What Hilton Baird Financial Solutions does

Hilton-Baird Financial Solutions Limited is an FCA-regulated commercial finance broker incorporated in England and Wales (company number 03832884), founded in 1997 and headquartered in Southampton with a registered office at 110 Cannon Street, London. The firm introduces UK businesses to funding facilities across a comprehensive product catalogue — invoice finance (factoring, recourse and non-recourse variants, confidential, reverse, export, CHOCCS and single-invoice structures, plus invoice discounting), asset based lending, asset finance (hire purchase, leasing, asset refinance), credit insurance, trade finance, business loans, alternative finance, sale and leaseback, commercial currency exchange, and supplementary solutions including equity finance, commercial mortgages and debt collection — sourced from a panel of more than 40 lenders spanning high-street banks (Barclays, Lloyds, RBS), specialist invoice financiers (Aldermore, Close Brothers, Bibby, Regency Factors, Castlebridge), asset-based lenders (Leumi ABL), and others (Investec, PNC Business Credit).

The business operates a traditional intermediary model with no proprietary technology platform described. Its revenue is generated through success-based commission paid by the funder on each introduced facility, typically earning over the multi-year duration of that facility, with an alternative structure of transparent success fees paid by the client where appropriate. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led: a direct phone-based sales team (0800 9774833), website-driven quote tools, content marketing through a resource centre and blog, social media presence, and a partner-referral channel targeting accountants and business advisors. The firm is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (number 730445) and holds memberships of UK Finance, NACFB and Secured Finance Network.

Hilton-Baird serves UK SMEs across construction, wholesale, manufacturing, recruitment, IT and telecoms, printing and publishing, professional services, haulage and distribution, import/export, care, retail and rental sectors, addressing cash flow, refinancing, funding-raising and benchmarking needs. It is a subsidiary of FRP Advisory, a national business advisory group with 34 offices and over 800 team members including 107 Partners across the UK and overseas, providing group-level distribution and cross-referral reach. Day-to-day leadership includes Director Evette Orams; the firm has won Invoice Finance Broker of the Year at the Business Moneyfacts Awards in four of the past six years, and reports a 100% recommendation rate among clients responding to its satisfaction survey.

Name

Hilton Baird Financial Solutions

Legal name

Hilton-Baird Financial Solutions Limited

Website

https://hiltonbairdfinancial.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hilton-Baird Financial Solutions is a UK FCA-regulated commercial finance broker founded in 1997, introducing SMEs to invoice finance, asset-based lending, trade finance, and other funding facilities through a panel of 40+ lenders, and operating as a subsidiary of FRP Advisory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Finance Brokerage

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

Debt Capital Raising Intermediation (Private Debt/Mezzanine/Bonds) (FSAEALAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Commercial Mortgage Brokerage (FSAEAEAB)

Keywords

• Commercial finance brokerage
• Invoice finance solutions
• Asset based lending
• Business funding broker
• Trade finance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Southampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Commission from funders: Hilton-Baird is typically remunerated by way of success-based commission from the funder chosen by the client. The commission is generated over the duration of the facility and is broadly similar from each funder. The company states its introductions are based on which facility represents the right fit for the client's business, not commission maximization.
2. Success-based fees from clients: Alternatively, clients may pay Hilton-Baird Financial Solutions a success-based fee for arranging finance solutions. The fee is transparent from the outset and varies on a case-by-case basis dependent on individual business needs. In exceptional circumstances, a combination of commission from the funder and a success fee from the client may be agreed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hilton-Baird Financial Solutions is an independent, FCA-regulated commercial finance broker that introduces UK businesses to suitable funding facilities from a panel of 40+ lenders. Its core offering centres on invoice finance (factoring and discounting variants), supplemented by asset based lending, asset finance, credit insurance, trade finance, business loans, alternative finance, sale and leaseback, and commercial currency exchange. The broker earns commission from funders and/or success-based fees from clients for arranging these facilities.

Product overview

Hilton-Baird Financial Solutions operates as an independent FCA-regulated commercial finance broker offering a comprehensive suite of funding solutions. The core offering centres on Invoice Finance (comprising various factoring and discounting variants) supplemented by Asset Based Lending, Asset Finance, Credit Insurance, Trade Finance, Business Loans, Alternative Finance (crowdfunding and peer-to-peer), Sale and Leaseback, and Commercial Currency Exchange. The company acts as an intermediary introducing businesses to funding facilities from a panel of lenders. Products range from core cash flow solutions like invoice finance to specialist offerings including payroll finance for recruitment businesses, CHOCCS credit-insurance backed factoring, and cross-border invoice discounting for international traders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Invoice Finance Brokerage Brokerage service introducing businesses to invoice finance facilities, comprising factoring (where the funder manages the sales ledger) and invoice discounting (where the business retains credit control) against outstanding invoices. Designed for UK businesses seeking to unlock cash tied up in unpaid invoices to improve working capital and cash flow.
• Asset Based Lending Brokerage Brokerage service arranging secured lending facilities using business assets such as debtors, inventory, and plant and machinery as collateral, including stock finance variants. Targets UK businesses with substantial working-capital tied up in assets who need flexible revolving funding.
• Asset Finance Brokerage Brokerage service arranging asset finance facilities including hire purchase, leasing, and asset refinance to enable UK businesses to acquire or release equity from equipment, vehicles, and machinery.
• Credit Insurance Brokerage Brokerage service arranging trade credit insurance protection for UK businesses against debtor insolvency or protracted default, including credit-insurance-backed factoring facilities (e.g., CHOCCS).
• Trade Finance Brokerage Brokerage service arranging specialist funding for international trading activities including import finance, export finance, and bank-guaranteed letters of credit for buyers and sellers in cross-border transactions.
• Business Loans Brokerage Brokerage service arranging traditional loan facilities for UK businesses requiring capital for growth, acquisitions, or operational needs, sourced from a panel of banks and alternative lenders.
• Alternative Finance Brokerage Brokerage service arranging non-traditional funding including crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending platform solutions for UK businesses seeking capital outside of conventional bank facilities.
• Sale and Leaseback Brokerage Brokerage service arranging sale and leaseback transactions where a UK business sells owned assets to a funder and leases them back, releasing working capital while retaining operational use of the assets.
• Commercial Currency Exchange Brokerage Brokerage service arranging foreign exchange solutions enabling UK businesses to exchange currencies at competitive rates for international trade purposes and to manage FX exposure on cross-border transactions.
• Supplementary Funding Solutions (Equity, Commercial Mortgages, Debt Collection) Brokerage service arranging supplementary funding solutions including equity finance (investment capital in exchange for a share in the business), commercial property mortgages (purchase or refinance of commercial property assets), and debt collection services to assist with recovering outstanding customer debts. Targets UK businesses seeking additional capital beyond debt finance or support with credit control.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% client satisfaction recommendation rate
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• UK FinancecoreOthersMembership/association with UK Finance, the leading industry body for the UK banking and finance industry. Affiliation ensures maintenance of highest industry standards.
• National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB)coreOthersMembership/association with NACFB, the national trade body for commercial finance brokers. Supports industry standards and best practices.
• Secured Finance NetworkcoreOthersMembership/association with Secured Finance Network. Affiliations to leading industry bodies ensure highest level of standards.
• FRP AdvisorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company - a leading national business advisory firm with 34 offices and more than 800 team members, including 107 Partners, across the UK and overseas. Hilton-Baird is part of FRP.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Commercial Finance Limited: Long-established UK commercial finance broker arranging invoice finance and asset-based lending facilities for businesses. Comparable scale and product offering.
• Rangewell: UK commercial finance broker that matches SMEs with lenders across business loans, asset finance, invoice finance, and commercial mortgages. Closest direct competitor to Hilton-Baird, operating a similar independent brokerage model with a multi-funder panel.
• Acorn Commercial Finance: UK commercial finance broker arranging invoice finance, asset finance, and business loans for small and medium-sized businesses. Comparable target customer (UK SMEs) and product mix, making it a direct head-to-head competitor.
• Capstone Financial Solutions: Independent UK commercial finance broker specialising in invoice finance, asset-based lending, and business loans for SMEs. Similar SME-customer focus and intermediary revenue model.
• ABC Finance Group: Specialist UK invoice finance broker arranging factoring and discounting facilities for SMEs. Direct competitor in Hilton-Baird's flagship invoice finance category with a similar funder-panel intermediary model.
• Tiger Finance Brokers: UK broker arranging commercial finance facilities including invoice finance, asset finance, and business loans for SMEs. Operates similar FCA-regulated broker model serving UK SMEs.
• Clifton Asset Finance: UK-based independent commercial finance broker specialising in asset finance, hire purchase, leasing, and commercial loans for SMEs. Directly comparable business model, customer profile, and product breadth.

Broad incumbents

• Bibby Financial Services: Large UK invoice finance and asset-based lending provider — both a panel funder for Hilton-Baird and a competitor serving SMEs directly. Overlap makes it both a partner and a competitor.
• Funding Circle: UK-headquartered SMB lending platform operating directly as a lender via P2P and balance-sheet models. Larger, publicly-listed incumbent that competes with brokers by offering businesses direct access to finance, partly disintermediating brokers like Hilton-Baird.

Emerging players

• iwoca: UK fintech providing small business working capital loans (and invoice finance via IwocaPay) directly to SMEs. Represents the digital-direct model that competes with traditional brokers for SME finance business, particularly in lower-ticket, faster-decision segments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HiltonBairdFS
• Facebookfacebook.com/HiltonBairdGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hilton-baird-financial
• Instagraminstagram.com/hiltonbaird_financialsolutions

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hilton Baird Financial Solutions