Aldermore vs Time Finance: Which UK Business Finance Provider in 2026?
Aldermore edges this matchup in our 2026 UK panel review, scoring 4.1 of 5 against Time Finance on 4.0. Aldermore runs asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages at £25k to £5m on from 7.5% apr equivalent; Time Finance runs asset finance, invoice finance, vehicle finance at £10k to £2m on bespoke. That said, the right answer depends on ticket size, trading history and sector. Time Finance beats Aldermore for mid-ticket ltds combining asset finance, invoice finance and vehicle under one lender. Read the side-by-side, then jump to the "when X wins" sections for the buyer-fit logic.
Side-by-side
| Aldermore | Time Finance | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages | Asset finance, invoice finance, vehicle finance |
| Ticket range | £25k to £5m | £10k to £2m |
| Typical rate | From 7.5% APR equivalent | Bespoke |
| Decision time | 5 to 10 business days | 2 to 5 business days |
| Soft search at quote | No (hard search) | Yes |
| Ltd-only? | Yes | No |
| FCA regulated | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Established Ltds wanting asset finance or invoice finance with a real bank; Commercial property tickets £150k+ where the applicant has 2 weeks for underwriting; Broker-introduced deals with sector complexity | Mid-ticket Ltds combining asset finance, invoice finance and vehicle under one lender; Transport, manufacturing and hospitality SIC codes; £25k to £500k asset-backed Ltds wanting a faster route than Aldermore |
| Overall rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-05-10 | 2026-05-10 |
When Aldermore wins
- Specialist asset finance and invoice finance lines that mainstream banks no longer prioritise.
- Strong commercial mortgage product, so we route property-backed Ltd applicants here at £150k+.
- Established underwriting team with sector specialism, useful for files with complexity that needs a human.
- PRA-regulated bank, which matters to applicants who want a deposit-taking institution rather than a fintech.
Best for
Established Ltds wanting asset finance or invoice finance with a real bank, Commercial property tickets £150k+ where the applicant has 2 weeks for underwriting, Broker-introduced deals with sector complexity.
Watch outs
- Slower than fintech alternatives, so applicants who need cash inside the week route to iwoca, Capify or YouLend instead.
- Hard search at full application means we only push files here once the applicant is committed.
- Sub-£25k tickets are not for them, route smaller asks to iwoca or Capify.
When Time Finance wins
- Multiple complementary product lines under one roof, so we can route a single file across asset, invoice and vehicle without re-introducing.
- Sector specialism in transport, manufacturing and hospitality, which the matcher uses on SIC-led routing.
- AIM-listed transparency on filings, useful for applicants who want a public-market institutional view.
- Faster than Aldermore or Shawbrook on bespoke asset deals, often inside 5 business days.
Best for
Mid-ticket Ltds combining asset finance, invoice finance and vehicle under one lender, Transport, manufacturing and hospitality SIC codes, £25k to £500k asset-backed Ltds wanting a faster route than Aldermore.
Watch outs
- Broker-distributed for most product flow, so the FundBiz introduction is the route rather than self-serve.
- Pricing varies materially by deal, so the matcher cannot quote a tight rate before the conversation.
- Smaller brand presence than Aldermore or Shawbrook, applicants who want the bigger name route there.
FAQ
Aldermore or Time Finance: which is the better UK business finance provider in 2026?
Aldermore scores higher overall in our 2026 UK panel review at 4.1 of 5 versus 4.0 for Time Finance. That said, the right answer depends on what your file looks like. Aldermore is the stronger pick for established ltds wanting asset finance or invoice finance with a real bank, while Time Finance is the stronger pick for mid-ticket ltds combining asset finance, invoice finance and vehicle under one lender. If your file sits in one of those buckets, ignore the headline rating and pick the right fit.
What does each product look like, Aldermore vs Time Finance?
Aldermore offers asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages between £25k to £5m at from 7.5% apr equivalent, with a 5 to 10 business days decision window. Time Finance offers asset finance, invoice finance, vehicle finance between £10k to £2m at bespoke, with a 2 to 5 business days decision window. Aldermore runs a hard credit search at full application. Time Finance uses a soft search at quote. Verify live commercials before signing because lender pricing moves and bespoke rates are common above £100k tickets.
Which is weakest for what?
Aldermore is the wrong answer for speed-critical files, route to iwoca, capify or youlend. Time Finance is the wrong answer for sub-£10k self-serve tickets, route to iwoca or capify. If either of those describes your file, look at the side-by-side table for the alternative route, or run the eligibility checker and the matcher will surface the right shortlist from the FundBiz specialty panel.
Can FundBiz help me choose between Aldermore and Time Finance?
Yes. We are independent of either lender. The FundBiz specialty panel covers MCA, asset finance, commercial mortgage, bridging, VAT loan, R&D advance and post-decline routes. Tell us ticket size, trading history, sector and any prior declines. We match you against the panel lenders most likely to approve, and if your file needs a post-decline route we surface that explicitly rather than burning credit-file footprint with repeated mainstream applications.
Am I eligible to apply via FundBiz?
FundBiz works with limited companies, LLPs and partnerships of 4 or more partners. Sole traders and partnerships under 4 partners are out of scope and routed elsewhere. Both Aldermore and Time Finance sit on our panel for the entity types we serve. Trading history requirements vary by lender, so the matcher pre-screens before sending the file across.
Related comparisons
Other UK specialty finance head-to-heads involving Aldermore or Time Finance:
Check eligibility in two minutes
Tell us ticket size, trading history and sector. We match you against the FundBiz specialty panel: MCA, asset finance, commercial mortgage, bridging, VAT loan, R&D advance and post-decline routes. Limited companies, LLPs and partnerships of 4+.
Check eligibility →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-05-10. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).