WeDo Finance Review
WeDo Finance is an independent invoice finance provider based in Oldham, offering facilities from just £25,000 up to £2 million. The low £25k entry point makes them one of the most accessible providers in the market for smaller businesses and startups. They provide factoring and invoice discounting with a personal, straightforward service aimed at businesses that need cash flow support without unnecessary complexity.
WeDo Finance is an Oldham-based independent offering facilities from £25,000 up to £2 million, with advance rates around 85% and service charges from 0.9%.
More detail + scope
Summary
WeDo Finance is an independent invoice finance provider based in Oldham, offering facilities from just £25,000 up to £2 million. The low £25k entry point makes it one of the most accessible providers for smaller businesses and startups. Advance rates run around 85% with service charges from 0.9% and discount charges at base rate plus 3.5%, with a personal, straightforward service.
This page covers
WeDo Finance invoice finance facility range, advance rate, pricing and accessibility for smaller businesses
Not covered here
Mid-market and bank facilities (see /providers/), general invoice finance education (see /guides/), sector pages (see /industries/)
Key Facts
When WeDo Finance Fits
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New or small businesses with £100k-£500k turnover needing first invoice finance facility
The £25k minimum is among the lowest in the UK market. Most high-street and specialist providers start at £100k-£250k, making WeDo accessible for microbusinesses, startups, or those testing invoice finance for the first time.
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Regional SMEs in Northwest England (Manchester, Lancashire, Yorkshire) seeking local relationship service
Oldham-based with understanding of regional business networks. Personal service model suits businesses that value face-to-face meetings and local decision-making rather than call-centre processing.
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Manufacturing, distribution, or service businesses with £300k-£1.5m turnover outgrowing overdrafts
The £25k-£2m range covers typical growth phase where overdrafts become restrictive. Independent structure often means faster credit decisions than banking groups for mid-market facilities.
When to Look Elsewhere
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Turnover above £3m needing facilities over £2m
Better fit: Close Brothers. Close Brothers offers facilities up to £100m+ and cross-product capability (asset finance, trade finance) that larger businesses often require.
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Construction or recruitment agencies needing specialist sector expertise
Better fit: Sonovate. Sonovate built its platform specifically for recruitment and contractor payment flows, with faster onboarding for agency-specific invoice structures.
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International businesses invoicing EU/US clients in multiple currencies
Better fit: HSBC Invoice Finance. HSBC handles multi-currency invoicing and international credit insurance through global banking infrastructure that independent providers cannot match.
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Tech startups or e-commerce with subscription/recurring revenue models
Better fit: Kriya. Kriya's technology platform handles non-traditional invoice structures and integrates with modern accounting software better than traditional factoring systems.
How WeDo Finance Compares
| Provider | Type | Min facility | Fee from | Advance to | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Finance | both | £50k | 0.75% | 90% | 5-7 days |
| Pulse Cashflow | both | £100k | 0.5% | 85% | 3-5 days |
| Skipton Business Finance | both | £100k | 0.6% | 85% | 7-10 days |
| Optimum Finance | both | £50k | 1.0% | 90% | 5 days |
vs Ultimate Finance: Ultimate has £50k minimum (double WeDo's) but offers selective invoice finance and larger maximum facilities up to £10m for growth-stage businesses.
vs Pulse Cashflow: Pulse requires £100k minimum but provides faster digital onboarding and lower published rates for businesses with strong debtor books.
vs Skipton Business Finance: Skipton is building society-backed with Yorkshire roots but requires four times WeDo's minimum and focuses on established businesses with 2+ years trading.
vs Optimum Finance: Optimum matches WeDo's accessibility at £50k minimum but specialises in turnaround and distressed businesses that mainstream providers decline.
Worked Example
A Rochdale packaging distributor with £450k annual turnover
Setting Up With WeDo Finance
- 1
Initial enquiry and turnover assessment
Contact WeDo with basic business details (turnover, sector, typical invoice values). Because the £25k minimum is so accessible, initial screening focuses on debtor quality rather than pure scale. Expect a phone conversation within 24 hours to discuss whether factoring or discounting suits your sales ledger.
- 2
Debtor book review and credit proposal
Submit 3-6 months of sales ledger, recent management accounts, and customer list. WeDo's underwriting assesses concentration risk (no single debtor over 30% is typical) and payment patterns. Independent structure often means quicker credit decisions than banking groups, typically 3-5 working days for straightforward cases.
- 3
Legal documentation and first drawdown
Standard factoring or discounting agreement (debenture over book debts, personal guarantees for directors). Legal process takes 5-7 days. WeDo can advance against approved invoices immediately after completion, with funds typically reaching your account same or next working day once the facility is live.
FAQs
Why is WeDo's £25k minimum so much lower than most providers?
Most invoice finance providers are either bank-owned (with institutional risk appetites favouring larger facilities) or have overhead structures requiring higher minimums to be profitable. As an independent with lower overheads and a focus on regional SMEs, WeDo can economically serve smaller facilities that larger providers decline. This makes them particularly relevant for businesses with £100k-£500k turnover where a £25k-£100k facility is proportionate. The trade-off is typically a smaller maximum facility (£2m versus £10m+ elsewhere) and a more relationship-driven service model rather than digital platforms.
Does WeDo Finance offer selective invoice finance or only whole ledger?
WeDo primarily operates whole turnover facilities (traditional factoring and confidential invoice discounting) where they fund against your entire sales ledger. Selective invoice finance, where you choose which invoices to fund, is not a core product. If you only want to fund occasional large invoices or specific customers, providers like Ultimate Finance or Triver offer more flexibility. WeDo's model suits businesses needing consistent working capital rather than ad-hoc funding, which keeps their costs and complexity lower for the target market of smaller SMEs.
What sectors does WeDo Finance typically work with at the lower end of their range?
At the £25k-£100k facility level, WeDo commonly works with light manufacturing, wholesale distribution, business services (marketing, IT support, consultancy), and trade contractors. They are less likely to fund construction subcontractors (retention and payment risk), recruitment agencies (specialist providers like Sonovate dominate), or startups without trading history. The debtor base matters more than sector. Businesses invoicing other established UK businesses on 30-60 day terms fit better than those with consumer customers or very long payment cycles like local authorities.
How do WeDo's rates compare for a £50k facility versus a £500k facility?
Service charges (the percentage fee per invoice) typically range 0.8-1.5% at the lower end (£25k-£100k facilities) versus 0.5-0.9% for larger facilities approaching £500k-£1m. Discount charges (interest on the cash advance) are usually base rate plus 3-5%, with better rates for stronger debtor books. A £50k facility might cost £600-£800 monthly in combined fees, while a £500k facility could be £3,000-£4,500 monthly, reflecting economies of scale. The percentage cost is proportionally higher for very small facilities, which is standard across all providers but still more accessible than alternatives requiring £100k minimums.
Our Verdict
WeDo Finance is an excellent option for smaller businesses that need invoice finance from as little as £25k. The low entry point and facilities up to £2m mean they can support businesses through early growth stages. The Oldham base gives them strong North West connections, but they serve businesses across the UK. One of the best choices for micro-businesses and startups needing accessible invoice finance.
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