The invoice finance and asset-based lending sector is providing an increasing share of finance to UK businesses according to latest data released by UK Finance, the trade body for the finance industry.

The amount of money raised via invoice finance (a method of unlocking cash tied up in invoices) and other asset-based finance such as leasing and HP, is up 13% year-on-year. The total amount outstanding sits at just over £22 billion, which is the highest advances figure ever.

There are just over 40,000 UK business now using this form of finance, although this number has remained relatively static.

With the government focused on driving up UK exports, the exporting picture is particularly strong, with sales from clients through export invoice discounting facilities up 33% year-to-date, and export factoring up 11%.

UK Finance wants to see the government do more to encourage smaller businesses access funding via these sources. They are calling on the government to bring forward long-awaited legislation to give more smaller firms access to much-needed funding.

Many small businesses find themselves trapped by o-called ‘ban on assignment’ clauses, which are sometimes imposed by larger businesses on their smaller suppliers. This can restrict the finance options available to those supplier businesses. To address this, the UK Government is expected to bring forward revised Business Contract Terms (Assignment of Receivables) Regulations in the New Year.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at a recent survey from Hilton Baird Financial Solutions examining the different sources of finance businesses are using today.

The Prompt Payment Code was designed to encourage businesses to treat suppliers fairly and minimise late payment but it could work better and Rob looks at a new Advisory Body set up to improve standards.

Sticking with late payment, a survey from Lovetts, a commercial debt litigator reveals that the amounts outstanding to businesses is on the rise. Watch your cashflow!

Awareness of crowdfunding is on the rise and Rob has news from the Chamber of Commerce of a series of roadshows being run in conjunction with crowdlender ArchOver designed to inform business owners about the options available to them.

Rob also has news that PWC have tied up with MarketInvoice to offer invoice discounting solutions to its clients and in the Business Finance Tip of the Week a look at why business owners hate writing Business Plans!

If you prefer to listen to this week’s Bulletin on your phone or in your car then you can download it as a podcast by clicking the ‘download’ image on the SoundCloud player below.

The rise in the level of support being given by the asset-based finance industry continues to put the banks to shame.

According to the Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA) in the three months to the quarter ended June 2014 asset-based funders (comprising of invoice finance and asset finance providers) lent out a record £18.9 billion to UK businesses.

The figures from the ABFA reveal that the combined amount of invoice finance and asset based lending provided to businesses grew by 7% in the last quarter, from £17.7 billion in March 2014, and 10% in the last year, from £17.3 billion in June 2013.

The ABFA puts the growth down to constraints on traditional lending as well as greater awareness and understanding amongst businesses as to how borrowing against the value of their invoices and other assets can free up cash to invest in growth.

The ABFA reported that 80% of asset based finance is invoice finance, in which businesses secure funding against their unpaid invoices, while the remaining 20% represents asset based lending, in which businesses can raise money secured against a range of other assets they own, including inventory, property and machinery.

Compared to the average fall in bank lending of 3% to 4% per year it’s clear that whilst many businesses may be forced to consider alternative sources of finance the fact that funding sources are now more diverse can only be a positive move.

Small businesses on the hunt for bank finance are seeing a higher success rate in getting a yes than in previous years, with 80% of applicants receiving a positive response.

The survey, carried out by Albion Ventures as part of its annual Growth Report, revealed the success rate had increased from 71% in 2013 to 80% in 2014, a sign that banks are becoming more responsive as the economy improves.
Access to finance has been a prominent concern for UK business owners since the onset of the recession but it seems that the situation is now proving to be less of an issue. The survey found that access to finance now ranks fifth as a key concern for business owners.

However it may be that businesses are being more realistic in their chances of success in getting finance as the report reveals that only 10% of those surveyed said they had applied for funding compared to 17% in 2013. Are they assuming they will get a ‘no’ and so not bothering applying?

But the future is not so bleak when businesses were asked about their plans for the next 12 months. Looking ahead a third said they are planning to raise finance over the coming 12 months with 27% being for business development purposes and 23% to expand their premises.

This move to a more positive reason to raise finance was backed up by a 25% drop in those looking to raise cash to support trading (24% in 2014, down from 32% in 2013); an indication that businesses are moving in the right direction.

The news that businesses are feeling more positive comes on the back of the government announcement that in autumn it will be introducing legislation to force banks to refer businesses which they can’t support to alternative lenders. With small businesses being given more guidance we could see a further increase in the already fairly healthy success rate.

Figures released by the Peer to Peer Finance Association reveal that lending via the peer-to-peer and crowdlending sector has soared in the first six months of this year. During this period the amount lent has doubled with platforms having lent out over £500m in the six months putting it on track to break the £1bn barrier for 2014.

The figure lent comprises of funds advanced to both consumers and businesses but it was growth in money lent to businesses that has led the way.

In the first quarter of 2014 £132m of new money was lent to business and this increased to £146m in the second quarter. The number of businesses borrowing via P2P has also increased from 5,169 in the first quarter to 5,919 as at the end of June.

There has also been an increase in the number of lenders supporting businesses with a movement from 31,616 to 35,477.

The growth demonstrates how businesses are quickly embracing this innovative way of raising finance.

The growth in crowdfunding comes on the back of clear signs that businesses are looking to expand and hence on the hunt for finance. A recent survey from Albion Ventures showed that a third of businesses plan to raise finance in the next 12 months. Of these 27% are targeting capital for business development and 23% looking to expand their premises. With crowdfunding sites such as Funding Circle already entering the commercial mortgage market the peer-to-peer market is well placed to satisfy demand from businesses.

If you want to know how you can use crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending to support your growth plans read more here or simply complete the contact box at the foot of this page.

Posted on 16.04.2014, by Rob Warlow

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin it’s a good news edition with positive news about the UK economy and reports of a soaring crowdfunding market. Rob Warlow looks at reports from the P2P Finance Association on funds being lent out by crowdfunding platforms and the launch of a new crowdfunding site Landbay.

Rob also looks at a new pot of money being set aside by HSBC for lending to growing SMEs. Video is a way of getting your message across to lenders about your business and Rob talks about Crowdbox, a new service hosting business video pitches.

In the Tip of the Week Rob features a clip from a seminar he hosted in Amsterdam for Wealth Coach Kevin Green talking about the importance of financial information when approaching your bank for business finance.

In this week’s episode Rob Warlow looks at a report carried out by Bibby Financial Services on micro businesses and in particular the problems surrounding succession. In a further sign of the crowdfunding sector gaining more visibility Rob talks about a new arrangement between crowdfunding platforms and certain bank members of the British Bankers Association on the issue of sharing security.

Rob also shares his thoughts on the importance of diversifying your funding sources so you are not dependent on just one bank.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob looks at one aspect of getting a ‘no’ from your bank – why you should not see it as a fail.