Silverburn Finance Review
Silverburn Finance is an independent invoice finance provider with facilities starting from £100,000. They offer factoring and invoice discounting to UK businesses, focusing on building long-term client relationships and providing a level of personal service that larger providers find difficult to match. Their independent structure allows for faster credit decisions and flexible facility terms.
Silverburn Finance is an independent UK invoice finance provider offering factoring and discounting from £100,000, with advance rates around 85% and service charges from 0.6%.
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Summary
Silverburn Finance 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 0.6% and discount charges at base rate plus 3.5%. Its independent structure allows faster credit decisions and flexible terms, with a focus on building long-term client relationships.
This page covers
Silverburn Finance 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 Silverburn Finance Fits
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Manufacturing or distribution businesses with £500k-£3m turnover
Silverburn's independent structure and £100k entry point suits growing manufacturers needing flexible credit decisions without the rigid scorecards of high-street banks. Their sector experience in goods-based businesses means they understand stock financing pressures.
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Service businesses seeking confidential invoice discounting after outgrowing smaller facilities
Companies invoicing £80k+ monthly who want to retain client relationships can use Silverburn's discounting service while benefiting from quicker underwriting than Lloyds or Barclays typically offer for mid-market accounts.
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Businesses requiring bespoke facility structures or non-standard credit terms
Independent providers like Silverburn can agree facility amendments and credit limit variations faster than bancassurance-owned competitors, particularly useful for businesses with seasonal peaks or project-based invoicing.
When to Look Elsewhere
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Startups or businesses invoicing under £80k monthly
Better fit: Kriya. Silverburn's £100k minimum facility puts smaller businesses outside their target market, whereas Kriya offers tech-enabled facilities from lower thresholds.
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Recruitment agencies needing specialist temporary worker funding
Better fit: Sonovate. Sonovate's platform is purpose-built for recruitment payroll financing with daily funding cycles, which Silverburn's traditional invoice finance structure doesn't replicate.
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Businesses wanting bank-grade FOS dispute resolution
Better fit: NatWest Invoice Finance. High-street banks provide Financial Ombudsman Service access for commercial disputes under £5m, which independent providers operating outside the FCA perimeter cannot offer.
How Silverburn Finance Compares
| Provider | Type | Min facility | Fee from | Advance to | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close Brothers | both | £100k | 0.5% | 90% | 5-7 days |
| Ultimate Finance | both | £50k | 0.75% | 85% | 3-5 days |
| Bibby Financial Services | both | £25k | 0.6% | 90% | 5-10 days |
vs Close Brothers: Close Brothers offers asset finance bundling and has 11 regional offices, whereas Silverburn's leaner structure often delivers faster credit committee responses.
vs Ultimate Finance: Ultimate accepts smaller facilities and advertises quicker turnaround, but Silverburn's higher threshold reflects focus on established businesses with more complex requirements.
vs Bibby Financial Services: Bibby's international parent provides multi-currency and cross-border facilities that Silverburn doesn't typically offer, though Silverburn's independent ownership means simpler escalation for UK-only clients.
Worked Example
A Leicester-based wholesaler supplying independent retailers with £1.2m turnover
Setting Up With Silverburn Finance
- 1
Initial facility assessment
Silverburn reviews your latest 12 months of management accounts, aged debtors report, and customer concentration. As an independent, their credit committee can typically respond within 48-72 hours rather than waiting for regional bank approval cycles.
- 2
Customer credit verification
Their underwriting team assesses your debtor book quality, running credit checks on major accounts and reviewing payment histories. For facilities over £250k, they'll usually want direct debtor confirmations to verify invoice authenticity and trading terms.
- 3
Legal completion and funding
Once facility terms are agreed, Silverburn's panel solicitors prepare the debenture and client agreement. First funding typically occurs 5-7 working days after documentation is signed, with ongoing advances processed same-day or next-day depending on submission time.
FAQs
Can Silverburn fund export invoices to EU and international customers?
Silverburn primarily focuses on UK domestic invoicing. While they can consider export debts on a case-by-case basis, businesses with significant overseas sales (over 25% of turnover) would typically find better sector expertise at providers like Close Brothers or Bibby Financial Services, both of which operate dedicated export facilities with currency hedging and credit insurance integration.
What happens to my Silverburn facility if a major customer goes into administration?
Silverburn holds a reserve (typically 10-15% of facility value) to absorb bad debt risk. If a debtor fails, they'll draw against this reserve and may temporarily reduce your advance rate or require additional retention until the debtor book stabilises. Unlike some high-street banks, independent providers can adjust terms quickly rather than triggering automatic facility reviews that take weeks.
Does Silverburn require personal guarantees from company directors?
For limited companies with facilities over £100k, Silverburn typically requires personal guarantees from directors holding over 20% equity. The guarantee amount is usually capped at 12-24 months of estimated facility charges rather than unlimited exposure, though this varies based on balance sheet strength and trading history. Stronger businesses with three-plus years of profitable accounts may negotiate lower guarantee caps.
How quickly can Silverburn increase my facility as the business grows?
Facility increases at independent providers like Silverburn are generally faster than high-street banks because they don't require Head Office credit committee approval. If your debtor book quality remains solid and you're invoicing more, reviews for increases up to 50% of existing facility often complete within one week. Larger uplifts requiring fresh financial analysis take 2-3 weeks versus 4-8 weeks typical at bancassurance lenders.
Our Verdict
Silverburn Finance is a dependable independent for businesses needing £100k+ invoice finance with a personal touch. The relationship-led approach and fast decisions are genuine strengths. Include them in your comparison alongside bank quotes to ensure you have the full picture on rates and service.
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