Four structures. The right one depends on the asset.

Plain English on what each does, what happens at the end, and when it's usually the sensible choice — plus the other facilities we arrange alongside them.

Finance lease

You rent the asset from the funder over an agreed term and take on the risks and rewards of using it. Most of the cost is paid across the primary period; at the end you can usually continue on a secondary rental, sell the asset as the funder's agent, or return it.

Typical term: 2–7 years
End of term: Secondary rental, sale or return
Suits: Long-life kit you'll keep using

Hire purchase

Instalments towards ownership, usually with a deposit up front and a nominal option-to-purchase fee at the end. The asset shows on your balance sheet from the start, so it tends to suit businesses that want the kit on the books and intend to keep it.

Typical term: 1–7 years
End of term: You own it
Suits: Plant and vehicles held long term

Refinance

Raise cash against assets you already own outright, or settle an existing agreement and restructure it over a longer term. Useful when the balance sheet is strong but the current account isn't — a tax bill, a VAT quarter, or funding the deposit on something bigger.

Typical term: 1–5 years
Raised against: Owned plant, vehicles, machinery
Suits: Asset-rich, cash-tight moments

Operating lease

Use of the asset for a set period with a residual value assumed by the funder, so the rentals cover only part of the cost. You hand it back at the end. Sensible where the technology dates quickly or where you'd replace the asset anyway.

Typical term: 2–5 years
End of term: Return or upgrade
Suits: Fast-moving technology

Side by side

Feature	Finance lease	Hire purchase	Refinance	Operating lease
Own it at the end	Not automatically	Yes	Yes	No
Deposit	Often rentals in advance	Usual	None	Often rentals in advance
Monthly cost	Moderate	Higher	Varies	Lowest
Commonly used for	Machinery, telecoms	Vehicles, plant	Owned fleet	IT, AV

General guidance only — terms, deposits and accounting or tax treatment vary by funder and by your own circumstances. Speak to your accountant, and to us, before choosing.

Soft assets count too

The small stuff is still an asset.

A coffee machine, a till system, a phone platform. Lower tickets are where a lot of brokers lose interest, and where a panel actually earns its keep.

Beyond asset finance

Other products we arrange

Most businesses need more than one facility. We'd rather arrange them together than watch you stack three lenders by accident.

Business loans

Unsecured and secured lending for the things asset finance can't sit against — working capital, a hire, a refit, an acquisition.

Terms from 3 months

Invoice finance

Release cash tied up in your sales ledger as invoices are raised. Arranged through our sister company, Simply Factoring Brokers.

Via Simply Factoring Brokers

VAT & tax funding

Spread a VAT quarter or corporation tax bill over several months instead of taking the hit in one go.

Short-term facility

Franchise finance

Funding built around franchise models — fit-out, equipment and launch costs, underwritten against the franchise itself.

Selected brands

Not sure which one fits?

Tell us the asset and we'll tell you how it's normally funded.

Check eligibility