Asset finance

CCTV and security system finance for businesses

Spread the cost of CCTV, alarms, access control and installation with leasing, hire purchase or a loan. See how each works and what lenders need from you.

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Amount: From £10,000 to £20 millionLarger amounts through secured, property and asset-based finance
Security: Secured or unsecuredOptions compared for your case
Suitable businesses: Sole traders to limited companiesPartnerships and LLPs too
Lender panel: 300+ lendersWhole-of-market search

In short

Lease a security system if you want a low upfront cost, maintenance bundled into one payment and an easy upgrade when the technology moves on.

Choose hire purchase if you plan to keep the system for years and want to own it. Use an unsecured loan when the project includes building work or you want ownership from day one. Installation and cabling can usually be financed if the quote itemises them.

About cctv finance

CCTV and security system finance lets a business spread the cost of cameras.

CCTV and security system finance lets a business spread the cost of cameras, recording equipment, alarms, access control and intercoms, including installation, over fixed monthly payments. The usual routes are leasing, hire purchase and, for larger projects, unsecured business loans. Smart Funding Solutions is a broker, not a lender: we search our panel of 300+ lenders for finance that suits the system you need and your business.

Funding needs

What can be financed

Finance is used by retailers, warehouses, construction sites, hospitality venues, offices, car dealerships, schools and landlords of commercial property, among others.

CCTV cameras, network video recorders and monitoring software
Intruder and fire alarm systems
Access control, door entry and intercom systems
Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and perimeter protection
Installation, cabling and commissioning
Maintenance and monitoring contracts, where bundled into the agreement

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Finance options for security systems

Leasing

With a lease, the lender buys the equipment and rents it to you for a fixed term. You pay a fixed monthly rental, often with a small initial payment, and you do not own the equipment. Leases can bundle equipment, installation and maintenance into one payment, and it is often easier to upgrade or extend the system at the end of the term. Lease rentals are generally treated as a business expense for tax purposes; confirm the treatment with your accountant.

Hire purchase

With hire purchase you pay a deposit and fixed instalments, and own the equipment at the end. It suits systems you expect to keep for many years. As the owner for tax purposes you may be able to claim capital allowances.

Unsecured business loans

For a larger security upgrade that includes building work, or where you want to own the system outright from day one, an unsecured business loan provides a lump sum repaid monthly. Directors usually give a personal guarantee.

Why businesses invest in security systems

Deterring crime: visible cameras and alarms can discourage theft, vandalism and trespass.
Evidence: recorded footage can help with police investigations, customer disputes, workplace incidents and insurance claims.
Insurance: some insurers require or take account of approved security systems when setting cover and premiums.
Staff safety: access control and monitoring help protect people working alone or late.

If your cameras capture images of people, you need to comply with data protection law. The Information Commissioner's Office publishes guidance for organisations using video surveillance.

Choosing a system before you finance it

Survey the premises to identify risk areas, entry points and blind spots
Decide on image quality, storage period and remote viewing needs
Check the system integrates with existing alarms or access control
Ask what maintenance, support and training are included
Get a written quote showing equipment, installation and any service elements separately

Security installers: offering finance to your customers

If you install CCTV and security systems, pay-monthly options can make larger quotes easier for your business customers to accept. We can explain how introducing customers to asset finance through a broker works.

Underwriting

What lenders look at for security system finance

Trading history and bank conduct

recent statements show whether the monthly payment is affordable alongside existing commitments.

Credit profile

of the business and, for smaller or younger firms, the directors.

The installer

lenders are more comfortable with an established, accredited installer and a clearly itemised quote.

The balance of hardware and services

cameras and recorders have some resale value, but cabling, installation and monitoring do not. The more of the quote that is labour and services, the more weight lenders put on the business itself.

New businesses can often access security system finance, though a deposit or personal guarantee may be required. Finance of £25,000 or less to sole traders and small partnerships can be regulated consumer credit. We arrange finance for businesses only.

Checklist

Documents to have ready

The installer's written quote, separating equipment, installation and any maintenance or monitoring
Recent business bank statements
Latest filed accounts, if the business has them
Company details and ID for the directors or owners

Side by side

Compare your options

How the main business finance structures work. Lenders set their own terms, so treat this as a guide to the questions to ask.

Option	How you repay	Security	Often used for
Unsecured business loan	Fixed instalments, usually monthly	No charge over assets; a personal guarantee is usually required	Growth, stock, tax bills and cash flow
Secured business loan	Fixed instalments, often over a longer term	A charge over property or other assets	Larger sums, property and refinancing
Revolving credit facility	Interest on what you draw; repay and redraw	Varies by lender and case	Recurring or uneven cash flow gaps
Merchant cash advance	A share of future card takings	No charge over assets	Card-taking businesses with uneven months
Asset finance	Regular payments over the life of the asset	The asset being financed	Equipment, vehicles and machinery
Invoice finance	Settled as customers pay their invoices	Your unpaid invoices	Businesses waiting on customer payment

General information only. Every lender has its own criteria, and all finance is subject to status.

Leasing or buying: which is better?

	Buy outright	Lease	Hire purchase
Upfront cost	Full price	Low	Deposit
Ownership	Immediate	None	At the end
Upgrading	At your cost	Easier at term end	At your cost
Maintenance	Separate	Can be bundled	Usually separate

Security technology moves quickly, so leasing appeals to businesses that want to keep systems current. Buying or hire purchase can work out cheaper over the long run if you plan to keep the equipment. For more on how equipment funding works, see our guide to business equipment financing.

How we arrange CCTV finance

Share the quotesend us the installer's quote and a few details about your business and premises.
Choose a structurewe discuss whether a lease with bundled maintenance, hire purchase or a loan fits how long you will keep the system.
Approach lenderswe take the case to suitable lenders on our panel.
Compare offerswe set out the monthly cost, total cost and end-of-term position of each.
Lender decision and installationthe lender underwrites and decides; once you sign, it usually pays the installer.

Decisions can come within a few working days once a lender has everything it needs. It is free to enquire; any broker fee is disclosed separately before you proceed. You can explore funding options online with your quote to hand.

FAQs

Questions clients ask

Do I need to follow data protection rules if I install CCTV?

Yes. If your cameras capture images of identifiable people, the footage is personal data and data protection law applies. You will usually need signage, a clear purpose for recording, secure storage and a retention policy. The Information Commissioner's Office publishes guidance for organisations using video surveillance.

Can a new business get CCTV finance?

Yes, a new business can often get CCTV finance, although a lender may ask for a deposit or a personal guarantee from the directors. With little trading history to review, lenders lean more heavily on the owners' credit profiles, the installer's reputation and how much of the quote is hardware rather than labour. A clear, itemised quote from an established installer helps. If you are just starting out, our guide to start-up business loans covers the wider options.

Can I include installation and monitoring costs in CCTV finance?

Yes, installation, cabling and commissioning can usually be included, and some leases also bundle maintenance and monitoring into one monthly payment. Lenders do look at the split, though. Cameras and recorders have some resale value, while labour and services do not, so the more of the quote that is services, the more weight a lender puts on the strength of your business. Ask your installer to show equipment, installation and service elements separately.

Does applying for security system finance affect my credit score?

It can, depending on the stage. Some lenders use a soft search at the early stage, which does not show to other lenders, but a full credit search usually happens when you make a formal application. For smaller or younger firms, lenders often check the directors' personal credit files as well as the business. Comparing lenders through a broker helps avoid making several full applications in a short space of time.

What happens at the end of a CCTV lease?

At the end of a CCTV lease you usually choose between upgrading to a newer system, extending the lease, or returning the equipment, because the lender owns it throughout. Exact options depend on the agreement, so check the end-of-term terms before signing. If you would rather own the system outright at the end, hire purchase is the usual alternative, with a deposit and fixed instalments.

Keep exploring

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