Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Novuna Business Finance: UK Invoice Finance Comparison 2026
Close Brothers Invoice Finance edges this one in our 2026 UK review at 4.5 of 5 against 4.2 for Novuna Business Finance. Both are UK independent invoice finance providers, freer than banks on covenants and faster on decisioning. The difference is sector specialism, headline rate and minimum turnover floor. Close Brothers Invoice Finance advances up to 90% with setup in 5 working days; Novuna Business Finance advances up to 90% with setup in 7 working days. Novuna Business Finance still wins where £500k-£10m turnover ltd companies matters more than the headline score. Read the side-by-side, then check the "when X wins" sections for the buyer-fit logic.
Side-by-side
| Close Brothers Invoice Finance | Novuna Business Finance | |
|---|---|---|
| Cluster | independent | independent |
| Product type | Invoice finance (CID, factoring, ABL) | Invoice finance, asset finance, vehicle finance |
| Min turnover | £500k | £500k |
| Advance rate | Up to 90% | Up to 90% |
| Typical fee | From 0.5% service charge | 1% to 2.5% service charge |
| Contract / commitment | Whole-ledger or selective | Whole-ledger or selective |
| Confidential available? | Yes | Yes |
| Factoring available? | Yes | Yes |
| Setup speed | 5 working days | 7 working days |
| Best for | £500k+ turnover Ltd companies; Confidential discounting use cases; Cost-sensitive established trading businesses | £500k-£10m turnover Ltd companies; Cross-product (IF + asset) facility seekers; Stable mid-market funders |
| Overall rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-05-12 | 2026-05-12 |
When Close Brothers Invoice Finance wins
- 0.5% headline service charge, market-leading.
- Merchant banking heritage; FCA regulated under Close Brothers Group plc.
- Strong on confidential invoice discounting (no customer notification).
- Published criteria, low headline-to-offered rate gap.
Best for
£500k+ turnover Ltd companies, Confidential discounting use cases, Cost-sensitive established trading businesses.
Watch outs
- £500k+ minimum turnover excludes earlier-stage businesses.
- Setup 5 days, fine but no faster than mid-tier competitors.
- Less aggressive on construction-stage payments than Bibby or Ultimate.
When Novuna Business Finance wins
- Mitsubishi-backed balance sheet stability.
- Multi-product cross-sell (IF + asset + vehicle).
- Mid-market panel relationships strong.
- Established 1981, deep UK presence.
Best for
£500k-£10m turnover Ltd companies, Cross-product (IF + asset) facility seekers, Stable mid-market funders.
Watch outs
- Pricing not aggressively published.
- Slower decisioning than fintech.
- Less competitive on £100k-£500k turnover SME.
FAQ
Close Brothers Invoice Finance or Novuna Business Finance: which is the better UK invoice finance provider in 2026?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance scores higher overall in our 2026 review at 4.5 of 5 versus 4.2 for Novuna Business Finance. That headline does not settle the answer though. Close Brothers Invoice Finance is the stronger pick for £500k+ turnover ltd companies; Novuna Business Finance is the stronger pick for £500k-£10m turnover ltd companies. If your business fits one of those use cases, ignore the rating and pick the right fit.
What are the headline commercials, Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Novuna Business Finance?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance advances up to 90% at from 0.5% service charge. Novuna Business Finance advances up to 90% at 1% to 2.5% service charge. Minimum turnover is £500k for Close Brothers Invoice Finance and £500k for Novuna Business Finance. Setup runs 5 working days for Close Brothers Invoice Finance and 7 working days for Novuna Business Finance. Bespoke pricing is common above £1m ledger so verify before signing.
Can I get a confidential facility with either Close Brothers Invoice Finance or Novuna Business Finance?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance offers confidential invoice discounting (your customers are not notified). Novuna Business Finance offers confidential invoice discounting. If your customer relationships make disclosure a non-starter, that determines the answer regardless of headline rate.
Where does each one struggle?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance is the wrong fit for sub-£500k turnover. Novuna Business Finance is the wrong fit for lowest-cost seekers. If either describes your business, browse the side-by-side or get matched against the wider UK panel via our quote form.
Can Market Invoice help me choose between Close Brothers Invoice Finance and Novuna Business Finance?
Yes. We are an independent UK invoice finance comparison operated by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937). We are not tied to either provider. Tell us monthly turnover, sector, debtor profile and whether you need the facility confidential. We match you against the UK invoice finance providers most likely to approve at a competitive rate, then stay your editorial reference for life.
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Tell us monthly turnover, sector, debtor profile and whether the facility needs to be confidential. We match you against the UK invoice finance providers most likely to approve at a competitive rate, then stay your editorial reference for life.
Get quotes →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-05-12. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).