Container Finance

How We Work

1. Get a Customised Quote

Our asset finance brokers will get an understanding of your business and your requirements, look at your financial forecasts and accounts, and provide a sense-check on what product(s) will best fit your needs, as well as how much you could borrow, and what the costs and terms could look like.

2. Compare Options

When you’re happy with the proposed solution, we’ll go away and compare options across the market. We’ll often present a range of choices ranging from lowest cost to most flexible, and we’ll talk you through the pros and cons of each if it’s a close decision.

3. Submit Your Application

If you’re happy with the terms we can source, we’ll handle the paperwork and submit your application for you. We’ll handle any issues and questions that may arise from the lender, and we’ll keep chasing your application to ensure funds are released as quickly as possible.

4. Receive Funds

You receive your finance– success! We’ll always be here for any ongoing questions or support you require during your loan term.

Contents

Types of Containers for Finance

There are a number of types of container your business could finnance. Whether they're suitable for your company will typically depend on what you need them for and the industry you're operating in.

Here's a look at some of the popular options:

Shipping/Freight Containers

Dry storage containers (20ft, 40ft, etc.)
Refrigerated containers
Flat rack containers
Open top containers
Tank containers for liquids/gases

Storage Containers

Standard dry storage (8ft, 10ft, 20ft, 40ft)
Refrigerated storage units
Portable site storage units
Converted portable offices

Container finance can cover the funding for new containers directly from manufacturers or the purchase of used/reconditioned units from resellers and auctions across the UK. At Clifton Private Finance, we can source lenders on your behalf - making the process simple, and stress-free. Well get you connected to one of our specialist lenders and source you the right type of container finance in a matter of days, depending on the complexity of your needs.

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Container Financing Options

Hire Purchase

A hire purchase agreement allows you to effectively rent the container(s) through fixed monthly payments over 3-5 years. At the end of the term, you automatically become the owner by making a final 'balloon' payment of the remaining value. This is a popular option for businesses wanting to own the containers ultimately.

Finance Leases

Similar to a hire purchase but with slight variations, you pay monthly rentals for an agreed term (2-7 years typically), after which you have two options:

Return the container(s) with nothing further to pay
Make a final balloon payment to purchase the container(s) at the residual value

Operating Leases

An operating lease is a rental agreement providing you with container(s) for a fixed period of 12-60 months. In the end, you simply renew for a new container or return it to the finance company with no option for purchase.

Container Refinance

If you already own containers outright, you can release cash tied up in this equipment through a refinancing agreement. The finance company will purchase the existing containers and then lease them back to you over 3-5 years.

Container Buy-Back Programs

Some financiers offer buy-back options where they commit to purchasing the container(s) back from you within a set future timeframe, such as 3 or 5 years. This gives additional flexibility.

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Financing a Container: The Application Process

Obtaining financing for containers in the UK typically follows the same rules as any other type of asset finance. There are a few crucial steps to go over, but at Clifton Private Finance we can simplify an otherwise complex. We do the heavy lifting so you don't have to. Here's a brief overview of the general steps involved in securing container finance:

Requirements Assessment - Discuss your container requirements and usage plans with our expert finance consultants. We'll assess the optimal finance product and term for your circumstances.
Container Valuations - We arrange for inspection and independent valuations of any existing containers you may want to refinance.
Proposal & Quotations - Our finance experts will model different scenarios and present you with competitive quotes from leading UK container finance providers.
Underwriting & Approvals - Once you accept the proposal terms, the finance partner will conduct credit and background checks on your business before final approval.
Documentation - Complete the finance and lease documentation, including direct debit mandates and any security registrations required.
Delivery & Payment - The financed amount is paid out to the container supplier/seller, and the container(s) are delivered to your premises ready for immediate use.
Asset Management - Simply follow the monthly payment schedule. Finance partners can help facilitate container maintenance, replacements etc. if needed.

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What are the Benefits of Container Finance?

Preserve Working Capital Container finance allows you to obtain essential equipment without committing large capital expenditures upfront. This frees up vital cash flow for other investment and operating needs.
Scale Fleet Flexibility With finance options like operating leases, you can easily scale your container fleet up or down as business requirements change without being locked into permanent ownership.
Tax Efficiency The monthly payments made on financed container lease agreements can potentially be treated as tax-deductible operational expenditures for your business.
New Equipment Access Whether financing new or used containers, you can always access the latest equipment models and specifications to facilitate your operations without a long-term commitment.
End-of-Life Management At the end of a finance term, you can simply return containers and avoid the hassles and costs associated with disposing of or selling aged assets yourself.

Container Finance Experts - Clifton Private Finance

At Clifton Private Finance, our team of container finance specialists have over 20 years of experience in sourcing competitive financing and leasing solutions for all types of containers, and more, across the UK.

With strong partnerships across leading specialist lenders, finance houses, and container suppliers, we can tailor container finance packages to meet your precise business requirements at the most cost-effective terms available. Our expertise includes:

Comprehensive container financing options (hire purchase, finance leases, operating leases, refinancing, buy-back agreements)
Access to new, used, and reconditioned containers from top manufacturers and suppliers
Flexible terms and payment structures to suit your cash flow
Tailored solutions for various container types (dry storage, refrigerated, tank, flat rack, open top, etc.)

We handle the entire process from initial consultation and needs analysis, all the way through to completing the finance documentation and container delivery. Our end-to-end service involves:

Detailed requirements assessment and expert guidance
Independent container valuations and inspection
Competitive quotes from our extensive lender panel
Streamlined underwriting and approvals process
Handling documentation and asset registration formalities
Coordinating container delivery and ongoing asset management

Whether you need a single container or an entire fleet, contact our experts today to discuss your container finance requirements. We offer a free no-obligation assessment to get started.

To find out more about our finance broker service, don't hesitate to contact us today. We offer a free and no-obligation telephone consultation at a time that suits you.

Call us today on 0203 900 4322 to discuss your requirements and explore the best container finance solution for your business.

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Frequently Asked Questions

You can find the most common questions asked about business loans below. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please email us at commercial@cliftonpf.co.uk.

What is the meaning of asset finance?

Asset finance is a way of spreading the cost of equipment used by businesses over time, allowing companies to keep a strong, consistent cash flow whilst minimising upfront costs.

There are many asset finance products to choose from when considering asset finance, such as hire purchase, operating leases and finance leasing, so there are plenty of options to consider for your every business need.

What is the asset financing structure?

The asset financing structure is the financial arrangement organised between businesses and lenders to secure funding to acquire equipment that is directly related to the operation and growth of the business.

Asset financing typically involves several key elements, which are as follows:

Assets used as collateral:

A lender will likely secure finance against the asset itself or other assets, which can be tangible or intangible.

Tangible Assets: vehicles, construction equipment, real estate, or inventory.
Intangible Assets: intellectual property, accounts receivable, revenue streams.

Types of Asset Financing:

The following is a list of several products available to business owners as options for asset finance:

Leasing: Businesses that choose to lease do not outright own the asset and pay a monthly cost to use the equipment at a much lower cost than purchasing the equipment.

Hire Purchase (HP): A standard choice for businesses, this option allows you to eventually own the asset you’re paying for after the payment period has ended.

Asset-Based Lending (ABL): A business borrows money against an asset as collateral, and it’s commonly used to acquire working capital for operational or growth needs.

Loan-to-value (LTV): The loan-to-value ratio of assets is the calculation of a percentage which helps to determine the risk of the loan itself. A high LTV ratio typically indicates a higher interest rate for businesses as it’s far riskier to finance.

A low loan-to-value ratio is generally more comfortable for lenders, lower repayment periods and lower fees ensure that the asset can be repaid easily. If an asset depreciates over time, however, and becomes under-collateral, this means that the lender wouldn’t be able to fully recover the amount owed if the asset is repossessed.

Should there be a major decrease in collateral value, lenders might seek to acquire additional collateral from the business owner, or even increase fees and interest, impacting cash flow.

What is the difference between asset finance and a business loan?

Business loans are products designed for general use throughout businesses. They can be used for general business needs, including asset finance, which has the added benefit of the asset not necessarily being used as collateral for the loan itself.

Asset finance, however, is more specific: its use is for the acquisition of assets and is restricted to only that. Lenders will use the asset itself as collateral for improved lender comfort, being reclaimed in the event that you do not pay your asset finance.

One major distinction between asset finance and business loans is interest rate: asset finance interest is typically lower compared to unsecured business loan interest, which is notably higher.

What are the risks of asset finance?

Should you fail to repay your asset finance, you can face an impacted credit score and ultimately lose the asset in a repossession.

Depending on the asset you’re funding, there’s also a risk of depreciation - particular risk for vehicle finance.

In some cases, if a machine you’re financing is essential to the functioning of your business operations, then factors such as depreciation or loss of efficiency of the equipment can cause lender discomfort, leading to slightly higher interest rates.

Who needs equipment financing?

Equipment financing is typically used by growing businesses looking to limit the impact on cash flow from an expensive piece of equipment by spreading the cost over a period of time.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can use equipment finance to limit the loss of capital and scale up operations without a massive upfront cost to deal with. Accessing equipment finance isn’t limited to a single industry, its uses spread from healthcare with MRI scanners, to construction, manufacturing, agriculture and more.

How much do you want to borrow?

Container Finance - Everything You Need to Know

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The Complete Guide to Container Finance

with Jonathan Moffatt & Sam Hodgson

Types of Containers for Finance

Shipping/Freight Containers

Storage Containers

Container Financing Options

Hire Purchase

Finance Leases

Operating Leases

Container Refinance

Container Buy-Back Programs

Financing a Container: The Application Process

What are the Benefits of Container Finance?

Container Finance Experts - Clifton Private Finance

Frequently Asked Questions

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