SME awareness of specialist finance rises as web searches jump by 30%
Awareness of specialist business finance among UK SMEs is on the rise as new search data from Semrush* reveals an increase in online demand for tailored funding solutions such as asset finance and invoice finance.
The latest figures show that searches related to specialist finance have increased over the past 12 months, with asset finance and invoice finance enquiries rising by 26% and 19% respectively**, highlighting a growing preference for more flexible funding options.
This marks a notable shift from Time Finance’s own survey data in 2024, which revealed low-level awareness of specialist funding among UK SMEs. At the time, almost 40% of businesses had never heard of or used specialist ABL solutions, while 58% had never explored finance options beyond their main bank.
Ed Rimmer, CEO of Time Finance, commented: “Historically, many SMEs have behaved like consumers when it comes to finance, often defaulting to familiar products such as standard loans simply because they’re options businesses understand and feel comfortable with. However, the current geopolitical climate is redefining what long-term financial planning looks like, and this is forcing SMEs to look beyond traditional routes as they actively seek out and engage with a broader range of solutions.
“The 26% rise in searches for asset finance and 19% rise for invoice finance suggest that more business owners are moving beyond general finance. Not only this, but we’ve also seen monthly searches for asset based lending increase by a staggering 85% year-on-year. These figures are showing a strategic openness to specialised solutions that better suit business needs.”
More broadly, the recent Semrush data suggests demand for commercial finance is also accelerating, with overall searches for business finance increasing by 26% year-on-year, from 1,900 in 2025 to 2,400 in 2026.
Ed continues: “What’s particularly encouraging is that this isn’t just a spike in interest; it points to a more informed and intentional approach to funding. SMEs are increasingly recognising that different challenges require different solutions, whether that’s unlocking working capital through invoice finance or funding growth through asset finance.
“As awareness grows, so too does the opportunity for businesses to make smarter, more strategic funding decisions. The role of lenders now is to ensure that this momentum continues, by making specialist finance more accessible, more transparent and easier to understand for the businesses that need it most.”
Asset finance and invoice finance solutions allow businesses to unlock the value of their machinery or turn unpaid invoices into immediate working capital, helping to improve cashflow, support day-to-day operations and enable growth without relying on traditional lending routes.
* Semrush, February 2025 – February 2026
** Asset finance searches increased from 1,900 to 2,400 and invoice finance increased from 1,600, to 1,900 between February 2025 and 2026.