Invoice finance

Construction finance

For contractors and sub-contractors, typically £100k+ turnover. Advance against uncertified applications or staged invoices — up to 80% of value (minus fees). Confidential, with billing uploaded as work is certified.

Apply for Construction financeInstant invoice quoteLearn moreOn qedfinance.com
Range
From ~£100k turnover
Term
Contract cycle
Family
invoice
Search
Full market, one file

At a glance

  • Up to 80% of applications
  • Construction sector
  • Staged billing
  • Typically £100k+ turnover

How it works

  1. 1Offered by a handful of UK invoice-finance lenders who understand applications for payment.
  2. 2You upload staged invoices or uncertified applications.
  3. 3You receive up to 80% of value (minus fees), typically within 24 hours.
  4. 4It can be confidential.
  5. 5As work is certified, billing is updated and the facility revolves with the contract cycle.

Who it’s for

  • Main contractors, sub-contractors and specialist trades
  • Businesses typically turning over £100k or more
  • Anyone waiting on applications for payment or staged certificates

Good to know

Construction debt is treated differently from a vanilla B2B ledger — retentions, contra charges and certification all matter.

Not every invoice funder will touch it. The panel search is the point.

One application with QED searches the full market. That saves you running the same file around several lenders, and it avoids multiple credit searches on the business and directors. A hard search is only placed when you proceed with a chosen lender.

Worked example — £1,200 invoice

  • £1,200.00 gross sales invoice (incl. 20% VAT)
  • 30-day credit terms offered to the customer
  • Funder advances 85% against invoices
  • Customer pays 22 days late
  • Service charge assumed at 2%

Day 1

With invoice finance

£0 — goods delivered, invoice raised

Without

£0

Day 2

With invoice finance

£1,020 in the bank (85% of £1,200)

Without

£0

Day 40

With invoice finance

Still £1,020 — invoice is 10 days overdue

Without

£0 — still waiting

Day 52

With invoice finance

£1,176 net after the advance is repaid and 2% charged

Without

£1,200 lands in one go

You had 85% of the money on day 2 — cash to buy the next job, pay staff or take a discount from suppliers. By day 52 you have £1,176 of the £1,200 (the 2% fee). Same numbers as qedfinance.com/how-does-invoice-finance-work.

You wait the full 52 days with nothing. Late payers freeze payroll, materials and the next contract. That is the cash-flow problem invoice finance is built to solve.

Documents QED will ask for

Same list as the attach-files section on the website application. Tick what you have when you apply; email the rest.

  • Last published accounts (full accounts, not abbreviated)
  • Latest management accounts if year-end is stale
  • Last 3 months’ business bank statements
  • Last month-end aged debtors report (summary)
  • Last month-end aged creditors report (summary)
  • Live customer names, addresses and contacts
  • Existing invoice-finance contract and latest statement (if refinancing)

FAQ

Drawn from qedfinance.com and the way the UK market actually underwrites these facilities.

Do invoices have to be certified first?

Not always. Some houses will advance against uncertified applications, then true-up when the certificate is issued.

What about retentions?

Retention balances are usually ineligible until they fall due. The live application and certified work are what funders want to see.

What turnover do I need?

Typically £100k or more, as a contractor or sub-contractor issuing credit to customers. A handful of UK invoice-finance lenders specialise in applications for payment.

How much can be advanced?

Up to 80% of the application or staged invoice (minus fees), often within 24 hours. It can be confidential. Retentions are usually ineligible until they fall due.

Is invoice finance only for struggling businesses?

No. The UK industry serves around 50,000 clients borrowing over £16 billion at any one time, from start-ups to multi-nationals. Growing companies use it because the facility grows with the sales ledger.

Will this affect my credit score?

Starting a search with QED does not place a hard search. Credit checks that can affect a score only happen when you proceed with a chosen lender.

Do my customers have to know?

It depends on the product. Invoice discounting is confidential. Factoring is usually disclosed (a notice of assignment on invoices), though a few UK providers offer confidential factoring.

Prefer a number first?

Run the same calculator that sits on the website, then apply if the shape looks right.

Open the calculator

QED is a broker, not a lender. A low credit score can limit options with some houses; a search with us does not place a hard search on the business or directors until you proceed with a chosen lender.