Close Brothers invoice finance review
Close Brothers Invoice Finance offers factoring and discounting facilities to UK businesses selling to other businesses on credit terms. This guide looks at what's published about costs, eligibility and suitability, based solely on Close Brothers' own product pages, so readers can weigh it against other options before applying.
By Funding Fred · Sources checked 18 September 2026
Our enquiry compares selected Funding Fred partners. It is not an application directly to Close Brothers Invoice Finance. Funding Fred is an introducer, not a lender.
Potential fit
Who could consider Close Brothers Invoice Finance?
- Businesses invoicing other businesses (B2B) with a meaningful annual turnover, as published eligibility criteria reference a minimum turnover threshold.
- Companies wanting funds released against unpaid invoices rather than waiting for standard customer payment terms to run their course.
- Firms deciding between a fully managed collections service (factoring) or a confidential facility where they keep control of collections (discounting).
Worth weighing up
When to consider other options
- Businesses below the published turnover suitability level, who may not meet Close Brothers' stated criteria.
- Companies that primarily sell to consumers rather than other businesses, since invoice finance is structured around B2B trade debt.
- Businesses wanting a simple fixed-repayment loan rather than a facility tied to the value and performance of their sales ledger, invoice finance is not a term loan, and funds released depend on invoices being collected.
Understand the offer
Costs and repayments
Close Brothers' published fee structure has two components: a service fee calculated on turnover, and a discount fee applied to the outstanding daily balance drawn against the ledger. This is a standard structure across the invoice finance market, but the specific rates charged are not universally published, agreements are individually priced, so the actual cost depends on the facility negotiated.
Review the written terms and any commitments before proceeding. Because pricing is bespoke, two businesses with similar turnover could be offered different fee structures depending on debtor concentration, sector risk and the level of advance requested. Readers wanting a general grounding in how these charges typically work can review this breakdown of invoice financing costs in the UK before comparing any offer.
Repayment in invoice finance is not a fixed monthly instalment in the way a loan works. Instead, funds advanced against an invoice are effectively repaid when the customer settles that invoice, with the remaining balance released to the business after charges are deducted. This means cash flow timing depends partly on how quickly debtors pay, not solely on a schedule set by Close Brothers.
Eligibility and application
Close Brothers' published suitability criteria centre on businesses trading B2B and meeting a stated annual turnover threshold. Beyond this, the published pages do not set out a full list of underwriting criteria, so businesses should confirm directly with Close Brothers what documentation, trading history or debtor spread requirements apply to their specific facility.
The published advance rate is up to a stated percentage of eligible invoice value, though the exact figure offered will depend on the individual assessment of the sales ledger and customer base. Security, guarantee requirements and recourse terms are not detailed in general terms on the published pages reviewed, so these points should be confirmed directly and checked against the written facility agreement before signing anything.
Advantages to weigh up
- Two distinct structures are offered, factoring with managed collections, and discounting as a confidential facility, allowing some choice over how much collections control is retained.
- Funding is linked to the sales ledger rather than solely to historic profit, which may suit businesses with growing invoice volumes.
- The fee structure (service fee plus discount fee) is disclosed at a high level, giving a starting point for comparison, even though exact rates are individually agreed.
Limitations to understand
- No universal rate, guarantee policy or setup timescale is published, meaning the true cost and process length can only be confirmed through a direct quote.
- The stated turnover suitability threshold means this may not fit very early-stage or lower-revenue businesses.
- Some published product pages present overlapping descriptions of factoring and discounting, so readers should rely on the dedicated pages for each product rather than the general listing when comparing features.
Look at the wider picture
Comparing the alternatives
Businesses comparing invoice finance offers should look beyond the headline advance percentage. Two providers offering a similar maximum advance can differ significantly once the service fee, discount fee, minimum facility charges and any exit or renewal terms are factored in. It's worth requesting a full written quote and asking how the facility behaves if invoice volumes fall or a large customer is slow to pay.
It's also worth understanding the structural choice between factoring and discounting, since this affects who manages debtor relationships day to day and whether the facility is confidential. This guide to invoice discounting versus factoring sets out the practical differences to weigh before comparing quotes. For a broader introduction to how the product category works, this overview of invoice financing is a useful starting point, and the invoice finance hub covers related funding options for businesses assessing their options.
Bibby Financial Services
invoice finance
Business profile: UK businesses invoicing other businesses on credit terms.
Read reviewTRIVER
invoice finance
Invoice choice: Choose eligible invoices rather than automatically funding every invoice.
Read reviewHydr
invoice finance
Eligibility: England and Wales registered B2B businesses incorporated for at least 12 months.
Read reviewProduct features checked against each provider’s UK website. These are comparison pointers, not a price ranking or a promise of eligibility.
Your Close Brothers Invoice Finance questions, answered
Costs, eligibility and the details to check before applying.
How we put this guide together
This is a review of published UK product information, not a customer experience or a hands-on test. We have not assigned a star rating. This guide focuses on Close Brothers Invoice Finance — invoice finance. Other products may have different terms.
Sources checked 18 September 2026. Your written offer determines your actual costs and conditions.
More funding guidesFind funding that fits your business.
Explore selected finance partners with Funding Fred. Free to use, with no obligation.
This is a Funding Fred enquiry, not a direct Close Brothers Invoice Finance application. Finance is subject to status and provider criteria.