CAPITALFLOW PROMISES QUICK DECISIONS
Capitalflow is an on-lender for the SBCI-backed Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme (EELS), which provides qualifying viable businesses and primary producers with access to affordable long-term finance to invest in the energy efficiency of their enterprise. Loans of €10,000 up to €150,000 can be applied for under EELS and can be for up to ten years in duration. Loans can be used to fund the purchase of energy efficiency assets such as solar panels, biomass systems, refrigeration, lighting systems, heat pumps etc.
Chief Commercial Officer Stephen Byrne says Capitalflow has seen significant demand from SMEs to augment their energy supply with commercial solar, and to replace plant with alternative renewable heat sources.
“Now is the time for SMEs to review their energy costs and initiate a journey towards more efficient energy usage and reduced carbon emissions,” he says. “Replacing an increasing carbon energy cost with alternative energyefficient products that can be financed at a fixed rate removes energy cost uncertainty.”
Capitalflow was established in 2016 to provide asset finance to SMEs. The company has evolved into a broadbased finance house fulfilling most of the mainstream business finance needs of SMEs. Invoice discounting was made available in 2017 and commercial property funding was introduced in 2019.
Although the bulk of the invoice discounting product is across a client’s ledgers, Capitalflow will also factor single invoices where a client needs to finance a significant contract. “We fund plant, machinery, printing equipment, vehicles and, in a more recent development, medical and dental equipment. The value of deals can range from €5,000 to several million,” Byrne explains. “Businesses are starting to grow again and there is pressure on cashflow,” Byrne adds. “There was strong demand through 2022 for invoice discounting, and we expect that to continue. Last year was our strongest year ever in commercial real estate, and 60% of deals involve property owners refurbishing or altering buildings to improve their value and potential income.
“We see ourselves as an SME. similar to many of our customers. Most of our relationship managers have a very good idea whether or not they can finance a deal on the basis of a phone call. We often say that the quick no is almost as valuable as a quick yes, so people know where they stand.”