Finance Assets arranges asset finance for film production companies, helping UK producers fund cinema cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, post-production suites and virtual production stages.
Asset finance for film production companies spreads the cost of that equipment over 2 to 5 years, so the kit pays for itself across many productions instead of being hired job by job. It suits production companies that shoot often enough for owning to beat hiring, and studios investing in stages and post-production.
Written by Marcus Wright, founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, in financial services since 2008 and a commercial finance broker since 2019. Last reviewed October 2026.
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The short version
- Asset finance lets film production companies spread the cost of equipment over 2 to 5 years.
- Owning kit usually pays where it would otherwise be hired for many shoot days each year.
- Lenses and grip hold their value well. Camera bodies lose value faster, so they suit shorter terms.
- Lenders fund the trading company that keeps the kit, not a company set up for a single film.
- Finance Assets arranges asset finance for production companies trading as limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Equipment covered | Cinema cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, sound, drones, post-production suites, storage, LED volume walls and production vehicles |
| Terms | Usually 2 to 5 years, shorter for camera bodies and longer for lenses, grip and stages |
| Paid upfront | Hire purchase: often a 10% deposit plus VAT. Leases: usually 1 to 3 rentals in advance |
| New or used | Both, including used cinema lenses and cameras from established dealers |
| Extras | Accessories, monitors, cases and installation can usually go on the same agreement |
| Who we help | Limited companies and LLPs, plus sole traders and partnerships on business agreements over £25,000 |
Equipment we finance for film production companies
Lenders will fund most of the equipment a production company owns, from the camera package to the edit suite. Our audio-visual equipment finance guide covers the individual kit in more detail.
| Equipment group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Cameras | Cinema cameras, monitors, wireless video and camera support. See camera finance |
| Lenses | Prime and zoom sets, anamorphic lenses and lens control systems |
| Lighting | LED panels, fresnels, HMIs and lighting control. See lighting finance |
| Grip | Dollies, track, cranes, jibs, gimbals and stabilised heads |
| Sound | Location recorders, radio microphones and booms. See recording finance |
| Aerial | Commercial drones and camera payloads |
| Post-production | Edit and grading suites, sound mixing, shared storage and servers. See editing finance |
| Studios | LED volume walls, camera tracking, studio lighting rigs and infinity cove equipment |
| Vehicles and power | Camera cars, grip and lighting trucks, unit vehicles and generators |
Owning versus hiring production kit
Most production companies hire some kit and own the rest. Owning on finance usually makes sense when:
- The kit is used most weeks. Add up a year’s hire charges for the package. If they come close to the yearly finance payments, owning usually wins.
- It holds its value. Good cinema lenses and grip can be worth a large share of their price years later. Camera bodies are replaced by new models more quickly.
- It can earn when idle. Some companies hire their own kit out between productions. Check the finance agreement and your insurance allow it before you do.
- The kit is specialist. Hard-to-hire items, such as particular lens sets or a stabilised head, can be worth owning even at lower use.
Kit used only on occasional shoots is usually cheaper to hire. If you plan to rent equipment out as a main line of business, see our section on finance for rental companies.
Production companies and single-production companies
Many films and series are made through a company set up for that one production. Lenders rarely fund equipment through these, because the company is designed to close when the production ends.
- Use the trading company. Equipment finance normally sits with the parent or main production company that keeps the kit across productions.
- Show a spread of work. Commercials, corporate work, broadcast commissions and features together make income look steadier to a lender.
- Tax credits are separate. Production tax credits are paid against a production’s costs. Lenders look at the company’s regular trading income when assessing equipment finance, not credits it expects to receive.
Studios, virtual production and post-production
Studios and post houses invest in fixed equipment that earns from many clients.
- Virtual production. LED volume walls, camera tracking and render servers are high-value and can be funded with installation. Lenders look closely at booking history.
- Post-production. Edit and grading suites, sound mixing and shared storage can go on one agreement. Perpetual software licences can sometimes be included. Subscriptions cannot.
- Building work. Building or converting a sound stage is usually funded with a commercial mortgage or development finance, not asset finance.
Broadcasters and photography studios have their own pages: see asset finance for television and radio broadcasters and photography studios.
Finance options for film production companies
Production companies often buy long-life kit on hire purchase and lease kit that changes quickly. Our types of asset finance guide covers each option in more depth.
| Type | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | A deposit, then fixed monthly payments. You own the equipment after the last one | Lenses, grip, lighting and studio equipment you will keep |
| Finance lease | Rentals with VAT added to each one. The lender owns the equipment | Spreading the VAT on a large camera or post-production package |
| Operating lease | Lower rentals priced around the expected resale value. You hand it back at the end | Camera bodies and servers that will be replaced by newer models |
| Contract hire | A fixed rental for an agreed term and mileage, often with maintenance included | Unit vehicles and vans |
Hire purchase for film production companies
Hire purchase for film production companies is the usual way to buy lenses, grip, lighting and other kit you plan to keep. You pay a deposit, often around 10% plus the VAT, then fixed monthly payments, and the equipment is yours after the last one. You are treated as the owner for tax from the start, so you may be able to claim capital allowances.
Finance lease for film production companies
A finance lease for film production companies suits a large camera or post-production package, because VAT is added to each rental instead of being paid upfront. The lender keeps ownership. At the end you can usually keep using the equipment for a small secondary rental, or sell it and receive most of the proceeds.
Operating lease for film production companies
An operating lease for film production companies works for camera bodies and servers that newer models will overtake. Rentals are set around what the equipment should be worth at the end, and you hand it back or upgrade when the term finishes. Availability depends on the lender being confident of the resale value.
Contract hire for film production companies
Contract hire for film production companies is used mainly for unit vehicles and vans. You pay a fixed monthly rental for an agreed term and mileage, with servicing often included, and the vehicle goes back at the end.
VAT and tax for film production companies
On hire purchase, VAT on the full price is usually paid at the start and reclaimed on your next VAT return. On a lease, VAT is added to each rental. With hire purchase you may be able to claim capital allowances, and lease rentals are usually an allowable business expense. How equipment interacts with any production tax relief is a question for your accountant, as the tax treatment depends on how each production is structured.
Camera package finance costs: a worked example
A £95,000 camera package, with a cinema camera, a set of prime lenses, monitors and wireless video, costs about £2,719 a month on a 3-year hire purchase, or about £2,128 a month over 4 years.
| Item | 3 years | 4 years |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment price (excl. VAT) | £95,000 | £95,000 |
| Deposit (10%) | £9,500 | £9,500 |
| VAT paid upfront | £19,000 | £19,000 |
| Monthly payment | £2,718.88 | £2,127.67 |
| Total interest | £12,380 | £16,628 |
The longer term lowers the monthly payment by about £591 but adds around £4,249 of interest. Compare the payment with what you currently spend hiring a similar package each month.
Illustration calculated in October 2026, assuming an interest rate of 9% a year. It is not a quote. Your rate depends on your trading history, credit profile and the equipment.
What lenders look for in film production companies
Lenders look at the usual financial documents, plus evidence that work comes in steadily.
- Your last 2 years of filed accounts, or management accounts and a forecast for newer businesses
- Your last 3 to 6 months of business bank statements
- Recent productions, regular clients and any commissions or work booked ahead
- How much the kit is used, and what you currently spend hiring it
- Supplier quotes, plus photo ID and address history for each director, member or partner
Related guides
- Audio-visual equipment finance, for cameras, lighting, sound and editing
- Asset finance for television and radio broadcasters
- Asset finance for photography studios
- IT equipment finance, for servers and storage
- All sectors we finance
- Types of asset finance
Who we can help
We arrange asset finance for film production companies that trade as UK limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000 that are for business purposes. We are not authorised by the FCA, so we cannot arrange agreements of £25,000 or less for sole traders or partnerships of two or three partners, or finance for personal use.
Asset finance for film production companies FAQs
Can a company set up for one film get equipment finance?
Rarely. Lenders prefer to fund the trading company that keeps the kit across productions, because a company set up for a single film usually closes when it ends.
Is it better to own or hire a camera package?
Owning usually pays when the package would otherwise be hired for many shoot days each year. Compare a year of hire charges with the yearly finance payments, and remember owned kit may still have resale value at the end.
Can used cinema lenses and cameras be financed?
Yes. Used lenses in particular hold their value well and are widely funded. Used camera bodies usually go on shorter terms.
How much does camera package finance cost?
It depends on the kit, the term and your business. As an illustration, a £95,000 camera package costs about £2,719 a month over 3 years on hire purchase at 9%, after a 10% deposit and the VAT paid upfront, or about £2,128 a month over 4 years.
Can I hire out financed kit between productions?
Often, but check first. Some agreements restrict hiring equipment to others, and your insurance needs to cover it. Tell us at the outset and we can look for lenders who allow it.
Can an LED volume wall be financed?
Yes. LED panels, processors, camera tracking and render servers can be funded with installation. Lenders will look at your booking history and plans for keeping the stage busy.
Get an asset finance quote for your production company
Tell us what you want to finance
Send us the equipment, the prices and a few details about your production company. We will come back with the options that are realistic and what they are likely to cost.
About the author
Marcus Wright is the owner and founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, which trades as Finance Assets. He has worked in financial services since 2008, beginning his career at Santander, and has been a commercial finance broker since March 2019.
He founded Bolton Business Finance in 2020 to give businesses access to the whole lending market rather than one bank’s own product range. The firm is a member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers and works with a panel of 135+ lenders. Call 0161 546 9128.
Finance Assets is a trading name of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, an independent commercial finance brokerage, not a lender. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and can only complete non-regulated introductions. All lending is for business purposes only. Registered address: Westgate House, 1 Westgate Avenue, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 4RF. Company number 12495909.