Asset Finance
Asset finance for construction plant, commercial vehicles, agricultural machinery, marine vessels, aircraft, and industrial equipment. Hire purchase, finance lease, and sale-and-leaseback from specialist lenders who understand the asset - not just a credit score. £10k to £10m+, decisions within 24 hours.
Finance judged on the asset, not just the accounts
Asset finance funds a specific, identifiable machine, vehicle or vessel, and that asset provides the security. Because the lending is asset-backed rather than unsecured, rates are lower, decisions are faster, and businesses that cannot access unsecured lending can often be funded on the strength of the asset alone.
We work with specialist funders across every asset class in this section - crane and heavy lift lenders, commercial vehicle funders, agricultural lenders who understand seasonal income, and marine and aviation specialists with their own valuers. These are not generic equipment funders.
123 pages across 13 categories cover the assets we fund most often. If yours is not listed, it can almost certainly still be financed.
Hire Purchase
Own the asset at the end of the agreement. Fixed monthly payments, capital allowances claimable from the point of purchase, and equity building with every payment. The most popular structure for businesses buying assets they intend to keep.
Finance Lease
Use the asset for an agreed term at a lower monthly cost than hire purchase, because the funder retains a residual value. Flexible end-of-term options including a secondary rental period or sale with the proceeds rebated to you.
Sale & Leaseback
Release capital from assets you already own. Sell the asset to a finance company and lease it straight back, typically releasing 70-85% of current open market value while retaining full operational use.
Asset finance by category
Every asset class we fund, with a dedicated page for each machine, vehicle and vessel type.
Construction & Plant
Cranes, excavators, piling rigs, telehandlers, dumpers and access equipment. Hire purchase, finance lease and refinance from lenders who value the machine, not just the balance sheet.
Commercial Vehicles
HGVs, artics, tippers, curtainsiders, refrigerated bodies, vans, minibuses and coaches. Single units or full fleets, new and used, with decisions typically inside 24 hours.
Agricultural & Farming
Tractors, combines, machinery, livestock, grain stores, irrigation and forestry equipment. Structured around seasonal cash flow rather than a flat monthly profile.
Industrial & Manufacturing
CNC and laser cutting machines, medical and dental equipment, food processing lines, brewery kit, printing presses, ovens and garage equipment. Funded on the asset's value and working life.
Yachts & Marine
Motor yachts, sailing yachts and superyachts from every major builder. Marine mortgage and hire purchase from lenders with their own marine valuers and surveyors.
Boats & Inland Waterways
Narrowboats, widebeams, Dutch barges and houseboats, plus RIBs, motorboats and sports boats. Includes liveaboard vessels used as a main residence.
Commercial Marine
Charter fleets, trawlers and inshore fishing boats, crew transfer vessels, pilot boats and harbour craft. Lenders who underwrite against charter and contract revenue.
Aircraft & General Aviation
Microlights, gliders and autogyros through to Cessna, Piper, Cirrus and Beechcraft. Hire purchase and finance lease alongside CAA aircraft mortgage registration.
Turboprops & Business Jets
King Airs, PC-12s and TBMs through to Citations, Gulfstreams, Globals and Falcons. Specialist aviation lenders and private banks, UK and offshore registered.
Helicopters & Commercial Aviation
Piston and turbine helicopters from Robinson, Airbus and Bell, plus flight training fleets, commercial drones and CAA-qualified flight simulators.
Refinance & Capital Release
Release capital from assets you already own. Sale and leaseback, asset refinance and plant refinance typically release 70-85% of current open market value while you keep using the asset.
Asset Finance Guides
How the products actually differ, what deposit you need, how start-ups get funded, and how sale and leaseback works in practice.
Marine & Aviation Guides
The parts of marine and aircraft finance that behave nothing like equipment finance: marine mortgages, ship and CAA register security, surveys, VAT status, and deposits.
Frequently asked questions
What assets can Doulton arrange finance for?
Any business asset with an identifiable secondary market value. That covers construction plant and cranes, commercial vehicles from vans to 44-tonne artics, agricultural machinery and livestock, industrial and manufacturing equipment, medical and dental equipment, marine vessels, and aircraft. Facilities run from around £10,000 to £10m and above.
What deposit do I need for asset finance?
Most asset finance requires 10-20% of the asset value. Commercial vehicles and construction plant sit at the lower end, cranes and specialist lifting at 15-25%, and marine and aviation typically at 20-30%. Trading history, previous asset finance, and buying new from a major manufacturer all reduce the deposit required.
Should I use hire purchase or a finance lease?
Hire purchase transfers ownership to you on the final payment and lets your business claim capital allowances from the point of purchase. A finance lease keeps title with the funder, gives lower monthly payments, and suits assets you plan to refresh regularly. We model both on your specific asset before recommending one.
Can a new business get asset finance?
Yes. Specialist lenders fund new and recently formed businesses routinely because the asset itself provides the primary security. Director sector experience is the most important factor, and new businesses should budget for a 20-30% deposit rather than 10-15%.
How quickly can asset finance be arranged?
Most asset finance decisions come back within 24 hours, and higher-value or more specialist assets such as crawler cranes or aircraft typically within 24-48 hours. We settle directly with the dealer, manufacturer or private seller once approved.
Can I release capital from equipment I already own?
Yes. Sale and leaseback and asset refinance let you sell an unencumbered asset to a finance company and lease it back, releasing capital while keeping the asset in operation. Typical release is 70-85% of current open market value depending on asset type, condition, and lender appetite.
Ready to finance your next asset?
Tell us the asset, the price, and a little about the business. We source terms across 130+ specialist lenders and come back with indicative rates, deposits and monthly costs clearly compared.