
How to find Invoice Finance Providers in the Southeast.
With the current economic climate impacting businesses nationwide, finding reliable Invoice Finance Providers in the Southeast is more important than ever. From rising production costs to ever changing market conditions, SMEs in the Southeast are facing numerous challenges, especially economic challenges. Invoice finance offers a way to access working capital quickly.
2024 UK Economy Statistics Recap
- As reported by Begbies-Traynor Group: The levels of ‘critical’ financial distress jumped dramatically in Q4 2023, up 25.9% on the prior quarter (Q3 2023: 37,772), leaving more than 47,000 businesses near collapse in the UK at the start of 2024.
- Sourced from The Spring Budget (6th March 2024): “In 2024, the year of the SME, the government continues to back UK SMEs as the lifeblood of the economy and the beating heart of local communities. The government will increase the VAT registration threshold to £90,000 from 1 April 2024 and is extending the Recovery Loan Scheme to support SMEs to access finance, renaming it the “Growth Guarantee Scheme”.
- Inflation rose to its highest rate since the early 1980s. UK price levels in April 2024 were 22% higher than at the beginning of 2021.
- The Office for National Statistics reported on unemployment: “Following decreases in the unemployment rate since late 2013, the unemployment rate increased during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. From early 2021, it decreased to below pre-coronavirus rates until mid-2022. The unemployment rate has been largely increasing since then, despite a period of decrease during the latter half of 2023. Over the year since August to October 2023 and in the latest quarter, August to October 2024, the unemployment rate increased.”
- ONS Report November 2024: More than one in five (22%) trading businesses reported that they expect their turnover to decrease in December 2024, up 6 percentage points from expectations for November 2024; meanwhile 50% of businesses reported that they expect turnover to stay the same, down 7 percentage points over the same period.
These bullet points reflect an overview of 2024 within the UK. We cannot dismiss changes within UK Government, and Geo political and economic happenings outside of the UK which have also played their part in shaping our current economic landscape. As production prices, staffing costs, and day-to-day life continue to rise, SMEs are being met with tough choices out on the front line. By September 2024 it was reported that 6,954 high street stores had closed during 2024 (that’s an equivalent of 38 businesses per day).
What is the Financial Outlook for 2025 in the Southeast?
KPMG UK’s inaugural Private Enterprise Barometer, a poll of 1,500 private business owners (in London and the Southeast) across sectors ranging from professional services, finance, technology, industrial manufacturing, and retail, reveal strong growth confidence for 2025. In London and the Southeast, 88% of private business owners (almost nine in ten) are confident of growth. This optimism is primarily attributed to a perceived improvement in the UK economic outlook (cited by 36% of firms in the region).
Looking ahead, 68% of London and Southeast businesses intend to diversify through new products or services within the next five years, while 56% plan international expansion during the same period. London firms, along with those in Scotland, were the second most likely in the UK (77%) to plan future AI investment, second only to the West Midlands (83%). Increased demand for products and services (reported by 58% of Southeast firms) further supports the region’s positive outlook.
Despite this optimism, securing skilled talent to leverage new technologies remains a challenge. Southeast firms expressed less confidence in recruiting qualified staff (48%) compared to the national average (55%), although 59% of London firms are confident in their recruitment capabilities. Access to funding is not a major concern, with only 13% of firms in London and the Southeast reporting difficulties. Private equity is the preferred external funding source for long-term diversification (cited by 40%), significantly ahead of bank debt (20%).
Nationally, 92% of UK private business owners are confident of growth in 2025. Businesses with lower confidence levels cited increased competition and access to funding as key challenges. Technology (63%) and skills/workforce (49%) are the top investment priorities for the next 12 months. Among those planning tech investment, 73% intend to invest in AI to improve customer experience.
Finding Invoice Finance Providers in the Southeast.
Within the figures above, out of the companies surveyed only 13% report to having difficulties with access to funding. However, across the UK, cash flow challenges remain a prominent issue for SMEs. With a quarter of the UKs SMEs experiencing cash flow challenges.
Many SMEs turn to invoice finance rather than traditional loans. For each business this is a personal choice, however, the factors can be similar. Invoice finance companies will be looking at different factors to traditional loan providers. For example, an invoice finance provider will look at the creditworthiness of the business’ debtors and invoices, as well as their own financial situation. Meaning that a poor (or less favourable) business credit score will not impact the decision to provide funding.
Within invoice finance, there are different service options.
- Recourse Factoring.
- Disclosed Invoice Discounting.
Both recourse factoring and disclosed invoice discounting achieve the same result: an accelerated payment injection into your business which enhances working capital and forms a naturally positive cash flow. Invoice financing serves as an alternative financial solution for businesses engaged in B2B sales.
Factoring and discounting both facilitate businesses in receiving funds, but they differ in terms of who assumes responsibility for managing the outstanding sales ledger. In factoring, the funding provider takes on the entire credit control function, including payment collection from customers, issuing monthly statements, initiating collection calls, dispatching reminder letters, and so forth. This constitutes a fully outsourced and managed service.
In contrast, with invoice discounting, the business retains control over its sales ledger and collects payments from clients as usual.
Invoice finance is a flexible funding solution, meaning that the amount of funding available to the business grows alongside the company. Getting the right, flexible funding for your business makes finding invoice providers in the southeast more important than ever.
Partnership Invoice Finance – Providing Southeast Business Alternative Funding
Now that you understand the benefits of invoice finance for businesses in the Southeast facing cash flow challenges, it’s crucial to choose the right provider. Here at Partnership Invoice Finance, we specialise in helping SMEs in the Southeast unlock the potential of their unpaid invoices.
Located in Paddock Wood, Kent – Partnership Invoice Finance has a deep understanding of the Southeast business landscape and the specific needs of SMEs in the region. We offer a range of flexible invoice finance solutions tailored to your business size, requirements, and growth projections.
Whether you’re a startup seeking initial funding or an established business looking to fuel growth, Partnership Invoice Finance can help you access working capital quickly and efficiently. We pride ourselves on our:
- Transparent Approvals: After you have completed your proposal form, and delivered the requested information: a file will be completed and submitted to the credit underwriters. We will endeavour to keep you informed at each step of the process, we ensure that our process is smooth and efficient to ensure no time is wasted.
- Competitive Rates: Enjoy competitive fees based on your specific needs. There are no nasty hidden fees within our fee structure. All costs are presented to you upfront.
- Dedicated Account Manager: Get personalised support from a dedicated account manager who understands your business.
Don’t let cash flow hold your business back. Take advantage of the current economic optimism in the Southeast and unlock your growth potential with invoice finance. Contact Partnership Invoice Finance today for a consultation and discuss how we can help your business thrive.
Managing cashflow in uncertain times with Partner Partnership Invoice Finance.
At Partnership Invoice Finance, we understand the unique challenges faced by SMEs. Managing cashflow in uncertain times requires a tailored approach to your needs, our solutions are designed to provide flexible and transparent funding that empowers businesses to thrive in any economic environment. With our expertise, you can ensure:
- Faster access to working capital.
- Reduced stress from delayed payments.
- Freedom to focus on long-term growth.