Retail fixtures finance
Display units and shop fittings are bought by the shopful rather than one at a time, which is the only way they reach a fundable size.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance a retail fixtures?
Yes in principle, but only as a package. Retail fixtures — gondola bays, slatwall, display tables, mannequins and till counters — are soft assets with a weak second-hand market, and individual items are far too small to finance. A shopful bought together can reach a workable advance, assessed on the company’s trading record with a personal guarantee. Used fixtures are rarely funded. The point that catches retailers out is that fixed and built-in units are treated as part of a leased building, leaving only the free-standing items with any recovery value at all.
Used kit: Rarely — the used shop fittings market is oversupplied from closures, so funders see little value and generally decline second-hand fixture purchases.
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What would a retail fixtures cost per month?
Asset finance is quoted on a flat rate, so that is what the buttons show, with the equivalent APR beside it. Your exact rate depends on the asset, the term, the deposit and the lender.
Prime is an established, profitable business with clean credit. Specialist covers newer businesses and credit that needs explaining — the asset itself carries part of the risk, which is why finance is often available where an unsecured loan is not.
Representative example: on Hire Purchase, borrowing £25,000 over 48 months at a 5.15% flat rate (equivalent to 9.9% APR representative), you would repay around £628 a month; total amount repayable approximately £30,150, of which £5,150 is the cost of finance. This calculator is for illustration only — it is not a quote or an offer of finance, and the rate and repayments you are offered will depend on the asset, term, deposit and your circumstances. CW Asset Finance is a credit broker, not a lender, and may receive a commission from the lender that funds your agreement. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Rates shown are indicative flat rates with the equivalent APR alongside — the two are not the same number. Indicative only and does not constitute a quote or an offer of finance. Subject to status and lender approval.
How lenders treat it
Shop fittings are a soft asset with an extra twist: the used market is dominated by liquidation stock, so second-hand gondolas and display units are constantly available at prices that make recovery pointless. Funders know this and lend on covenant. The useful distinction to draw for clients is between free-standing and fixed. A gondola bay, a mobile display table or a mannequin can at least be lifted and moved, which gives a theoretical, if modest, value. A bonded counter, a built-in display wall or fitted changing rooms cannot, and they belong to the landlord’s building in practice. Packages weighted towards free-standing items and equipment read better. Expect the funder to want trading history and a guarantee, and expect new-start retail to be hard regardless of what is on the invoice.
Makes and models we fund
Examples of the machines we are asked to fund. This is not an exhaustive list — if what you are buying is not here, it does not mean we cannot fund it. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.
| Machine | What it is |
|---|---|
| Tegometall gondola shelving | Gondola shelving bays and end caps |
| HMY Group shelving systems | Supermarket shelving and merchandising |
| Shopkit slatwall and gridwall | Wall mounted display panel systems |
| Universal Display display tables and plinths | Retail display tables and risers |
| Hans Boodt mannequins | Full body and bust mannequins |
| Bonaveri mannequins and busts | Premium display mannequins |
| Checkpoint Systems EAS pedestals | Entrance security tagging system |
| Nedap iD Cloud RFID system | RFID stock accuracy system |
| Toshiba Global Commerce TCx 800 till counter | Till point hardware and counter |
| Zebra MC3300 handheld scanners | Stock scanning and picking terminals |
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Who buys one
Usually an independent retailer fitting out a new unit or reconfiguring an existing shop for a different product mix. Convenience stores changing symbol group and needing new shelving and display to brand standard are a frequent case. The trigger is generally a refit deadline set by a lease, a franchise agreement or a seasonal trading window. Garden centres, pharmacies and farm shops reworking their display layouts apply for the same reasons.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
How it is treated for tax
Bought on hire purchase, business plant and machinery normally qualifies for capital allowances on the full cost even though you pay for it monthly, which is a large part of why hire purchase is the common structure. On a finance lease you generally set the rentals against profit instead. The rules change between budgets and your position depends on how you trade, so treat this as the direction of travel and get your accountant to confirm the detail before you commit.
Retail fixtures finance questions
Why can I not finance a few display units?
The advance would sit below most funders’ minimums, and the cost of underwriting and documenting a small agreement outweighs the return. Fixtures reach a fundable size when a whole shop is being fitted, which is also when a retailer genuinely needs to spread the cost rather than absorb it.
Are free-standing fixtures better than fitted ones?
From a funder’s point of view, yes, because they can be moved and retain a little value. Fitted joinery becomes part of the premises and cannot be recovered. It is rarely a reason to change your shop design, but it does explain why a funder asks what is being built in.
Can I add stock to the finance?
No. Stock is not an asset finance proposition — it is consumed and sold, so there is nothing for the funder to hold. Businesses needing help with stock funding are looking at a different type of facility altogether, and it is better to separate the two conversations.
Does the type of retail I am in matter?
It does. Funders form views by sector based on loss experience, and some retail categories are harder than others regardless of the individual business. That is why going to funders who already write your sector is more productive than applying broadly and collecting declines on your credit file.
Will a guarantee definitely be required?
For most independent retailers, expect one. With no meaningful security in the assets, the personal guarantee is what balances the funder’s position. Larger companies with strong balance sheets are sometimes assessed without one, but that is the exception rather than the rule in this part of the market.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
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Not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Get your quote
Tell us what you’re looking to fund and Conor will come back to you personally — usually the same day.
Prefer to talk? Call 0333 772 4864 · serving Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wakefield, Selby, Tadcaster & across North & West Yorkshire.
If the bank has already said no
A decline from one lender reflects that lender’s appetite, not the whole market’s.