Invoice finance for manufacturing and engineering
Solving the manufacturing cashflow cycle
Long working capital cycles
Manufacturers pay for materials on day 1, produce on day 30, and get paid on day 90. Invoice finance cuts the final wait.
High upfront costs
Releasing capital from your sales ledger can allow you to negotiate bulk-buy discounts with your steel or component suppliers.
Scales with production
As you win larger contracts and raise more eligible invoices, your facility availability can grow to support production.
The paper trail requirement
Manufacturing and engineering are prime sectors for invoice finance because the product is tangible. Lenders love certainty.
A clear paper trail can help providers assess the facility, verify that goods have been accepted and determine the terms they are prepared to offer:
- Signed Purchase Orders confirming the exact specification and price.
- Clean Proof of Delivery (POD) notes signed by the receiving customer.
- Clear contractual terms avoiding "Sale or Return" conditions.
Watch out for 'Tooling Amortisation'
- In engineering, the cost of bespoke tooling is often amortised across the first production run.
- Lenders must be informed if invoices include tooling costs, as they cannot repossess or easily value bespoke moulds if the customer defaults.
- Ensure your invoicing clearly separates the unit cost of goods from tooling contributions.
Who you could speak to
Aiden Wootton
Construction & Engineering Specialist
Construction, engineering, manufacturing, plant and trades
- STEP 1
A conversation with a broker
You talk to a real Sorbus broker about the business, the purpose and what is affordable. No application at this stage.
- STEP 2
Credit placement
If you choose to go further, we prepare the case and decide which lenders on our panel of 150+ are worth approaching.
- STEP 3
Lender assessment
The lender, not Sorbus, underwrites and makes the credit decision. Approval is never guaranteed.
- STEP 4
Documentation
If a lender offers terms and you accept, we help coordinate agreements and payout paperwork with you.
Every step after the first is optional. You can stop after the conversation. Sorbus is a broker, not a lender.
Client journey
Explore real client journeys
Read how real businesses approached a funding goal, what Sorbus arranged and what happened next.
Browse anonymised case studiesStart with a conversation
Tell us a little about what you need and who you would like to speak to. No obligation, no credit check at this stage. We aim to respond within one business day, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm.
Prefer to call?
Speak directly to an adviser Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm.
01246 383500Free call. No obligation.
Optional: Business Finance Health Check
Before applying for manufacturing invoice finance, understand your lending readiness, resilience score, and exit strategy, in under 5 minutes.
Take the short Health CheckFree · No credit check · Not required before you talk
Want the full picture? The full fact-find is longer and also optional.
Email us anytime
hello@sorbusfinance.co.ukIn almost all circumstances we do not charge a broker fee. Should a broker fee be chargeable you will be made aware clearly in advance and it will be agreed in writing before you proceed. Read our Initial Disclosure.
Sorbus Finance acts as a credit broker/introducer, not a lender. We can introduce you to lenders on our selected panel and do not search the whole market. We do not provide advice or a recommendation. Lenders determine eligibility, pricing and final terms. We may receive commission from a lender; the amount and method can vary and may affect what you pay. Read our Commission Disclosure and Complaints Procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions from UK businesses about manufacturing & engineering.
Ready to discuss your requirements?
Speak to a Sorbus Finance specialist about a suitable manufacturing & engineering structure for your business. Free, no-obligation comparison across lenders on our selected panel.