Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Time Finance: UK Invoice Finance Comparison 2026
Both operate in UK independent invoice finance, outside the high street banks. They differ on sector focus, headline pricing and the minimum turnover they will consider. Close Brothers Invoice Finance advances up to 90% with setup typically in 5 working days; Time Finance advances up to 90% with setup in 7 working days. Close Brothers Invoice Finance needs £500k minimum turnover, Time Finance needs £250k minimum turnover. Read the side-by-side below, then jump to the "when X wins" sections.
Side-by-side
| Close Brothers Invoice Finance | Time Finance | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Invoice finance (CID, factoring, ABL) | Invoice finance, asset finance, vehicle finance |
| Min turnover | £500k | £250k |
| Advance rate | Up to 90% | Up to 90% |
| Typical fee | From 0.5% service charge | 1.5% to 3% 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 | SME service businesses; Multi-product facility seekers; £250k-£5m turnover |
| 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 the sector specialists.
When Time Finance wins
- AIM-listed independent, financial transparency.
- Multi-product cross-sell capability.
- SME-friendly underwriting culture.
- £150m annual funding scale.
Best for
SME service businesses, Multi-product facility seekers, £250k-£5m turnover.
Watch outs
- Not the lowest-cost mainstream choice.
- Less brand presence than the largest mainstream providers.
- Smaller team than mid-market banks.
FAQ
Close Brothers Invoice Finance or Time Finance: which is the better fit for UK invoice finance in 2026?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance is the stronger fit for £500k+ turnover Ltd companies (£500k minimum turnover, setup 5 working days); Time Finance fits SME service businesses better (£250k minimum turnover, setup 7 working days). The "when X wins" sections above break this down by profile.
What are the headline commercials, Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Time Finance?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance advances up to 90% at from 0.5% service charge. Time Finance advances up to 90% at 1.5% to 3% service charge. Close Brothers Invoice Finance needs £500k minimum turnover, Time Finance needs £250k minimum turnover. Setup runs 5 working days for Close Brothers Invoice Finance and 7 working days for Time 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 Time Finance?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance offers confidential invoice discounting (your customers are not notified). Time Finance offers confidential invoice discounting (your customers are not notified).
Where does each one struggle?
Close Brothers Invoice Finance is the wrong fit for sub-£500k turnover. Time Finance is the wrong fit for sub-£250k turnover. 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 Time Finance?
Yes. marketinvoice.co.uk is an independent comparison and introducer service operated by Best Business Loans Ltd (company 16833937), and is not tied to either provider. Share your turnover, sector and debtor profile and we will match you against UK invoice finance providers likely to approve, with no obligation to proceed.
Related
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- Full Time Finance review
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- All UK invoice finance comparisons
- Browse every reviewed UK invoice finance provider
- UK invoice finance by region
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Get quotes →Disclosure: marketinvoice.co.uk is an independent invoice finance comparison and introducer service operated by Best Business Loans Ltd (company number 16833937). It is a separate business and is not connected to MarketFinance / Kriya or to any provider named on this page. If you take out a facility after we introduce you to a lender or broker, we may be paid a commission or referral fee by that party; this is never added to your costs. Invoice finance for limited companies is not a regulated activity, so this comparison is general information rather than regulated financial advice. Figures are indicative and commonly negotiated above ~£1m ledger, so confirm terms directly with the provider before you sign.
Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-05-12. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).
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