Last updated: September 29th, 2026
There are a number of Courier Finance options available such as Invoice Factoring and asset finance for vehicles.
Lets explore the different business finance options you can get as a courier business. Bolton Business Finance is an independent commercial finance broker and transport is the largest single sector we fund.
Written by Marcus Wright, owner and founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, in financial services since 2008 and a commercial finance broker since 2019. Last reviewed September 2026.
The short version
- Two main options for a courier business: invoice finance against unpaid job invoices, and asset finance to buy or refinance vans and trucks. They work well together.
- Invoice factoring releases up to 90% of an invoice within 24 hours. Transport prices well with lenders because delivery confirmation evidences the debt and customers are usually creditworthy.
- Work booked through courier platforms is fundable, but some high street banks will not touch it. Specialist funders will.
- Asset finance for vans and trucks runs 12 to 60 months, with funding often available within one working day.
- We do not charge a broker fee on invoice finance.
Table of Contents
Courier Finance Options
As a courier business you could be dealing with your customers direct or via one of the UK’s many freight exchange platforms for hauliers and courier business owners.
Some of these platforms allow courier companies to quickly link up with freight forwarders and other companies that need to make deliveries.
However with many customers direct or otherwise, you may need to wait 30 or even 60 days until your invoice is paid.
In order to plug this gap in cash-flow you may need a suitable finance facility to help your business grow.
Finance Options Available:
Lets look at each one in more detail below.
| Item | Invoice finance | Asset finance |
|---|---|---|
| What it funds | Cash tied up in unpaid job invoices | Vans, trucks and trailers |
| How much | Up to 90% of invoice value | Cost of the vehicle, new or used |
| Speed | Funds within 24 hours of invoicing | Often within 1 working day |
| Term | Revolving, grows with turnover | 12 to 60 months |
| Cost | Service fee 0.5% to 3% plus discount charge on funds drawn | Fixed monthly payment |
| Security | The invoices themselves | The vehicle |
| Platform work | Fundable by specialists, not all high street banks | Not affected |
Ranges reflect the UK market and our lender panel as at September 2026 and are not a quote. The Bank of England base rate is 3.75%, held on 17 September 2026. Bolton Business Finance Ltd is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and arranges non-regulated, business-purpose finance only.
Courier Invoice Finance Options
There may be more than one funding option available to your business, dependant on a number of key factors.
Some high street banks may not be familiar with how some courier platforms work and therefore may not offer funding.
However there are specialist funders available that will fund against invoices raised using courier platforms and database services.
Lets cover some of the options.
Invoice Factoring For Couriers & Transport
With Invoice Factoring you can get access to up to 90% of your invoice value straight away. So as soon as you complete a courier job and raise an invoice, you can get the funds.
Once your customer pays, the finance balance is repaid along with any fees and the remainder is added to your available funds.
- Funds Available In 24 Hours
- Access Up To 90% Of Outstanding Customer Invoices
- Revolving Credit Facility
- Grows With Your Business
Couriers and transport operators are well regarded by invoice finance lenders. Delivery confirmation evidences the debt, your customers are usually freight forwarders, retailers and manufacturers rather than consumers, and there are none of the retentions or staged payments that make some sectors difficult to fund. The advance rate reflects that, typically 85% to 90%.
Two things narrow the panel. If a meaningful share of your work is booked through a courier or freight exchange platform, lenders treat it as slightly higher risk than direct contract work, so expect a marginally tighter advance rate and fewer funders willing to look. And if your larger customers self bill, raising the invoice on your behalf, verification of the debt is harder and some funders will decline it. Both are workable, but flag them at the outset.
We can source a lender that will provide Courier Factoring, get in touch to discuss today.
Invoice Discounting For Couriers & Transport
Another finance option is Invoice Discounting, this is similar to Factoring but is done on a confidential basis.
This option is usually only available to more established companies (2 Years + Trading) and higher turnover.
- Confidential Invoice Discounting
- Release 90% of Unpaid Job Invoices
- Minimal Debt Verification
- Keep In House Credit Control
Related Article: Haulage Factoring Invoice Finance
Courier Asset Finance – Vans & Trucks
As a courier business your most important asset is your vans and trucks for making deliveries. You can spread the cost of buying a new or used delivery van by using asset finance.
- Term from 12 months to 60 months
- Funding available within 1 working day
- Hire purchase, leasing and refinance
We can also release equity from existing vehicles with asset refinance. That is often overlooked by courier operators who own vehicles outright: the capital sitting in a paid-off fleet can be released and put back into working capital or used toward the next vehicle, without selling anything.
Invoice finance and asset finance work well alongside each other. One funds the gap between doing a job and being paid for it, the other funds the vehicle that does the job. They are repaid from different sources, so having one does not usually prevent the other.
Courier Finance FAQ
Can I get invoice finance if my work comes through a courier platform?
Yes, though not from every lender. Some high street banks are not familiar with how courier platforms work and will not fund against them. Specialist funders will, and several have verification processes built for it. Platform work is treated as slightly higher risk than direct contract work, so the advance rate may be marginally tighter.
How much of my invoice can I access?
Up to 90%, with 85% to 90% typical for courier and transport operators. That is at the top of the 70% to 90% market range, because delivery confirmation evidences the debt and courier customers are usually creditworthy businesses.
Can I have invoice finance and asset finance at the same time?
Usually yes. They are repaid from different sources, invoice finance from your sales ledger and asset finance from trading income against the vehicle. Many courier operators run both, using invoice finance for working capital and asset finance to build the fleet.
What if my customers self bill?
Self billing is common with larger customers and is not a barrier, but it makes verification of the debt harder because the paperwork originates with your customer rather than with you. Some funders handle it routinely, others will decline or reduce the advance rate. Mention it when you enquire so the case goes to the right lenders.
Can I release cash from vans I already own?
Yes, through asset refinance. A lender advances against the value of vehicles you own outright and you repay over an agreed term while keeping the vehicles on the road. It is a common way for courier operators to fund a fleet expansion or clear a tax bill without taking on unsecured debt.
Get A Quote For Courier Finance & Invoice Factoring
Tell us how you work
We work with a number of funders that will consider funding against invoices raised on various courier platforms. We can also help with finance for vans and trucks. Send us your monthly invoicing, your payment terms, and whether your work is direct or platform booked, and we will come back with what is available. There is no broker fee on invoice finance.
Please get in touch to speak with one of our independent business finance experts.
Related pages
- Haulage factoring, including how platform booked work is funded and verified
- Trucking invoice factoring, costs in detail and operator licence financial standing
- Asset finance, for vans, trucks and trailers
About the author
Marcus Wright is the owner and founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd. He has worked in financial services since 2008, beginning his career at Santander, and spent time on the lender side at an independent invoice finance provider before becoming a commercial finance broker in March 2019.
He founded Bolton Business Finance in 2020 to give businesses access to the whole lending market rather than one bank’s own product range. The firm is a member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers and works with a panel of 135+ lenders. Transport and logistics is the largest single sector the firm funds through invoice finance.
Call 0161 546 9128.
Marcus is also the author of UK Commercial Finance (2026), a commercial finance book for UK business owners and property investors.
Bolton Business Finance Ltd is an independent commercial finance brokerage, not a lender. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and can only complete non-regulated introductions. All lending is for business purposes only. Figures on this page are illustrative market and panel ranges as at September 2026, not quotes. Registered address: Westgate House, 1 Westgate Avenue, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 4RF. Company number 12495909.