What is asset finance?
Asset finance lets a business acquire equipment, vehicles or machinery and pay for it over time, instead of paying the full cost upfront. The asset itself is the main security, so lenders can often fund up to 100% of the cost over terms of 2 to 7 years. Asset refinance works the other way round, releasing cash from assets the business already owns.
Types of asset finance
Hire purchase (HP)
You pay for the asset in instalments and own it once the final payment is made. It suits assets you plan to keep for their working life.
Finance lease
The lender owns the asset and you rent it for most of its useful life. At the end you can usually extend, sell the asset to a third party on the lender's behalf, or return it.
Operating lease
You use the asset for part of its life and hand it back, with the lender taking the residual value risk. It suits assets that are upgraded regularly, such as vehicles and IT.
Asset refinance
You borrow against equipment you already own, either to release working capital or to replace more expensive borrowing.