Quantum Asset Finance review: equipment finance for UK SMEs

Quantum Asset Finance, which trades as Quantum Funding, is a specialist UK asset finance lender for small and medium sized businesses. It funds equipment through hire purchase and leasing, and it works only through commercial finance brokers rather than taking applications direct. Smart Funding Solutions is an independent broker, so we can put your equipment purchase in front of Quantum and compare its offer with the rest of the asset finance market. You can read more on Quantum Asset Finance's own website.

01About Quantum Funding

Quantum Funding describes itself as a specialist asset finance lender for SMEs. Its website says it has lent more than £150 million to over 15,000 SMEs, partners with more than 250 commercial finance brokers, and delivers same day underwriting decisions on average. Trade press reported that it launched around 2015, and in 2019 it was described as a subsidiary of Investec, with its broker team working alongside Investec Asset Finance.

Quantum's approach is case by case. It highlights quick decisions and payouts, an experienced back office, and an online portal where customers can track repayments and access documents. Its site also explains the support available to customers who run into financial difficulty during an agreement, which is worth knowing before you sign any finance.

Quantum Asset Finance is one of the lenders on our panel. Smart Funding Solutions is an independent broker and is not part of Quantum Funding.

02What Quantum Funding funds

Product	What it is for	Typical size	Typical term
Hire purchase	Spreading the cost of equipment you will own at the end	From around £2,000 up to £500,000	Around 2 to 5 years
Fixed term lease	Using equipment for a set period without owning it	From around £2,000 up to £500,000	Around 2 to 5 years
Minimum term lease	Leasing with a minimum period, then flexibility to continue	Case by case	Case by case

Quantum looks at each case individually, and its case studies include construction equipment and renewable energy projects. If you are deciding between owning and leasing, our guides to business hire purchase and finance leases set out the differences in plain English.

03Who Quantum Funding suits (and who it may not)

• SMEs buying everyday business equipment, from a single machine to a modest fleet, where a quick decision matters.
• Construction and trade businesses buying plant and tools. Our page on construction finance covers the sector more widely.
• Businesses investing in energy saving or renewable equipment, such as solar or battery storage. See our guide to green business finance.
• Smaller purchases that some larger lenders would not consider, with deals starting from a few thousand pounds.

Quantum may not suit very large deals above around £500,000, specialist assets that need a niche funder, or businesses looking for terms longer than about five years. Because it works only through brokers, you cannot apply to it direct.

04What Quantum Funding looks at

Quantum underwrites each case individually. For SME equipment finance, lenders typically look at:

• A supplier quote or invoice describing the equipment, its age and price.
• How long the business has been trading and its legal structure.
• Recent accounts or, for smaller deals, bank statements.
• Credit history of the business and its directors.
• Whether a deposit is available and whether a personal guarantee will be given.

Well established businesses buying mainstream equipment from recognised suppliers usually see the quickest decisions.

05Pros and cons

• Pro: same day underwriting decisions on average, according to Quantum.
• Pro: case by case underwriting rather than a rigid scorecard.
• Pro: considers smaller deals from a few thousand pounds.
• Pro: online portal for managing your agreement.

• Con: broker only, so there is no direct route.
• Con: deal sizes top out at around £500,000.
• Con: personal guarantees are typically required from directors.
• Con: leases are fixed commitments that can be costly to end early.

06Applying through a broker vs going direct

With Quantum, a broker is the only way in. More importantly, asset finance offers vary a great deal between lenders on deposit, term, end of term options and how they treat older or used equipment. Comparing several lenders before you commit is the simplest way to avoid overpaying.

We look at the equipment, your business and how long you plan to keep the asset, then search the market and approach suitable lenders with a well presented case. You make one application and get a clear comparison. It is free to enquire; any broker fee is disclosed separately before you proceed. Try our instant quotes tool to compare lenders in minutes.

07Alternatives to Quantum Funding

• Armada Asset Finance: another SME focused lender for smaller equipment deals, worth comparing on modest purchases.
• County Finance Group: offers hire purchase and finance leases across a broad range of assets, and can suit businesses that may also want VAT funding.
• Haydock Finance: a good alternative for deals up to around £1 million or where the asset is a little more specialist.