Novuna Business Finance vs Ultimate 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. Novuna Business Finance advances up to 90% with setup typically in 7 working days; Ultimate Finance advances up to 90% with setup in 3 working days. Novuna Business Finance needs £500k minimum turnover, Ultimate Finance needs £100k minimum turnover. Read the side-by-side below, then jump to the "when X wins" sections.
Side-by-side
| Novuna Business Finance | Ultimate Finance | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Invoice finance, asset finance, vehicle finance | Invoice finance (factoring, CID), bridging, asset finance |
| Min turnover | £500k | £100k |
| Advance rate | Up to 90% | Up to 90% |
| Typical fee | 1% to 2.5% service charge | 1.5% to 3.5% service charge |
| Contract / commitment | Whole-ledger or selective | Whole-ledger or selective |
| Confidential available? | Yes | Yes |
| Factoring available? | Yes | Yes |
| Setup speed | 7 working days | 3 working days |
| Best for | £500k-£10m turnover Ltd companies; Cross-product (IF + asset) facility seekers; Stable mid-market funders | SME urgent setup; Multi-product facility seekers; Hybrid IF + bridging needs |
| Last reviewed | 2026-05-12 | 2026-05-12 |
When Novuna Business Finance wins
- Backed by Mitsubishi HC Capital UK balance sheet.
- Multi-product cross-sell (IF + asset + vehicle).
- Mid-market panel relationships strong.
- Long-established UK presence as the former Hitachi Capital UK.
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.
When Ultimate Finance wins
- Setup in 3 working days, market-leading for full credit underwriting.
- SME-friendly: £100k turnover floor.
- Multi-product (IF + bridging + asset) under one decision team.
- Flexible on industry, including some construction and recruitment.
Best for
SME urgent setup, Multi-product facility seekers, Hybrid IF + bridging needs.
Watch outs
- Service charge rate higher than Close Brothers or Aldermore.
- Smaller deal-team than the largest independents.
- Less competitive on £5m+ facilities than mid-market specialists.
FAQ
Novuna Business Finance or Ultimate Finance: which is the better fit for UK invoice finance in 2026?
Novuna Business Finance is the stronger fit for £500k-£10m turnover Ltd companies (£500k minimum turnover, setup 7 working days); Ultimate Finance fits SME urgent setup better (£100k minimum turnover, setup 3 working days). The "when X wins" sections above break this down by profile.
What are the headline commercials, Novuna Business Finance vs Ultimate Finance?
Novuna Business Finance advances up to 90% at 1% to 2.5% service charge. Ultimate Finance advances up to 90% at 1.5% to 3.5% service charge. Novuna Business Finance needs £500k minimum turnover, Ultimate Finance needs £100k minimum turnover. Setup runs 7 working days for Novuna Business Finance and 3 working days for Ultimate Finance. Bespoke pricing is common above £1m ledger so verify before signing.
Can I get a confidential facility with either Novuna Business Finance or Ultimate Finance?
Novuna Business Finance offers confidential invoice discounting (your customers are not notified). Ultimate Finance offers confidential invoice discounting (your customers are not notified).
Where does each one struggle?
Novuna Business Finance is the wrong fit for lowest-cost seekers. Ultimate Finance is the wrong fit for lowest-cost facility 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 Novuna Business Finance and Ultimate 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
- Full Novuna Business Finance review
- Full Ultimate Finance review
- Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Ultimate Finance
- Aldermore Invoice Finance vs Close Brothers Invoice Finance
- Allianz Trade vs Close Brothers Invoice Finance
- 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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