Cleaning and facilities management is one of the most payroll-heavy sectors we fund. Labour is almost the entire cost base, it is paid on a short cycle, and the commercial clients who provide the best contracts are usually the slowest to settle. Winning a large contract can make cash tighter before it makes it better.
Why winning a contract can hurt
A new commercial contract needs staff hired, trained, DBS-checked, insured and equipped before the first invoice is raised. Those costs land in weeks one to four. The first payment may not arrive until week ten. Growth is funded out of working capital.
Because margins are thin and volume-driven, there is rarely a cash buffer large enough to absorb several contracts starting at once.
What operators in this sector actually fund
- Payroll while onboarding staff for a new contract
- Equipment, machinery and consumables for a site
- Vehicles for a mobile cleaning or facilities team
- Bridging 60- and 90-day commercial payment terms
- Training, DBS checks and certification for new staff
A £25,000 advance, both terms
Here is what a £25,000 advance looks like on our published rates:
| £25,000 advance | 20 weeks | 26 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Approved advance | £25,000 | £25,000 |
| Arrangement fee (5%, deducted at funding) | −£1,250 | −£1,250 |
| Paid to your account | £23,750 | £23,750 |
| Factor rate | 1.48 | 1.55 |
| Total repayable | £37,000 | £38,750 |
| Weekly payment | £1,850 | £1,490 |
| Total cost on cash received | £13,250 | £15,000 |
Illustrative, using our published factor rates. Your own rate is set by underwriting and is stated in pounds on your agreement before you sign it.
Whether you qualify
Four minimums. Meeting them is not the same as being approved — it is the point at which applying is worth your time:
- UK limited company or LLP — incorporated and registered at Companies House.
- 6+ months trading — six months is the least we can work with.
- £10,000+ monthly turnover — consistent, and visible in the business bank account.
- Active UK business current account — this is where the underwriting actually happens.
If the pressure is specifically unpaid invoices from creditworthy commercial clients, invoice finance may cost less. Tell us the shape of the problem and we will say which fits.
Why the decision being ours matters here
Payroll-heavy businesses with thin margins are exactly the profile automated scoring treats harshly. Because we lend our own money, the decision is made by people who can see that heavy wage outflows against steady contract receipts is the sector working normally.
Solvo funds £10,000 to £75,000 from its own book, usually within 24–72 hours of final documents. One decision, made by us — your file is not shopped around a panel. Above £75,000 we arrange the facility with a lending partner.
About 3 minutes. No obligation. Limited companies and LLPs only.
Frequently asked questions
Can we fund payroll with this?
Yes. Bridging payroll while waiting on commercial payment terms is one of the most common uses in this sector.
Our margins are thin. Does that disqualify us?
No. Underwriting looks at turnover consistency and how the business current account is run, not at whether the margin looks like a different industry's.
We are waiting on unpaid invoices. Is this the right product?
It can be, and it is faster. But if the issue is specifically invoices owed by creditworthy commercial clients, invoice finance is often cheaper. We will tell you honestly which fits.
How fast can we be funded?
24–72 hours after final documents. Have three to six months of business bank statements ready.
Illustrative only. Solvo Funding is a UK direct lender for limited companies and LLPs and also acts as an intermediary for facilities above £75,000. Advances are subject to underwriting; meeting the minimum criteria is not the same as being approved and we cannot guarantee an offer. Finance for limited companies and LLPs is generally not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.