You Bill Well. You Just Wait Too Long to Get Paid.
Most professional services firms have creditworthy clients and reliable billings. The problem is the gap between raising an invoice and seeing the money. As a commercial finance broker we place facilities that close that gap and keep payroll funded while the client sits on a 60-day term.
£250bn
UK professional services sector output
42 days
Average UK B2B invoice payment delay
The structural problem here is straightforward: you carry a large debtors book of invoices owed by solvent clients, and you pay salaries every month whether those clients have settled or not. A solicitors practice billing £80,000 a month on 45-day terms is, effectively, lending its clients £120,000 at any given moment. Invoice finance converts that debtors book into working capital, with many lenders advancing 85 to 90 pence in the pound soon after the invoice is raised, subject to the lender's assessment of your book. Tax loans and VAT facilities handle the quarterly HMRC pressure separately. Unsecured business loans cover the bigger moves: a new hire, a second office, acquiring a smaller practice. None of these products require property as security, which matters because most professional services firms are asset-light by nature. We are a broker, not a lender, so what gets placed and on what terms depends on your firm and on lender appetite.
Common Challenges in Professional Services
The debtors book that earns nothing
A firm billing £1m annually on 60-day terms carries roughly £160,000 in outstanding invoices at all times. That capital is sitting idle earning the business nothing, while the firm still meets payroll on the first of the month.
Payroll that does not move
Staff costs are fixed and monthly. A partner firm cannot tell its associates they will be paid when the client pays. Invoice finance makes payroll a non-issue by putting cash on account soon after invoices go out.
HMRC on a quarterly clock
Corporation tax, VAT, and PAYE all arrive on fixed deadlines. Many firms pay these from reserves and then find working capital is thin for six to eight weeks afterwards. Tax loans spread those bills over three to twelve months at a cost agreed with the lender up front.
Growth that requires upfront spending
Hiring a lateral partner, opening a second office, or acquiring a smaller practice all require capital before the revenue from that move arrives. Unsecured business loans fund this without giving up equity or pledging property.
Finance Solutions for Professional Services
We work with specialist lenders to find the right product for your business.
Invoice Finance
We place invoice finance facilities with lenders who advance a large share of the invoice face value soon after it is raised, commonly 85 to 90 pence in the pound. The lender collects from your client on the due date. Confidential facilities are available if you do not want clients to know the arrangement is in place.
Learn moreUnsecured Business Loans
Fixed-term loans based on trading history and cash flow, no property required. Used by professional services firms for hiring, technology, fit-out, and practice acquisitions.
Learn moreVAT Loans
Spread a quarterly VAT bill over three to twelve months instead of paying it in one hit. The lender pays HMRC directly on the due date, and you repay the lender in monthly instalments.
Learn moreTax Loans
Cover corporation tax or PAYE liabilities without drawing down reserves. Terms are short and the cost is set by the lender, usually well below the disruption of a cash-thin month after a large HMRC payment.
Learn moreRevolving Credit
A credit line you draw and repay as needed, rather than a fixed-term loan. Useful for firms with lumpy billing cycles or where a large client pays irregularly.
Learn moreWork out your numbers
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is invoice finance suitable for a small consultancy or sole-director firm?
Yes, provided you invoice other businesses rather than consumers. Facilities often start from around £10,000 and scale with your debtors book. The lender looks at the credit quality of your clients, not just your own balance sheet, which is why the product works well for small firms with solid corporate or public-sector clients. If you invoice individuals, most invoice finance lenders will not be able to help.
Can I keep invoice finance confidential from my clients?
Many lenders offer confidential invoice discounting, where you retain credit control and clients pay you directly as normal. The lender operates in the background. Some professional services firms are sensitive about this arrangement being visible, and a confidential facility addresses that. We will tell you which lenders on our panel offer it before you decide.
Can I get a loan to cover a tax bill?
Yes. VAT loans and corporation tax loans are built for exactly this. The lender pays HMRC on the due date and you repay over three to twelve months. We cannot promise a specific rate; the lender sets it based on your trading history. In practice these tend to be among the lower-cost borrowing options open to a trading business.
What if my firm has no assets to offer as security?
Most of the products we place for professional services firms are unsecured or secured only against the invoices themselves, so you do not need to own property. Lenders assess your revenue, your client quality, and your trading history. A personal guarantee from directors is commonly required on unsecured lending.
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