Machine finance: how UK businesses fund plant and machinery in 2026

Machine finance is the simplest way for a UK business to acquire the plant and machinery it needs without paying the full price up front. Whether it's a five-axis CNC machining centre, a new CNC press brake, packaging lines, woodworking equipment or a full production cell, machine finance spreads the cost across the equipment's working life — so the asset starts earning before it's fully paid for.

For most manufacturers and engineering firms, that's the whole point: a machine that adds capacity should fund itself out of the extra output it generates, not drain the cash you need for payroll, materials and growth.

What is machine finance?

Machine finance is a form of asset finance used specifically to fund industrial and production equipment. Instead of buying a machine outright, you put down a deposit (often 10%, sometimes nil) and pay fixed monthly instalments over an agreed term — typically two to seven years, matched to how long the machine will realistically earn its keep.

Because the machine itself secures the agreement, lenders can approve deals quickly and lend against equipment that a high-street bank might not touch. That makes machine finance one of the most accessible forms of business funding in the UK.

Which machines can you finance?

Almost any income-producing machine, new or used, including:

• CNC machinery — milling machines, lathes, machining centres, routers and laser cutters
• Metalworking and fabrication — press brakes, guillotines, welders, plasma cutters
• Manufacturing and production lines — packaging, filling, labelling and assembly equipment
• Woodworking and joinery machinery
• Print and finishing equipment
• Plant and construction equipment — excavators, telehandlers, generators and crushers
• Renewable and energy plant, including solar and battery storage

If it has a serial number and a resale value, it can usually be financed. We arrange funding across manufacturing, engineering and construction businesses every week.

How machine finance works

The two products most businesses use to buy machinery are:

Hire purchase (HP)

You own the machine outright at the end of the term. It sits on your balance sheet from day one, qualifies for capital allowances such as the Annual Investment Allowance or full expensing, and becomes yours after the final payment. HP is the go-to choice when you intend to keep the machine for the long haul. Read more about hire purchase →

Finance lease

You rent the machine over a primary period, which spreads the VAT across the term rather than paying it all up front — useful for higher-value equipment. At the end you can extend, sell on the lender's behalf, or upgrade. Read more about finance lease →

If you already own machinery outright, you can also raise capital against it through refinance or sale-and-leaseback — releasing cash from kit you've already paid for to fund your next investment or smooth out a tax bill.

What does machine finance cost?

Monthly cost depends on four things: the price of the machine, your deposit, the term, and your business's credit profile. As a rough guide:

• Deposit: typically 0–20%, depending on the asset and your trading history
• Term: 2–7 years, matched to the machine's working life
• Rates: vary by lender and risk — which is exactly why using a broker with a panel of 40+ lenders matters

Because we're whole-of-market, we put your deal in front of the lenders most likely to fund your specific machine at the keenest rate, rather than you taking the first quote your bank offers.

Why use a broker for machine finance?

A single bank gives you a single answer. We work with a panel of more than 40 specialist UK lenders, many of whom focus purely on plant and machinery and understand the kit you're buying. That means:

• More approvals, including for newer businesses and used machinery
• Competitive rates through genuine market comparison
• Decisions in hours, not weeks — important when a supplier slot or a used-machine bargain won't wait
• One application, not ten

How to get approved quickly

To move fast, have these ready:

1. A supplier quote or invoice for the machine
2. Your business details (limited company, sole trader or partnership)
3. Recent bank statements or accounts, for larger deals

Most decisions come back the same day, and our soft-search eligibility check won't leave a mark on your credit file.

Ready to add capacity? Get an indicative, no-obligation quote and see what you'd qualify for across our lender panel.

Get an indicative quote →