Tag: Finance Loans (page 1 of 2)

Tractor Finance UK

5th July 2021 / admin / Comments Off

Asset Finance focused on you from Richmond Asset Finance

We know how important it is for your business to have access to the right equipment and machinery. But we also know that it can be difficult to purchase these vital resources without making a significant dent in your working capital. Our Asset Finance department at Richmond Asset Finance can help you find the right solution for you and your business. We offer a comprehensive range of finance options, flexible repayment terms and competitive rates.

What is Asset Finance?

Asset Finance is a loan that you can take out to buy or hire assets that your business requires to succeed. This can cover a wide range of equipment, but in agriculture this is primarily machinery.

How will Asset Finance help my business?

Asset finance is an alternative way of purchasing equipment, rather than borrowing from your bank. You can start using the asset straight away without having to find a large lump sum to put down, and you can pay back the cost of the machine over a flexible repayment plan that suits your business cash flow. Put the machine to work straight away and it is starting to payback its cost.

There are a number of types of asset finance contracts some will suit your business more than others. These include:

Hire Purchase

Hire Purchase agreements involve you paying an initial deposit followed by fixed term instalments for the agreed term of the loan after which the asset becomes yours. Instalments are arranged to suit your cash flow, eg, monthly, quarterly or annually.

Finance Lease

This is very similar to hire purchase but the VAT is paid on the instalments rather than in full up front. The customer does not automatically own the asset at the end of the agreement.

Farm Finance Near Me

10th May 2021 / admin / Comments Off

Richmond Asset Finance are one of the most reputable sources of agricultural and farm finance in the North West. We are experts in farm finance and all agricultural funding.

Richmond Asset Finance is an all embracing term we use to describe all types of farm and agricultural finance we offer to the rural and country business sectors and which can also be described as Agricultural Finance, Equestrian Finance, Farm Finance, Land Finance and Horticultural Finance. Finance can be provided for holiday complexes, caravan parks, caravan sites, properties with agricultural restrictions, land, buildings, working farms, non-working farms, nurseries, garden centres, smallholdings, estates, fisheries, farm shops and generally all types of rural type situations.

What is the purpose of farm finance?

Any legal purposes including but not being limited to repaying debt, repayment of an overdraft, diversification, working capital, business start ups, reducing outgoings, purchases of any kind and development of property or development of business.

Richmond Asset Finance completely understand farm finance, rural & agricultural funding. You can be assured of a personal and expert service at all times. Every case is handled personally by one of the partners. One of our main aims is to reassure you that you never become a just a ‘number’. It also helps that we have a lengthy and healthy relationships with our lenders.

Richmond Asset Finance are one of the most reputable sources of rural & farm finance in the UK. We guide and advise you throughout your application process, making sure your individual needs and circumstances always come first. Although we co-operate with a diverse range of banks and financial institutions, we are above all, independent. This means we always tailor a solution that best meets your requirements, not the banks We provide farm finance and refinance solutions, bridging finance packages, impartial advice, support and a level of customer service envied by our competitors.

What sorts of asset finance are there?

9th April 2021 / admin / Comments Off

There are several types of asset finance and a few minor variations. Each has its uses, benefits and disadvantages but all broadly follow the principles of asset finance given above. A general overview of what’s available follows:

Hire purchase

This is a very similar model to hire purchase for individuals. The hire purchase provider retains ownership of the asset to be leased over the term of the agreement and leases it to the business for agreed regular fixed payments. Businesses may make a larger initial payment followed by smaller payments on an agreed schedule. At the end of the agreed period, the business can choose to buy ownership of the item outright with a further payment.

Finance lease (or capital lease)

This differs from some other asset finance in that the business is only ever renting the assets concerned. Again, payment is made with regular payments to an agreed schedule. This normally lasts until the finance provider has recouped the purchase value of the asset. In some instances, the finance company may allow the business to share in a percentage of the sale value of an item once it has been sold. The business does not have the option to purchase the asset outright.

Tax-wise, it may be possible for a business to offset the rental payments against their profits. However, this is not possible with long funding leases. The finance company retains the right to any capital allowances, but the business can reclaim VAT.

Asset refinancing

There are basically two forms of asset refinancing: the first is simply using a company’s assets (physical or otherwise) as security against a loan.

The second – more properly called asset-based lending – is where a business sells an asset to asset finance provider for an agreed lump sum. The business then leases back the asset sold from the finance provider – thus repaying the lump sum paid.

Asset refinancing differs from a simple secured loan in that a business can use physical assets they may only partially own as collateral, but only up to the level of equity they have in that item.

Contract hire

This form of asset financing relates to vehicles only. A business wishing to expand its fleet will approach a contract hire provider who will source the vehicle(s) required. The business pays a regular amount over the agreed leasing period.

Maintenance and servicing costs remain the responsibility of the provider, rather than the business. For larger companies with multiple vehicles fleet management services may also be included in the base contract hire costs.

Contract hire (also sometimes referred to as vehicle asset finance) carries the benefit of relieving a business of the time and budget-consuming tasks that accompany normal vehicle ownership. The provider is responsible for finding and buying a new vehicle, as well as all maintenance and servicing costs. At the end of the leasing period, the provider also assumes responsibility for the disposal of the vehicle.

Farm machinery finance options through Richmond Asset Finance

30th March 2021 / admin / Comments Off

Richmond Asset Finance are pleased to announce that we offer a wide range of financial payment facilities on most of our new and used tractors and farm machinery.

We offer agricultural and farm machinery finance across the UK. Richmond Asset Finance’s success is reliant on its specialist service and preserving a competitive edge in a very competitive industry. We ensure that our interest rates are monitored regularly so that they remain at the sharp end of the market.

We can provide finance for a wide variety of agricultural assets, from cultivators, tractors and combine harvesters to livestock, robotic milking machines and crop sprayers, and we’ll guide you through every part of the agriculture finance process.

Having helped thousands of farm owners achieve business growth, we can help you with a tailored flexible agriculture finance funding solution from £10,000 to £500,000. We’ll even take the seasonality of your business into account when tailoring your payment plan.

Speak to one of our specialists today for more information.

Plant & Machinery Financing Solutions from Richmond Asset Finance

17th February 2021 / admin / Comments Off

The investment in effective agricultural plant machinery is essential for farmers and and contractors within the construction industry, in order to raise working capital and boost growth.

Construction and agricultural refinance releases funding when your business needs it more by advancing cash against uncertified applications for payment or staged invoices, which gives a safety net for finances, meaning businesses are no longer held back from making staff and supplier payments or taking on projects due to delayed payments. This innovative funding solution for the construction industry is sustainable and practical for all involved, providing pre-payments against applications and milestones for sub-contractors in which contracts with customers often create a barrier to traditional financing and refinancing options.

Through our construction finance solutions, our team at Richmond Asset Finance can help ensure your business and farm has a regular cash flow in addition to raising more capital for you to work with, which in turn will make it easier to run your business, pay staff, cover overheads and increase turnover. Not only this, but should you need to purchase new assets to enable the highest standard of service for your customers, construction finance can allow you to do so.

We provide construction finance and refinance for a range of different construction machinery and yellow plant.

Tip for farm crime prevention

22nd October 2020 / admin / Comments Off

When winter is approaching and clocks go back an hour as British Summer Time officially ends, it is a good time for farmers to review their security.

Farms in the autumn and winter months are dark and secluded places and can prove an inviting target for thieves who will be looking to steal farm vehicles, fuel, tools and equipment.

Statistically, October and November are the two months of the year when police receive more reports of burglary than at any other time.

With their isolated countryside locations, farmhouses, outbuildings, barns, garages and sheds are all prey for would-be rural thieves, who use modern technology including drones, Google Earth and sat navs to pinpoint their entry and escape routes.

But there are a variety of measures you can take to protect your property, land and livestock and discourage potential thieves.

Fuel

Fuel thieves often target farms under the cover of darkness when they are able to drain tanks within minutes if they are not properly protected.

Thieves use anything from basic plastic tubes to pumping apparatus to siphon off hundreds of litres of red diesel from tanks and farm machinery, causing huge financial loss and inconvenience for farmers.

Tip

To prevent theft, fit fuel bowsers with wheel clamps or hitch locks. Tanks should be housed in a secure location – within a shed (in line with regulations) or in a compound, such as a locked metal cage.

Consider fitting a remote fuel monitoring gauge and alarm system. Install movement sensors, CCTV and lighting around the tank.

Store machinery inside sheds using layers of security and ensure tractors are locked up at night. If machines must be kept outside, park with fuel caps against a fence or wall.

Lighting and CCTV cameras

Isolated farm buildings down dark lanes are easy for thieves to approach and hide in the darkness. Make sure you light up areas in and around your home and buildings.

Tip

Motion-sensor security lighting and CCTV cameras are a good crime prevention and detection tool. Thieves don’t want to be seen.

Install lighting and CCTV in access locations, vulnerable areas and around the perimeter of farm buildings, yards and houses. Consider audible and monitored intruder alarm systems.

With improving technology in this area and a reduction in the cost of CCTV systems, they can be bought for fairly modest sums. Many suppliers offer subscription services with text alert systems linked to mobile phones, tablets or computers, allowing you to monitor the farm 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

Farmers are embracing new technology involving infrared beams that set off voice warning systems and relay live footage to mobile phones.

The funds your farm needs to grow with Richmond Asset Finance

2nd September 2020 / admin / Comments Off

Richmond Asset Finance are a consultant lender in Manchester, here to help your business survive, thrive and grow.

We offer a range of flexible funding solutions to allow you to upgrade or invest in new equipment, or release cash from your company’s existing assets. The decisions we make are not based on whether we have been able to tick a series of boxes on a form, or whether your situation neatly fits into a category that suits us. What your business needs will always come first.

How can asset finance Manchester help your business?

Whether you’re looking to fund new vehicles for your farm, equipment or machinery for your farm, enable expansion plans, consolidate debts or provide an injection of working capital; Richmond Asset Finance can help:

Hire Purchase
Leasing
Refinancing

Asset Types

Asset-based lending Manchester (ABL) encompasses business funding that releases capital using the value of an asset as security. This asset may be equipment or vehicles, and the capital raised on it can be used to buy more equipment, update or expand premises, or facilitate a management buy-in or buy-out.

What are the benefits of Agricultural Finance?

13th August 2020 / admin / Comments Off

What are the benefits of agricultural finance?

As a farmer, it can be difficult to purchase the equipment and machinery you need. The costs can be huge and can eat into capital that is much needed for other necessities. You may not be aware, but there is a solution to this in the form of agricultural finance. Outlined below is the importance of agricultural finance.

Farmers need to purchase new inputs, such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation water and more. Agricultural finance can help to make these purchases easier for farmers. If the seed of a high yielding crop is readily available for farmers, then the productivity of the farm is improved.

Smaller farms may not have the need for agricultural finance for items such as seeds or pesticides but larger farms may need help with bulk purchases of these items. Seeds, fertilizers and irrigation water can prove to be a highly expensive continuing need which agricultural finance can help to meet.

You can cover land costs

If you are looking to buy new farmland as a budding farmer or simply increase the amount of land you already have, then agricultural finance can help cover the land costs you may incur. The land you need will depend on the type of farming you are planning on doing.

In order to apply for finance for land, you will need to calculate how much land you need and what kind of land you are looking for. Once you have your loan approved, you will be able to move forward with your endeavour. Buying land with your own money may not be feasible as a start-up farm, which is why finance is a good option.

You are better equipped for a crisis

Farming can be a difficult business. You are never able to predict what will happen to your crops or livestock, and are at the mercy of customers and competitors. Some farming is seasonal, which means you may only earn money during certain times of the year.

An agricultural loan can be used to protect yourself during the various ups and downs of your business. You can also use it for operational costs as well as costs that occur from damages. It is better to be prepared for every eventuality, which is why having agricultural finance is important to all working farms.

Small businesses boosted by bounce back loans

12th May 2020 / admin / Comments Off

The government have announced its intention to offer bounce back loans to small businesses. The key terms of these loans are:

businesses will be able to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 and access the cash within days.
loans will be interest free for the first 12 months, and businesses can apply online through a short and simple form.

Small businesses will benefit from a new fast-track finance scheme providing loans with a 100% government-backed guarantee for lenders.

Rishi Sunak said the new Bounce Back Loans scheme, which will provide loans of up to £50,000, would help bolster the existing package of support available to the smallest businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The scheme has been designed to ensure that small firms who need vital cash injections to keep operating can get finance in a matter of days, and comes alongside the £6 billion awarded in business grants, supporting 4 million jobs through the job retention scheme and generous tax deferrals supporting hundreds of thousands of firms.

The government, which has been consulting extensively with business representatives about the design of the new scheme, will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee for the loan and pay any fees and interest for the first 12 months. No repayments will be due during the first 12 months.

The loans will be easy to apply for through a short, standardised online application. The loan should reach businesses within days- providing immediate support to those that need it as easily as possible.

Will Coronavirus affect my loan?

8th April 2020 / admin / Comments Off

Loan and credit card payments to be frozen for three months in UK.

The financial regulator has announced plans to freeze loan and credit card payments for up to three months as part of emergency measures for consumers impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. They have also announced plans to help businesses that are struggling in the current climate.

The new measures which could come into force by 9th April is aimed at consumers and renters who are not benefiting from existing relief measures that have targeted homeowners – with mortgage payment holidays – or business owners.

The FCA has advised that banks and credit card providers will have to ensure that consumer credit ratings are unaffected by any of the measures.

If you are looking for a loan or bridging finance for your business in the agricultural sector. Feel free to give us a call or email us today and we will be happy to help!

Tips for improving your HGV’s fuel efficiency

17th February 2020 / admin / Comments Off

Whilst you can’t control the price of fuel, you can control the amount you use with these driving tips for better fuel efficiency.

HGVs can guzzle up fuel, which isn’t only bad for your business’ budget, but also for the environment.

HGV drivers can learn to improve their vehicle’s fuel efficiency by making a few simple changes to their driving habits, here’s how.

Use cruise control

Most modern HGVs are equipped with a cruise control function for keeping the vehicle running at a constant speed. Reducing unnecessary fluctuations using cruise control can help you to save a significant amount of fuel.

Plan the route

Careful route planning can help you to get from a to b quickly and efficiently, preventing you from using unnecessary fuel whilst getting lost and taking detours. It can also help you to avoid routes featuring sharp inclines which require more fuel to navigate.

Reduce speed

The speed that you drive at can have a significant impact on the amount of fuel that your HGV uses. Studies have shown that reducing your speed to an average of 50mph on the motorway can help to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%!

Don’t idle

Whilst it may be tempting, particularly on very cold days, to keep your engine idling and your heater and radio switched on when you are stationery, this is one of the worst ways to waste fuel!

Avoid braking sharply

Hitting the brakes sharply and rapidly accelerating can both eat up fuel far faster than driving at consistent, steady speeds. Simply paying closer attention to what is happening ahead of you on the road and anticipating when to brake sooner can make for a smoother ride, use less fuel, and reduce the risk of an accident.

Sometimes, if you’re driving a very old HGV, then the most effective way of increasing its fuel efficiency is to upgrade to a newer model.

If you require financial help or advice with upgrading your HGV, speak to our team here at Richmond Asset Finance by giving us a call on 0113 288 3277. We provide a range of flexible vehicle finance and asset finance services.

Benefits of wheeled excavators over truck-mounted excavators

25th January 2020 / admin / Comments Off

Could upgrading from a truck-mounted excavator to a wheeled excavator make your business more efficient?

Wheeled excavators are easy and affordable to operate and transport from one area to another. They are ideal for use in a variety of fields including forestry, construction, farming, landscaping and demolition. Their mobility also makes them an attractive choice for small contractors.

The core functionality of a wheeled excavator is just the same as a truck-mounted excavator, but instead of being mounted onto a truck they move around independently on their own wheels.

Long-term cost savings – Whilst the initial outlay for a wheeled excavator tends to be a little higher than for a truck-mounted one, they offer more long-term savings as they don’t require additional vehicles or machinery to move them from one site to another. Fuel costs for transporting a wheeled excavator are usually lower than a truck-mounted excavator too.

Increased lift capacity – Wheeled excavators typically have a better lift capacity than truck-mounted excavators, particularly when using a two-piece articulated boom.

Movability – Rather than having to be transported by a large, lumbering truck, wheeled excavators can simply be driven across the site or on the road from one location to the next, usually by the same person who operates them. The small and nimble size of the wheeled excavator also makes it more agile and manoeuvrable when working on-site, allowing it to work efficiently in tight spaces.

Versatility – Wheeled excavators are available with a variety of different attachments, including the mono-boom, two-piece boom, dozer blade, rototilt, cleanout bucket, and outrigger. The huge variety of attachments available for wheeled excavators makes them extremely versatile and reduces the need to invest in multiple machines.If you require help or advice with financing an excavator, speak to our team here at Richmond Asset Finance. We provide a range of flexible vehicle finance and asset finance services to help you to grow your business. To discuss your requirements in more detail, give our team a call on 0113 288 3277.

Ideas for supplementing your farm income during the festive season

28th December 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Cash-in on Christmas by diversifying your farm business during the festive season.

According to NatWest, two thirds of farms have now diversified their business to generate alternative revenue streams throughout the year and boost their income.

Many farms that have successfully diversified report that their additional ventures have become a vital part of their business.

Whilst the winter months are typically much quieter for agricultural businesses, with a little creativity they can offer excellent opportunities for exploring new business ideas.

Here are a few of our favourite ideas for diversifying your farm business during the festive period.

Holiday letting

Many families and friends book holidays and weekends away to meet up and celebrate together over the Christmas holidays. Rather than letting unused land or farm buildings stand empty and unused during the winter months, why not convert them into holiday lettings. This can be particularly lucrative if your farm is in a scenic location.

Grow Christmas trees

Nothing beats the smell of a real pine Christmas tree, and according to the British Christmas Tree Growers Association over 7 million trees are sold in the UK each year. Choose a type of fir tree that will thrive in your farm’s land and soil type and start growing fir trees to sell locally each Christmas.

Run Christmas events

If you’ve got the land and buildings, why not run a series of festive events for the public in the lead up to Christmas? Popular activities and events could include turning a kids’ petting zoo into Santa’s grotto, running kid’s Christmas craft activities or adult wreath making workshops.

Turkeys and geese

Rearing free-range turkeys and geese can provide an additional source of income around Christmas time when demand for high quality meats for Christmas dinner soars.

To find out if you can apply for rural finance to help with your diversification project, get in touch with our team here at Richmond Asset Finance to discuss your plan in more detail.

CNG Fuels to provide UK’s HGVs with first carbon neutral fuel

5th December 2019 / admin / Comments Off

A carbon neutral fuel will soon be available to businesses running HGVs to help them to dramatically reduce their carbon emissions.

Based in the West Midlands, CNG Fuels are the UK’s top supplier of environmentally friendly bio-CNG (compressed natural gas).

The firm recently announced that they would be launching a new carbon-neutral fuel for heavy goods vehicles in 2021.

The new fuel will use manure to produce carbon neutral biomethane. Manure gives off the powerful greenhouse gas methane, but by using this methane as fuel it prevents it from entering the atmosphere.

With HGVs accounting for 4.2% of the UK’s carbon emissions, the introduction of a carbon neutral fuel has the potential to significantly reduce the UK’s overall emissions.

Philip Fjeld, CEO of CNG Fuels said: “We want to help decarbonise freight transport and enable fleet operators to meet net zero targets now, supporting the UK’s climate targets.”

CNG Fuels already supplies many businesses operating HGVs with a renewable biomethane fuel sourced from food waste. The company has become the fuel supplier of choice for several large companies including John Lewis, Hermes, Asda and Argos.

The company reports that switching from diesel to bio-CNG can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% and cut fuel costs by 35-45%, making it a win-win for businesses operating HGVs.

CNG Fuels are also developing a network of public HGV refuelling stations on major routes throughout the country to support electric and hydrogen powered HGVs in the future.

Need some help financing new HGVs for your business? Here at Richmond Asset Finance we provide a range of flexible vehicle finance and asset finance services.

For more information or to discuss your requirements in more detail, give our team a call on 0113 288 3277.

Fleet management tips for a more efficient fleet

29th November 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Fleet managers are responsible for employing techniques and processes to help maintain a productive and efficient fleet.

An efficient commercial fleet will get the job done quickly and cost-effectively with minimal hassle. Maintaining an efficient fleet of vehicles is no simple feat though, it is a process that requires constant monitoring and continual improvement.

Use the tips in this blog to reduce running and maintenance costs and increase your fleet’s efficiency.

Service vehicles regularly

Keeping on top of vehicle servicing and maintenance will keep your fleet looking great and running efficiently whilst also helping to prevent costly accidents and breakdowns.

Recruit experienced and professional drivers

Driver behaviour and habits can have a big impact on fuel efficiency and the amount of maintenance a vehicle requires. Only recruit experienced drivers with excellent references and make it a habit to give all drivers regular training and feedback on performance.

Use telematics

Telematics collect data about driver and vehicle performance to help you to monitor driver performance for training purposes. This data should then be regularly reviewed and used to help drivers to adopt safer and more efficient driving techniques.

Invest in the right vehicles

Choosing vehicles that are best suited to your business’ specific requirements will have the biggest impact on your fleet’s efficiency.

Just some of the factors you should pay careful attention to when shopping for a new vehicle are:

Size – An unnecessarily large vehicle will waste fuel.
Type of journey they suit – Will your vehicles be travelling short or long distances? Some vehicles will be more efficient for short journeys and others for long distance journeys.
Emissions – The more environmentally-friendly your vehicles are, the less tax you will be required to pay.

It’s also important to recognise when updating your fleet is the most cost-effective option.

If you require financial help or advice with updating your commercial fleet, speak to our team here at Richmond Asset Finance by giving us a call on 0113 288 3277. We provide a range of flexible vehicle finance and asset finance services.