What types of equipment can I finance? (machinery, vehicles, IT, catering, renewables)
Quick answer
Most tangible business assets can be financed, including industrial machinery, commercial vehicles and fleets, IT hardware and software, catering and hospitality equipment, and renewable-energy installations.
The right structure—hire purchase, lease, asset finance or green finance—depends on your cashflow, tax position and how long you expect to keep the asset.
Overview: what counts as financeable equipment?
Financeable equipment is usually tangible and has a useful economic life.
Examples include plant and machinery, vans, cars, HGVs, servers, kitchen fit-out, solar panels and battery storage.
Most lenders and brokers will consider anything that can be described, valued and repossessed if necessary.
Typical asset finance products are hire purchase, finance lease, operating lease, chattel mortgage and refinancing of existing assets.
These products let businesses acquire equipment without paying the full purchase price upfront.
Lenders will assess the asset type, age, condition and expected residual value when deciding terms.
Smaller, mobile assets and high-value fixed plant each attract different underwriting rules.
Vehicles and fleet finance
Vehicles are among the most commonly financed assets for UK businesses.
This covers cars, light commercial vans, multi‑vehicle fleets, HGVs, tractors and specialist vehicles such as refrigerated units and tankers.
Hire purchase is often used when you want ownership at the end of the term.
Operating leases suit businesses preferring regular renewals and off‑balance-sheet treatment.
Fleet finance packages can include maintenance, servicing and tyre coverage as part of the deal.
Consider VAT, capital allowances and benefit-in-kind implications when choosing a product.
Lenders will check mileage, driver records and expected contract length to set residual values and repayments.
Machinery, plant and industrial equipment
Manufacturing and construction companies commonly finance CNC machines, presses, forklifts and excavators.
Agriculture uses combines, tractors and silage equipment that lenders will value by age and hours used.
Heavy industry might finance purpose-built plant such as mixers, conveyor systems and specialist tooling.
Shorter-term projects sometimes use equipment rental before moving to longer-term finance for permanent assets.
Underwriting considers installation complexity, removal costs and whether assets are bespoke or widely traded.
Bespoke machinery may require specialist valuations and may carry higher rates or shorter terms.
Asset finance allows businesses to preserve working capital while upgrading production capacity.
IT, software and catering equipment
IT hardware (servers, desktops, laptops, switches) and peripherals are financeable across many lenders.
Some funders also offer finance for licensed software or SaaS subscriptions when bundled with hardware.
Finance for IT often focuses on rapid replacement cycles to avoid obsolescence.
Catering and hospitality equipment includes ovens, refrigeration, dishwashers and POS systems.
Commercial kitchen fit-outs and bar equipment are typically covered by asset finance or hire purchase.
Smaller items can be included in a single facility, or split into separate lines for clarity.
When financing IT, check whether the provider accepts upgrades or swaps mid-term without penalty.
How lenders treat intangible or bundled items
Purely intangible assets (patents, goodwill) are usually not financeable as equipment.
However, intangible software bundled with hardware can be funded if it is integral to a physical asset.
Always ask your broker whether a particular item qualifies under the lender’s asset lists.
Renewables, sustainability and next steps
Renewable-energy equipment is increasingly financeable and often supported by green lending.
This includes solar PV panels, battery storage, heat pumps, EV chargers and biomass boilers.
Specialist green finance products may offer longer terms or preferential rates for energy-saving installations.
Government grants and schemes can sometimes be combined with asset finance to reduce capital outlay.
For investment decisions, lenders look at expected energy savings, feed-in tariffs and incentive lifecycles.
Operational considerations such as installation contractors and warranties also influence approval.
If you want help matching your asset to suitable lenders or brokers, submit a Quick Quote to check eligibility.
Best Business Loans connects you to finance specialists who understand renewables and can suggest green funding options.
Find out more about equipment finance options and submit a brief enquiry at our dedicated equipment finance page: Equipment Finance.
Key considerations before you apply
Decide whether you need ownership, balance-sheet treatment or simply use of the asset.
Match the finance term to the asset’s usable life to avoid excessive end-of-term value gaps.
Check VAT recovery, capital allowances and how payments affect cashflow and covenants.
Ask about maintenance, insurance requirements and whether the lender accepts used or refurbished equipment.
Obtain multiple quotes or use a broker to compare effective cost, not just headline rates.
How Best Business Loans helps
We do not provide loans directly; we help UK businesses find suitable lenders and brokers.
Our AI-driven matching service analyses your asset type, business profile and funding goals.
We then introduce you to lenders and brokers who are actively lending for the equipment you need.
Submitting a Quick Quote is quick and free, and helps you get a Decision in Principle or an eligibility check faster.
Use the Quick Quote to outline the asset, value and preferred term so our network can respond efficiently.
Next steps — practical checklist
1) List the equipment, age, serial numbers and intended use.
2) Decide preferred funding route (hire purchase, lease, operating lease).
3) Gather recent accounts, VAT registration and basic cashflow projections.
4) Submit a Quick Quote or speak to a specialist broker via our platform.
5) Compare offers and check all costs, early‑termination terms and end‑of‑term options.
Summary — key takeaways
Nearly any tangible business asset can be financed, from plant and vehicles to IT, catering kit and renewables.
The best product depends on ownership goals, tax and cashflow priorities, and asset life.
Best Business Loans helps match UK businesses to lenders or brokers so you can compare suitable offers quickly.
Complete a Quick Quote for an eligibility check or Decision in Principle and let us connect you to relevant finance professionals.
Need help now? Complete our Quick Quote to get matched with lenders and brokers who specialise in financing the equipment your business needs.