Business Finance in Devon
Banking experience. Broker independence. Funding for Devon businesses from a panel of 150+ lenders.
AIM Financial Solutions is a commercial finance broker based in Moretonhampstead, on the edge of Dartmoor. We help Devon businesses raise the funding they need to manage cash flow, buy equipment, acquire property and grow.
Our founder, Shaun Elliott, spent over 25 years in commercial finance, including roles at NatWest and RBS. Since 2019 AIM has arranged over £150m of funding for UK SMEs. We are whole-of-market, so we find the right lender for your business rather than the product one bank wants to sell.
Business finance we arrange in Devon
- Invoice finance and factoring: release up to 90% of the value of your unpaid invoices within days, so you are not waiting 30, 60 or 90 days to be paid.
- Asset finance: spread the cost of vehicles, plant, machinery and equipment through hire purchase or leasing.
- Commercial mortgages: buy, refinance or release equity from trading premises or investment property.
- Business loans: secured and unsecured loans, including government-backed Growth Guarantee Scheme lending.
- Stock and trade finance: fund stock purchases and supplier payments without tying up working capital.
- Acquisition and refinance: fund a business purchase, or move existing borrowing onto better terms.
Why Devon businesses choose AIM
- Local and accessible. We are based in Devon and meet clients face to face across the county.
- Banker’s insight. We know how lenders assess a case, because we have sat on the other side of the desk.
- Proposals lenders take seriously. Every case starts with a full review of your business and finances. We then write a detailed credit proposal covering strengths, weaknesses and how risks are mitigated.
- Whole of market. Our panel of 150+ lenders runs from high street banks to specialist and alternative funders.
- Clear advice. We explain how each facility works and what it costs before you sign, and we stay with you once it is live.
Recent Devon funding
Paignton leisure business: £395,000 commercial mortgage
We refinanced the trading premises and operating company of a long-established Paignton leisure group onto a new commercial mortgage with Lloyds, on much improved terms and with additional working capital. The business now has a funding structure that supports its next phase of growth, and the client left us a five-star Google review.
North Devon visitor attraction: £2m+ commercial mortgage refinance
We consolidated all of an Ilfracombe visitor attraction’s existing loans into a single new commercial mortgage at a much improved rate. The owners will save over £250,000 in interest over five years, and the refinance cost them nothing: no fees and no legal expenses.
Sectors we support across Devon
We arrange funding for businesses in the sectors that drive Devon’s economy:
- Tourism, hospitality and leisure
- Agriculture, food and drink (see farm machinery finance)
- Manufacturing and engineering, including aerospace and defence supply chains
- Construction, trades and property (see construction factoring)
- Haulage, logistics and distribution
- Recruitment and staffing (see recruitment invoice finance)
- Retail and wholesale
Areas we cover
We work with businesses throughout Devon, including Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Newton Abbot, Totnes, Dartmouth, Exmouth, Honiton, Tiverton, Cullompton, Okehampton, Tavistock, Barnstaple, Bideford and Ilfracombe.
We also arrange finance for businesses across Cornwall, Somerset and the rest of the UK.
How it works
- Free initial conversation. Tell us what you need the funding for and how your business is performing.
- Full review. We look at your accounts, bank statements and debtor ledger where relevant.
- Credit proposal. We prepare a detailed submission and approach the lenders best suited to your case.
- Compare offers. We set out each offer side by side, with the costs and terms explained.
- Completion and beyond. We manage the process to drawdown and support you once the facility is running.
Frequently asked questions
Are you a lender?
No. AIM is a credit broker. We work with a panel of over 150 lenders to find the most suitable funding for your business.
Do I need to be based in Devon to work with you?
No. We are based in Devon and know the local market well, but we arrange funding for businesses across the UK.
My bank has declined my application. Can you still help?
Often, yes. A bank decline usually reflects that lender’s appetite rather than your business’s prospects. Specialist lenders, alternative funders and the Growth Guarantee Scheme can all be options.
How quickly can funding be arranged?
It depends on the product. Invoice finance and asset finance can often be in place within a few weeks. A commercial mortgage typically completes in 4 to 6 weeks, and with the right lender it can sometimes be done in a couple of weeks.
Do you charge a fee?
Details of our fees and how we are paid are set out at the foot of this page.
What information will I need?
Typically your latest filed accounts, recent management figures, business bank statements and, for invoice finance, an aged debtors report.
Talk to a Devon finance broker today
Book a free, no-obligation review of your funding options.