Finance | both | £20k | 0.5% | 90% | 5 days |
| Skipton Business Finance | both | £50k | 0.75% | 85% | 7 days |
| Time Finance | factoring | £100k | 0.6% | 85% | 10 days |
| IGF Invoice Finance | both | £25k | 0.65% | 90% | 5 days |
vs Ultimate Finance: Lower minimum facility suits earlier-stage businesses, though Shire's dual brand gives stronger broker relationships for mid-market referrals.
vs Skipton Business Finance: Backed by Skipton Building Society with stronger balance sheet, but Shire often quotes faster and offers more flexible credit limits for newer businesses.
vs Time Finance: Time Finance requires higher turnover (£500k+) and focuses on larger factoring clients, whereas Shire takes a more hands-on approach with smaller portfolios.
vs IGF Invoice Finance: IGF's lower minimum and asset finance cross-sell suits businesses needing equipment funding too, while Shire purely focuses on invoice finance without product bundling.
Worked Example
A Midlands-based IT support company with £650k turnover
Setting Up With Shire Invoice Finance
- 1
Initial credit assessment
Shire reviews your last 12 months of sales ledger and checks your top five debtors with credit agencies. They require management accounts and a debtor aging report. Most decisions within 48 hours for straightforward cases.
- 2
Facility agreement and debtor notification
For factoring, Shire notifies your customers that invoices are now assigned and payments should go to their trust account. For discounting, this step is skipped and clients continue paying you directly. Legal documentation typically one week.
- 3
First drawdown and ongoing funding
Upload approved invoices via their online portal or email. Shire advances 85-90% within 24 hours to your bank account. They collect the balance (minus fees) once your customer pays, usually within 30-60 days depending on terms.
FAQs
What's the difference between Shire and FundYourInvoice?
They're the same company with the same team and underwriting. Shire Invoice Finance is the regulated entity name, while FundYourInvoice is a trading style used for broker referrals and online marketing. Your facility agreement will be with Shire Leasing PLC. Both brands offer identical products, rates, and service levels.
Can I switch from factoring to discounting later?
Yes, if your credit control improves and you want to manage collections yourself. Shire requires at least six months' payment history and evidence your team can handle debtor management. The switch involves notifying customers that payments revert to you, though the facility structure and fees remain similar. Some providers charge a conversion fee but Shire typically allows one free switch per contract term.
Do they fund start-ups or businesses under 12 months old?
Rarely. Shire's £50k minimum usually requires at least £200k annual turnover and six months of trading history with established customers. If you're earlier stage, Kriya or Sonovate may consider businesses from month one if directors have sector track records. Shire focuses on profitable SMEs with proven debtor books rather than pre-revenue or turnaround cases.
What happens if my customer disputes an invoice or doesn't pay?
For factoring, Shire's credit control team chases payment and you remain liable if the debt becomes bad after 90 days. For discounting, you manage collections so you're immediately responsible for any shortfall. Both products require you to buy back invoices that remain unpaid beyond the agreed credit period, typically by refunding the advance plus fees. Credit insurance can be added to mitigate this risk for an additional 0.3-0.5% premium.
Our Verdict
Shire Invoice Finance is a solid independent provider at the £50k level. The FundYourInvoice trading name is the same operation, so do not be confused by seeing both brands. A practical choice for SMEs wanting personal service and competitive independent terms.
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