Large trade finance.
£500k+ funding requirements.
For established UK importers, wholesalers and distributors with sizeable supplier orders or recurring purchasing requirements. Put credible financial information, the trading cycle and a demonstrable repayment source behind the facility decision.
Discuss a substantial trade requirementNBS Funding is operated by NBS Finance. Commercial finance broker and introducer, not a lender. No client broker fee.
A £500,000+ trade finance requirement may relate to a substantial individual order or an ongoing facility supporting repeated supplier purchases. The amount needed depends on peak cash tied up before customers pay, not simply annual turnover or total sales orders.
One substantial order or a continuing facility?
| Decision | Substantial individual order | Larger ongoing trade facility |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Bridge an evidenced supplier purchase and its associated customer receipts. | Support recurring purchases across a planned trading programme. |
| Amount | The cash gap on that transaction, after the business contribution and any unfunded costs. | Peak overlapping exposure across suppliers, shipments, stock and customer payment cycles. |
| Repayment | Identifiable proceeds from the order, with a fallback if it is delayed or cancelled. | Each drawing needs an agreed repayment source and maturity; recycling headroom depends on the facility terms. |
| Control | Order evidence, supplier/customer checks and transaction documents. | Reporting, aggregate and counterparty limits, security, review dates and drawing conditions. |
A £2m annual purchasing programme does not automatically require a £2m facility. Conversely, two £750,000 supplier payments due before either customer receipt could create a £1.5m peak requirement. Model the dates and cash contribution rather than adding order values indiscriminately. An approved limit would not mean every purchase is eligible or that all of it is immediately drawable.
Follow the goods, documents and cash
- Order and supplier terms
Evidence the customer order or credible sales plan, supplier contract, deposits and payment triggers.
- Shipment and landed cost
Map transit, freight, insurance, customs duty, import VAT and storage before goods can be sold.
- Delivery and invoice
Check inspection, acceptance, cancellations and when the customer invoice becomes eligible.
- Customer receipt and repayment
Repay within the agreed trade cycle. Delays, returns or currency movements can reduce cash available.
HSBC UK publicly describes buyer loans linked to import transactions and direct supplier payments based on invoice and transport documents. Ultimate Finance describes domestic and international supplier funding, while TradeRiver describes revolving trade credit for purchases. These demonstrate market structures, not NBS access. Domestic purchases, pre-shipment deposits, forecast stock and purchase-order-only cases need separate provider confirmation.
What does a substantial trade requirement look like?
| Illustrative requirement | Commercial situation | What must be established |
|---|---|---|
| £500,000 single-order funding need | An established distributor has a documented supplier purchase and an identified business customer. | Supplier cost, cash contribution, gross margin, delivery risk and the actual collectible repayment source. |
| £1,250,000 recurring facility requirement | A wholesaler buys repeatedly while customer receipts arrive after subsequent supplier payments fall due. | Peak concurrent drawings, seasonality, inventory days, customer concentration and reporting capacity. |
| £2,000,000+ programme requirement | An established importer has several overlapping shipments and a substantial repeat order book. | Consolidated cash-flow evidence, aggregate supplier/customer exposure, financial strength and verified provider capacity. |
These are hypothetical requirements for scoping, not indicative offers, NBS capacity, lender limits or a promise of acceptance. A sizeable order without financial evidence, proven execution or an identifiable repayment source is not enough. The business may need to contribute cash, reduce the order or use a different structure.
Find the cash the facility does not cover
- Customer order value
- £1,500,000
- Supplier purchase
- £1,000,000
- Freight, insurance and assumed duty
- £75,000
- Illustrative pre-receipt requirement
- £1,075,000
- Assumed supplier funding
- − £800,000
- Business cash contribution
- £275,000
Assume funding of 80% of the £1m supplier purchase only. This percentage and the £800,000 advance are invented, not available NBS terms. Import VAT, finance charges, overheads, FX movement and delays are excluded and need separate budgeting. The £425,000 difference between sales and these costs is not net profit.
If the customer pays £1.5m, £800,000 principal must be repaid, leaving £700,000 before finance charges and other outgoings; £275,000 of that replaces the business’s cash contribution. Check when supplier funding starts and what happens if receipts arrive after maturity. Any invoice finance used to repay trade finance needs compatible security and a verified transfer process.
Choose the point in the cycle you need to fund
| Structure | Decision | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Trade finance | An evidenced supplier purchase through a defined trading cycle. | Goods, supplier, customer, country, margin and repayment must fit provider policy. |
| Purchase-order finance | Costs of fulfilling a confirmed customer order. | An order is evidence, not a lending commitment; cancellation and performance risks remain. |
| Invoice finance | Funding after goods/services are supplied and eligible B2B invoices arise. | Does not automatically cover the earlier stock purchase or shipment period. |
| Business loan | Company borrowing repaid from cash generation over agreed terms. | Repayments continue even if the individual trade is delayed or loses money. |
Prepare a lender-ready trading case
The focus is established UK companies with reliable financial records, sizeable purchases and a trading history that can support a useful assessment. Explain repeat supplier relationships, customer demand, margins and how the requirement is repaid. A trading-age or turnover figure alone is not a credit decision.
- Current accounts, management information, cash-flow forecast and existing finance/security.
- Supplier and customer identities, contracts, purchase orders, trading history and payment terms.
- For ongoing requirements: a purchasing schedule, stock/debtor records and peak overlapping exposure.
- Product specifications, resale market, margins, cancellation and return rights.
- Shipping route, Incoterms, transport documents, insurance and customs responsibilities.
- Currency exposure, landed-cost budget, business cash contribution and a downside repayment plan.
This page is not a start-up or speculative import-funding proposition. An earlier-stage or smaller requirement can still be discussed where there is a credible commercial case; no automatic decline is implied. Bespoke or perishable goods, untested suppliers, sanctions exposure, weak margins and slow-moving stock can limit appetite. A letter of credit is a conditional payment undertaking, not blanket quality or performance protection. Confirm unfunded deposits, taxes and incidental costs, and the import VAT treatment.
Questions before proceeding
Is £500,000 a minimum trade finance facility?
No. It is NBS Funding’s primary marketing focus for established companies, not a lender minimum or guaranteed capacity. Smaller requirements may be considered where commercially appropriate.
Can NBS currently arrange a £500k–£2m+ trade facility?
NBS placement capability has not been verified for this service or for a particular facility size. An enquiry begins with scope checking; provider appetite, capacity, structure and case eligibility must be established before any availability claim or introduction.
How is a large order different from an ongoing facility?
A transaction facility addresses a defined purchase and repayment cycle. An ongoing arrangement may support successive eligible purchases within agreed limits and maturity rules. Its limit should reflect peak overlapping exposure, not simply the annual order total.
Does a confirmed order guarantee funding?
No. A provider still assesses supplier and customer strength, performance risk, margin, goods, shipping, financial information and repayment. Domestic purchases or stock without a firm order need separate confirmation.
Provider material describes that provider’s product. It does not establish an NBS relationship, current case acceptance or an offer. Examples on this page are hypothetical. Prepared by NBS Funding, operated by Isaac Powell trading as NBS Finance.
Bring the requirement.
Understand the next step.
No financial documents needed to begin. Provider assessment and terms apply.