Sector

Agricultural equipment finance for the independent UK dealer network.

Captive finance keeps the franchised dealers stocked. We finance the independent and mid-market agricultural machinery network the captives leave behind.

Market reality

The sector, as it actually trades.

The UK agricultural machinery market is worth approximately £2.5 billion annually. Most major OEMs run captive finance programmes that keep their franchised dealers fully stocked. Below that top tier, the picture changes sharply. Independent dealers and smaller manufacturer networks have no equivalent. Their distribution is constrained by their own working capital, and the customers they serve - the farms, contractors, and groundcare operators that depend on them - feel the consequences.

How we help

What our facilities actually do for you.

We provide revolving dealer inventory and floor plan facilities that allow independent and mid-market dealers to take stock on terms and repay at point of sale. The model is straightforward: manufacturers are paid on shipment, dealers carry more inventory without capital strain, and end-customers see better availability and shorter lead times. Both sides of the chain sell more as a result.

Why it works

The structure behind the deal.

This is a proven model in automotive, applied to an agricultural sector where it is structurally absent below the top tier. Collateral is tangible and serialised. Facilities are short-duration. The relationships that drive this market are trust-based and long-running - exactly the kind of environment a relationship-led lender is built for.

What a deal looks like

What this looks like in practice.

A representative facility structure for this sector. The numbers and outcomes are illustrative, not a quote.

Agriculture

Combine harvester hire purchase

A used self-propelled combine harvester, around five years old, replacing an ageing fleet machine on a UK arable farm.

Structure

Facility
Hire purchase
Total
Indicative £180,000 to £280,000
Term
5 to 7 years to match the asset’s working life
Deposit
10 to 20 per cent typical
Repayment
Equal monthly instalments; seasonal payment profiles available to align with harvest receipts

Pricing

Rate
Fixed annual rate for the term, set against asset condition and trading history
Setup fee
1.75% one-off on the facility total
Ongoing fees
None. No audit, admin, or monitoring fees

Security

Title
Asset on the farm’s balance sheet from day one; capital allowances claimed by the operator
Security
Asset-backed; personal guarantee where appropriate

How it works

Combine harvesters are durable assets with active second-hand markets, so the funder takes asset security plus a sensible deposit and structures around the harvest cashflow. Fixed monthly cost gives the farm a predictable line item; seasonal profiles can flex larger payments into August and September when grain receipts arrive.

Outcome

The farm replaces an ageing combine before a major service window, harvest capacity rises, contracted acreage is covered comfortably, and the older machine is sold privately to clear the secondary balance.

Representative example only, not a quote. Indicative sizes, pricing, and structures shown are illustrative and subject to credit assessment and final agreement. Last Mile Capital provides finance facilities to limited companies, partnerships, and other commercial borrowers; we are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and do not provide consumer credit.

Get in touch

Let’s talk about your business.

Whether you are a manufacturer needing dealer finance, an operator needing fleet capital, or a funder looking for serialised, asset-backed origination. We would like to hear from you.

For customers Talk to our team Manufacturers, dealers, operators For funders Funder enquiries Wholesale capital partners

Or reach us directly

We reply within 1 working day.