Finance for tradespeople

You run your business from the van, the job and your phone. You don't have time for a three-week application at the bank, a branch appointment or a pile of forms. You want to know what you can get, what it costs, and when the money lands.

What tradespeople use finance for

A new or better van. The most common reason trades come to us. See van finance.

Tools and equipment. Spread the cost of kit, from a new set of power tools to a mini digger. See asset finance.

Cash flow between jobs. Materials up front, payment weeks later. Invoice finance and short business loans close the gap. See invoice finance.

Growing the business. Taking on your first employee or apprentice, a unit, a bigger contract. See business loans.

Can sole traders get finance?

Yes. Many lenders fund sole traders and partnerships as well as limited companies. They will look at your business bank statements, your trading history and sometimes your personal credit. Two years of trading opens more doors, though lenders can work with less, especially for asset finance where the van or kit is the security.

Taking on your first employee

The step from one-man band to a small team is the biggest one most tradespeople make. You need to cover wages before the extra work starts paying, maybe add a second van and kit someone out with tools. It's a few lean months before the extra capacity earns its keep.

Finance smooths that out. A small business loan covers the first months of wages. Van and asset finance spreads the cost of the extra vehicle and tools. Once the second pair of hands is earning, the payments come out of the extra work they bring in.

What you'll need to apply

Getting funded when the bank says no

A lot of tradespeople have been told no by their bank because of irregular income, a short trading history or a dip in their accounts. That's a bank decision about a bank's rules. We work with 120+ lenders, and some of them specialise in exactly your kind of business. Paul has written about why your high-street bank keeps saying no.

How it works with Flite

A quick form or a call. Tell us what you need and what it's for. Your Lending Expert does the legwork, comes back with options in plain English, and handles the paperwork. Many clients have a decision within 24 to 48 hours.

Flite is free to you. We are paid by the lender when your deal completes.