Print and signage runs on jobs that consume cash before they produce it. Materials are bought for a specific order, machine time is committed, and the client — usually another business — pays on terms once the work is delivered and signed off.
Every won job costs money first
A large signage contract means buying substrate and vinyl before a penny is invoiced. Winning more work makes the position tighter before it makes it better.
Presses and wide-format machines are capital-heavy, and downtime on one is lost capacity that cannot be recovered later.
What operators in this sector actually fund
- Materials for a large contract awarded but not yet invoiced
- Replacing or adding a wide-format printer or cutter
- Covering the gap while commercial clients pay on 30 or 60 days
- Taking on installation staff for a multi-site rollout
- Bulk substrate purchase at a better unit price
A £35,000 advance, both terms
Here is what a £35,000 advance looks like on our published rates:
| £35,000 advance | 20 weeks | 26 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Approved advance | £35,000 | £35,000 |
| Arrangement fee (5%, deducted at funding) | −£1,750 | −£1,750 |
| Paid to your account | £33,250 | £33,250 |
| Factor rate | 1.48 | 1.55 |
| Total repayable | £51,800 | £54,250 |
| Weekly payment | £2,590 | £2,087 |
| Total cost on cash received | £18,550 | £21,000 |
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.
- £25,000+ monthly turnover — consistent, and visible in the business bank account.
- Active UK business current account — this is where the underwriting actually happens.
If the need is specifically a press or cutter you will keep for years, asset finance usually costs less. An advance suits materials, wages and the invoicing gap.
Why the decision being ours matters here
Print accounts show lumpy material spend against invoices that settle later. Where we lend our own book we can read that as job flow rather than as irregular trading.
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 materials for a contract we have already won?
Yes. Funding materials and labour for awarded work is one of the most common uses in this sector. The advance is priced against overall trading rather than secured on the contract.
Should we use an advance to buy a press?
Usually not. For a machine you will hold for years, asset finance is normally cheaper. An advance suits materials, wages and the gap before invoices settle.
Our clients pay on 60 days. Is that a problem?
No. Commercial terms of 30 or 60 days are normal here and are read as the trading cycle.
How much could a print business borrow?
£10,000 to £75,000 from our own book. Advances commonly land between one and two months of turnover.
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.