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    Invoice finance

    Turn unpaid invoices into working capital with a flexible invoice finance facility from Close Brothers, built around the way your business operates.

    Warning: The provision of this service does not require licensing, registration or authorisation by the Central Bank of Ireland, and as a result is not covered by Central Bank of Ireland rules designed to protect consumers or by a statutory compensation scheme.

    What is invoice finance?


    Invoice finance is a form of working capital finance that releases money owed to your business before customers settle their invoices. Rather than borrowing against property or taking out a fixed-term loan, you draw funds against your sales ledger – an asset your business already owns. For Irish SMEs trading on credit terms, business invoice finance is a practical way of financing cash flow, with funding that grows alongside your turnover rather than being capped at a set limit.

     

    How does invoice finance work?


    Once you raise an invoice, we release up to 90% of its value, often within 24 hours. Your customer pays as normal, and when the money arrives we forward the remaining balance, less the agreed charges. Because funding is secured on your debtor book, the amount available rises naturally as sales increase. To see how much you could release, try our invoice finance calculator.

    Benefits of invoice finance for Irish SMEs

    Improve cash flow

    Waiting weeks for payment ties up cash your business could be putting to work. Invoice finance bridges the gap, releasing the value of unpaid invoices so day-to-day operations never hinges on payment schedules – a simple way of financing cash flow without new debt.

    Support business growth

    Growth consumes cash; new hires, stock and equipment all need paying for before the revenue they generate arrives. Because your facility is linked to your sales ledger, invoice finance gives ambitious Irish businesses the headroom to take on bigger contracts with confidence.

    Reduce the impact of late payments

    Late payment remains a persistent problem for Irish SMEs. With up to 90% of each invoice’s value in your account shortly after it’s raised, a slow-paying customer no longer dictates when you can pay suppliers, meet payroll or settle your own bills.

    Invoice finance products

    Invoice discounting

    With invoice discounting, you draw funds against invoices as they’re issued while keeping complete control of collections and customer relationships. The arrangement can stay entirely confidential, so your customers continue to deal with your business exactly as they always have.

    Invoice factoring

    Factoring works in the same way as discounting but with a full collections service: our team manages credit control and chases payments on your behalf. It’s a strong fit for smaller or scaling businesses that would rather spend their time winning new work than managing their sales ledger.

    Asset based lending

    Asset based lending extends funding beyond the debtor book, combining invoice finance with lending secured on stock, plant and property. It suits established businesses that need a larger structured facility for acquisitions, management buyouts or long-term investment plans.

    Speak to an invoice finance specialist

    Get in touch

    What industries use invoice finance?


    Any business that invoices other businesses on credit terms can benefit from invoice finance solutions. In Ireland, we support companies across recruitment, haulage and distribution, manufacturing, wholesale, food production and business services, among many others. Sectors with long payment terms or seasonal demand often find invoice finance especially valuable, because funding keeps pace with invoicing through busy and quiet periods alike. Explore the industries we work with to see how we tailor invoice finance to your sector.

    Why choose Close Brothers Commercial Finance?

    Award-winning invoice finance

    Close Brothers Commercial Finance is a multi-award-winning provider of invoice finance solutions and working capital finance, with teams in Dublin and Belfast. Businesses across Ireland rely on our straightforward terms, transparent pricing and backed by decades of commercial lending experience.

    Dedicated relationship manager

    You’ll never be passed around a call centre. From day one, you’ll have a dedicated relationship manager based in Ireland who takes time to understand your business, reviews your facility as your needs evolve and is only ever a phone call away.

    Access funds instantly with IDeal™

    Our award-winning online platform, IDeal™, gives you complete visibility and control over your facility. It connects with over 260 accounting packages, reconciles invoice payments automatically and lets you draw down available funds instantly – wherever you are, whenever you need them.

    Frequently asked questions

    What happens if my customer doesn’t pay?

    It depends on the terms of your agreement. Adding bad debt protection to your facility safeguards your business if a customer becomes insolvent and can’t pay. Without protection, responsibility for the unpaid invoice returns to you – so it’s worth discussing with our team.

    What is an example of invoice financing?

    Imagine a Dublin haulage company that invoices a client €50,000 on 60-day terms. Using its facility, it draws €45,000 the next day to cover wages and fuel. When the client pays, the firm receives the remaining balance, minus charges.

    What are typical invoice financing rates?

    Costs reflect your turnover, sector and the size of the facility you need. You’ll generally pay a service charge for managing the facility, plus a discount charge on the funds you draw, similar to interest. We’ll always set out pricing clearly before you commit.

    How quickly can I get funds with invoice financing?

    Setting up a new invoice finance facility usually takes a few weeks, depending on the complexity of your business. Once your facility is live, funds against approved invoices typically arrive within 24 hours, and can be drawn instantly through IDeal.

    • What happens if my customer doesn’t pay?

      It depends on the terms of your agreement. Adding bad debt protection to your facility safeguards your business if a customer becomes insolvent and can’t pay. Without protection, responsibility for the unpaid invoice returns to you – so it’s worth discussing with our team.

    • What is an example of invoice financing?

      Imagine a Dublin haulage company that invoices a client €50,000 on 60-day terms. Using its facility, it draws €45,000 the next day to cover wages and fuel. When the client pays, the firm receives the remaining balance, minus charges.

    • What are typical invoice financing rates?

      Costs reflect your turnover, sector and the size of the facility you need. You’ll generally pay a service charge for managing the facility, plus a discount charge on the funds you draw, similar to interest. We’ll always set out pricing clearly before you commit.

    • How quickly can I get funds with invoice financing?

      Setting up a new invoice finance facility usually takes a few weeks, depending on the complexity of your business. Once your facility is live, funds against approved invoices typically arrive within 24 hours, and can be drawn instantly through IDeal.

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    Invoice Finance for Ireland | Close Brothers Commercial Finance