Asset Based Lending searches surge 85% as SMEs shift toward scalable finance – Time Finance
Analysis of data from Semrush found that average monthly searches for ABL climbed from 390 in February 2025 to 720 in February 2026.
Search demand for Asset Based Lending (ABL) has risen sharply, with data from Time Finance showing an 85% year-on-year increase in online interest.
Analysis of data from Semrush found that average monthly searches for ABL climbed from 390 in February 2025 to 720 in February 2026, pointing to growing awareness and appetite among UK business owners for more flexible funding solutions.
ABL allows businesses to unlock capital secured against assets such as invoices, plant and machinery or property.
By combining multiple funding lines into a single facility, it provides scalable access to finance that can grow alongside operations.
Ed Rimmer, chief executive officer at Time Finance, said: “We’ve seen a clear increase in searches and enquiries for Asset Based Lending in recent months, which points to a growing awareness of ABL as a flexible and scalable funding solution for businesses underserved by traditional lending.
“Importantly, it also signals a shift away from quick-fix finance and business owners taking out multiple loans to plug immediate cashflow gaps. Instead, more business owners appear to be exploring finance that can support them over the longer term and evolve alongside their growth.”
The trend is also being reflected in real-world adoption.
Midlands-based engineering subcontractor Speedflex Engineering secured a £650,000 multi-product ABL facility in 2025, comprising invoice finance and asset finance, helping to stabilise cashflow while funding investment in machinery and recruitment.
Rimmer added: “The benefit of ABL is that it can ease cashflow pressure and allow businesses to focus on the long-term.
“When SMEs engage with funding that is built around their assets and designed to scale with their operations, it creates a stronger foundation for sustainable growth and more confident decision-making.”
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