Asset Based Lending
Unlock the Capital Locked in Your Business Assets
Growth Business Finance arranges flexible ABL facilities for UK SMEs and mid-market businesses — from £250k invoice finance lines to £120m multi-asset structures. Indicative terms in as little as 2–3 business days.
Our ABL Products
Flexible Finance Across Every Asset Class
Whether you need a single-product facility or a fully structured multi-asset ABL, we have access to the right lenders for your business — from clearing banks to specialist funders.
Invoice Finance
Release up to 95% of the value of your outstanding invoices within 24 hours. Available as confidential invoice discounting or full factoring, with selective (spot) options available. Facilities from £250k upwards.
Up to 95% advance rateAsset Finance
Finance secured against the value of your plant, machinery, vehicles and equipment — freeing up working capital without selling key assets. Hire purchase, finance leases and asset refinancing all available.
From £250kStock & Inventory Finance
Turn your inventory into working capital. Stock finance facilities allow businesses to fund goods purchases and release cash from existing stock — ideal for retailers, manufacturers and distributors with significant inventory.
From £250kRevolving Credit Facilities
A flexible, committed revolving credit line secured against your assets — draw down and repay as your needs change. Ideal for businesses with seasonal cycles or fluctuating working capital requirements.
Flexible drawdownReal Estate Finance
Commercial property included within an ABL borrowing base at up to 65–70% LTV. Whether owner-occupied or investment property, real estate can be incorporated alongside other asset classes in your overall facility.
Up to 70% LTVTrade & Supply Chain Finance
Fund the purchase of goods from domestic and international suppliers. Trade finance bridges the gap between paying for goods and receiving payment from customers — supporting importers, exporters and distributors.
Import & ExportWhat is Asset Based Lending?
Asset Based Lending (ABL) is a form of business finance where a facility is structured around the value of a company's underlying assets — rather than its cash flow or profitability alone. As your business grows, so does your facility.
Borrowing tied directly to asset values — not just credit score or profitability
Facilities grow automatically as receivables, stock and assets increase
Single-asset or full multi-asset borrowing base structures available
Available from clearing banks and specialist ABL lenders
Suitable for SMEs from £250k through to corporates at £120m+
More flexible and accessible than traditional bank overdrafts
Full-Scale ABL Facilities
Multi-Asset Structures from £5m to £120m
For larger businesses with significant asset bases, a full ABL facility combines multiple asset classes — receivables, plant & machinery, real estate and stock — into a single revolving structure with a unified borrowing base. This is where ABL truly differentiates itself from traditional lending.
Unlike single-product lending, a full ABL structure maximises the capital available by assigning advance rates to each eligible asset class simultaneously. It is particularly suited to manufacturers, distributors, logistics businesses and real estate-heavy operations.
- Facilities from £5m to £120m across all eligible asset classes
- Borrowing base established against receivables, P&M, real estate and stock
- Revolving structure — draw down and repay as your business needs change
- Access to both clearing banks and specialist ABL funders
- Indicative facility size typically within 2–3 business days
- Full funding typically completed within 3–6 weeks of credit approval
The Process
From Enquiry to Funded — How ABL Works
We manage the entire process on your behalf — sourcing the right lenders, negotiating terms and guiding your deal to completion.
Initial Enquiry
Tell us about your business, your asset base and your funding goals. No lengthy forms — a quick call is all we need to get started.
Day 1Indicative Terms
We approach our panel of banks and specialist ABL lenders and come back with an indicative facility size and headline terms for your review.
2–3 business daysCredit & Due Diligence
Your chosen lender undertakes field examination, asset valuation and credit underwriting. We manage this process and keep all parties aligned throughout.
Weeks 1–3Funded
Legal documentation is completed, the facility goes live and funds are available. We remain on hand to support ongoing facility management and growth.
3–6 weeks to fundOur Lender Panel
We Work with Banks and Specialist ABL Lenders
As an independent broker we are not tied to any single funder — giving your business whole-of-market access to the most competitive and suitable ABL facility available.
High Street & Clearing Banks
We maintain strong relationships with the UK's leading clearing banks, many of which operate dedicated ABL divisions. Bank-backed facilities typically offer the most competitive pricing for established businesses with strong asset bases, and can be advantageous where an ongoing banking relationship is important.
Specialist ABL Lenders
For complex structures, acquisitions, turnaround situations or businesses outside traditional bank appetite, we work with a broad panel of specialist and challenger ABL lenders. These funders are often more creative in structuring and can move faster — particularly for businesses needing speed, flexibility or a bespoke facility.
Industries We Serve
ABL Solutions for Your Sector
Asset Based Lending is particularly powerful for businesses with significant physical or receivable assets. We work across a wide range of sectors.
Why Growth Business Finance
Independent Expertise. Whole-of-Market Access.
As an independent finance broker, we are not tied to any single lender — which means we always act in your best interests to source the most suitable ABL facility from the full market. Our team has deep experience arranging complex structured finance for UK businesses across every sector and size.
- Whole-of-market access — banks and specialist ABL funders
- Experienced in complex, multi-asset borrowing base structures
- Dedicated deal management from enquiry through to completion
- FCA authorised and regulated — always operating transparently
- Indicative terms within 2–3 business days of your enquiry
- Over £165m arranged for UK businesses in the last 12 months
Asset Based Lending Explained
What is Asset Based Lending and How Does it Work in the UK?
Asset Based Lending is a specialist form of business finance where the size of a facility is determined by the value of a company's assets — primarily trade receivables, inventory, plant & machinery and commercial property. Unlike a traditional term loan or overdraft, an ABL facility is revolving: as assets increase, so does the available funding.
Who is ABL suitable for?
ABL is most commonly used by B2B businesses with strong receivables or significant physical assets. It is particularly effective for manufacturers, distributors, logistics companies and wholesale businesses — and is increasingly used by growth-stage and mid-market companies as an alternative to traditional bank debt. Most lenders require a minimum of £500k turnover per annum for single-product facilities.
ABL vs Traditional Bank Loans
A traditional bank loan is typically based on the borrower's financial history, profitability and credit profile. Asset Based Lending focuses on the quality and value of your assets. This means that businesses which may struggle with traditional lending — due to rapid growth, recent acquisitions or cyclical revenues — can often achieve significantly larger facilities through ABL.
ABL for Growth, MBOs and Acquisitions
Full ABL facilities in the £5m–£120m range are increasingly used to fund acquisitions, management buyouts (MBOs) and accelerated growth strategies — providing large revolving working capital lines backed by the combined value of the target business's assets. We have experience arranging ABL as part of leveraged and structured transactions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Asset Based Lending in the UK.
Asset Based Lending (ABL) is a form of business finance where a facility is secured against the value of a company's assets — typically trade receivables, inventory, plant & machinery and commercial property. Unlike traditional loans, an ABL facility grows with your business: as your assets grow, so does your borrowing capacity. It is a revolving structure, meaning you draw down and repay as your working capital needs change.
Individual ABL products such as invoice finance and asset finance typically start from £250,000. Full multi-asset ABL facilities — where a borrowing base is established across receivables, stock, plant & machinery and real estate — range from £5 million to £120 million. The exact facility size will depend on the value and quality of your eligible assets.
We can typically provide an indicative facility size within 2–3 business days of receiving your initial information. Full credit approval and funding typically completes within 3–6 weeks, depending on the complexity of the structure, the number of asset classes involved and the lender's due diligence requirements. ABL does require more thorough due diligence than simple business loans, but the result is a much larger and more flexible facility.
The most commonly used assets are trade receivables (invoices owed to the business), inventory and stock, plant & machinery, and commercial real estate. A full ABL facility can combine all of these within a single borrowing base, maximising the amount of working capital available. The advance rate applied to each asset class varies — receivables typically attract the highest advance rates (up to 85%), while stock and property attract lower rates.
Invoice finance is a single-asset product secured solely against trade receivables — you receive an advance (up to 95%) against your outstanding invoices as soon as they are raised. A full ABL facility combines multiple asset classes (receivables, stock, property, plant & machinery) into one larger revolving structure, typically suitable for businesses requiring £5m+. A full ABL facility requires more due diligence but provides significantly more working capital.
Yes. We work with both clearing banks and specialist ABL lenders, meaning we can access the full market and find the most suitable and competitive facility for your business. Bank facilities typically offer keener pricing for straightforward structures, while specialist lenders can be more flexible and creative for complex or time-sensitive requirements.
For individual products such as invoice finance and asset finance, we typically work with businesses turning over £500k or more per annum. For full ABL facilities in the £5m–£120m range, lenders focus more on the quality and value of the underlying asset base than a specific turnover threshold — though businesses in this bracket are typically generating several million pounds of revenue.
Ready to Unlock Your Asset Value?
Whether you need a single invoice finance line or a full multi-asset ABL facility, our team can find the right solution for your business. Get an indicative facility in as little as 2–3 business days.