Is invoice finance a loan?

Short answer: Not always.

Invoice finance is often confused with a traditional business loan, but the two work differently in both structure and intent.

How invoice finance works

Invoice finance lets a business access cash that is already owed to them through unpaid invoices. Instead of waiting 30, 60, or 90 days to be paid, the business can unlock a portion of that invoice value upfront and receive the balance once the invoice is settled.

The funding is tied directly to a specific invoice and is typically short-term, repaid when the customer pays.

How that differs from a loan

A traditional business loan usually:

Is based on the overall credit profile of the business
Has a fixed term and regular repayments
Appears as ongoing debt on the balance sheet
Is not linked to specific invoices or revenue timing

Invoice finance, by contrast:

Is linked to completed work and issued invoices
Is designed to smooth cashflow timing gaps
Is usually repaid automatically when the invoice is paid
Grows or shrinks in line with sales, rather than locking a business into fixed repayments

Is invoice finance considered debt?

From an accounting perspective, invoice finance can still be classified as a form of debt, depending on the structure and jurisdiction. However, operationally, many businesses view it as a cashflow management tool rather than long-term borrowing, because it is tied to revenue already earned.

How Fundtap approaches invoice finance

Fundtap provides invoice-aligned funding designed specifically to bridge short-term cashflow gaps of up to 90 days.

Key differences include:

On-demand access with no obligation to draw funds
Transparent fees quoted upfront
No long-term lock-ins
Funding that aligns to real invoice timing, not assumptions about future revenue

This makes invoice finance a practical option for businesses that are profitable but experience timing mismatches between when they get paid and when expenses fall due.

When invoice finance makes sense

Invoice finance can be useful when:

Customers pay on extended terms
A business is growing faster than its cash reserves
Seasonal or one-off opportunities create short-term pressure
The issue is timing, not profitability

If you’re unsure whether invoice finance or another option is right for your business, speaking with your accountant or advisor is a good place to start.