Finance Assets arranges printing press finance for UK limited companies buying new or used offset, digital, wide format and label presses, along with the pre-press and finishing kit that goes with them.
Printing press finance spreads the cost of a press over 2 to 7 years, so a commercial printer, packaging printer or print management business can add capacity, move work from offset to digital, or replace an ageing press without a large cash outlay. We work with printers across the UK, from London and the South East to the North West, on presses bought new from manufacturers or used from dealers and other printers.
Written by Marcus Wright, founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, in financial services since 2008 and a commercial finance broker since 2019. Last reviewed September 2026.
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The short version
- Printing press finance lets a printer spread the cost of a press over 2 to 7 years.
- Used offset presses from major makers have a strong resale market, so lenders fund them readily.
- Digital presses are usually funded on the hardware, with click charges kept on a separate service contract.
- Pre-press, finishing kit and press relocation can often go on the same agreement.
- Finance Assets arranges printing press finance for UK limited companies and LLPs.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Presses covered | Sheetfed and web offset, production digital, wide format, flexo and digital label presses |
| Deal sizes | From a single digital press or finishing machine to a multi-press refit |
| Terms | Usually 2 to 5 years on used presses, and up to 7 years on new presses from major makers |
| Paid upfront | Hire purchase: often a 10% deposit plus VAT. Leases: usually 1 to 3 rentals in advance |
| New or used | Both, from manufacturers, dealers, auctions and other printers |
| Who we help | UK limited companies and LLPs |
Printing presses and print equipment we finance
Lenders will fund most commercial print equipment, from a single press to a full pre-press and finishing line.
| Equipment group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Sheetfed offset | B3, B2 and B1 presses from makers such as Heidelberg, Komori, Koenig & Bauer and RMGT, with coaters and perfectors |
| Web offset | Heatset and coldset web presses for magazines, catalogues and newspapers |
| Production digital | Toner and inkjet presses from makers such as HP Indigo, Canon, Konica Minolta, Ricoh and Xerox |
| Wide and grand format | Latex, UV and solvent printers and flatbed printers for signage, display and packaging |
| Label and packaging | Flexo presses, digital label presses and die cutters |
| Pre-press | Computer-to-plate systems, imagesetters, plate processors, plate baking ovens and workflow software |
| Finishing | Guillotines, folders, stitchers, bookbinding equipment and perfect binders, laminators, foiling machines, UV coaters, UV and IR dryers and envelope machines |
New, used and digital presses
The type of press and where it comes from change how lenders look at it.
- Used offset presses. Presses from major makers have an international resale market, so lenders fund them readily from dealers, auctions and other printers. They look at age, impression count and service history, and may ask for an inspection or dealer valuation.
- Press relocation. Rigging, transport, installation and commissioning can usually be included when you buy a used press, as long as the press makes up most of the total.
- Digital presses and click charges. Digital presses are usually sold with a service contract charged per click. Lenders fund the hardware, and the click charges normally sit outside the finance agreement. Manufacturer finance often bundles the two, so it helps to compare both routes.
- Faster replacement cycles. Digital presses are updated more often than offset presses, so lenders offer shorter terms on older models, and operating leases are common.
Finance options for printing presses
Most printers buy offset presses on hire purchase, while digital presses are often leased because they are replaced more often. 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 press after the last one | Offset presses and finishing kit you will run for many years |
| Finance lease | Rentals with VAT added to each one. The lender owns the press | Spreading the VAT when a refit includes pre-press and finishing kit |
| Operating lease | Lower rentals set around the press’s expected resale value. Hand back or upgrade at the end | Digital presses you plan to replace every 3 to 5 years |
| Type | VAT | Tax treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | VAT on the full price is due at the start, and a VAT-registered printer usually reclaims it on the next VAT return | The company is treated as owning the press, so it may be able to claim capital allowances, such as full expensing or the annual investment allowance on new equipment |
| Finance lease | VAT is charged on each rental and reclaimed in the usual way | Rentals are usually a deductible business expense |
| Operating lease | VAT is charged on each rental | Rentals are usually deductible, and the capital allowances stay with the lender |
Your accountant can confirm how each option works for your company’s tax position.
Hire purchase for printing presses
Hire purchase for printing presses suits a printer that plans to run the press for its full working life, which for a well-maintained offset press can be well over ten years. You pay a deposit, often around 10% plus the VAT, then fixed monthly payments, and the press becomes yours after the final payment and a small option fee. A balloon can lower the monthly cost on newer presses from major makers.
Finance lease for printing presses
A finance lease for printing presses spreads the VAT across the rentals instead of paying it upfront, which helps when a refit includes a press, pre-press and finishing kit together. The lender owns the equipment, and at the end you can usually carry on at a small secondary rental, or sell it for the lender and keep most of the proceeds.
Operating lease for printing presses
An operating lease for printing presses is most common on digital presses, which are replaced every few years as new models arrive. The rentals are set around what the press should be worth at the end, so they are lower than a finance lease, and you hand it back or upgrade when the lease ends.
Printing press finance costs: a worked example
A used B2 five-colour offset press at £190,000, including relocation and installation, costs about £4,255 a month over 4 years or about £3,550 a month over 5 years on hire purchase.
| Item | 4 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|
| Press price (excl. VAT) | £190,000 | £190,000 |
| Deposit (10%) | £19,000 | £19,000 |
| VAT paid upfront | £38,000 | £38,000 |
| Monthly payment | £4,255.34 | £3,549.68 |
| Total interest | £33,256 | £41,981 |
The 5-year term lowers the monthly payment by about £706 but adds around £8,724 of interest. Some lenders cap terms on older presses, so the right length depends on the press’s age as well as your cash flow.
Illustration calculated in September 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 press.
What lenders look for in printing press finance applications
Lenders look at the usual financial documents, plus the work that will keep the press busy.
- Accounts and bank statements. The last two years of filed accounts, recent management accounts and three to six months of business bank statements.
- Supplier quote. A quote showing the press, relocation, installation and any pre-press or finishing kit separately. For a used press, its age, impression count and service history.
- Customers and work. Your main customers, how much work each one gives you, and whether volumes are growing. Lenders take comfort when no single customer dominates.
- Director history. Lenders check the directors’ credit records and may ask for personal guarantees on newer companies or larger presses.
Related guides
Who we can help
We arrange printing press finance for UK limited companies and LLPs. We are not authorised by the FCA, so we cannot arrange agreements of £25,000 or less for sole traders or small partnerships, or finance for personal use.
Printing press finance FAQs
Why would a business lease a printing press instead of buying it?
Leasing keeps cash in the business and spreads the cost over the years the press earns money. An operating lease also moves the resale risk to the lender, which suits digital presses that are replaced every few years. Buying outright or on hire purchase suits offset presses a printer expects to run for a decade or more.
Can I finance a used printing press?
Yes. Used offset presses from makers such as Heidelberg, Komori and Koenig & Bauer are widely funded, because there is a strong international market for them. Lenders look at the press’s age, impression count and service history, and may ask for an inspection or a dealer valuation. Relocation and installation costs can usually be included.
Are click charges included in digital press finance?
Usually not. Lenders fund the digital press itself, and the click charges for service and toner or ink are paid to the manufacturer or dealer under a separate contract. Some manufacturer finance packages bundle the two into one payment, so it is worth comparing the total cost of both routes.
Can finishing equipment go on the same agreement as the press?
Yes. Guillotines, folders, binders, laminators, foiling machines and UV coaters can usually go on the same agreement as the press, along with pre-press kit and software. They can also be funded on their own, on shorter terms if they are older or lower in value.
Can a printer with falling volumes get finance?
Often, yes, especially if the new press cuts costs or brings in work you currently turn away. Lenders look at recent accounts, customer spread and the reason for the purchase. Moving short-run work from offset to digital, or replacing two old presses with one faster one, can make a strong case.
Can I raise cash against a press I already own?
Yes. Through a sale and hire purchase back, a lender buys a press you own outright and sells it back to you over a fixed term, so it keeps running. The amount depends on the press’s value, age and maker. Printers use it to fund a new digital press, finishing kit or working capital.
Get a printing press finance quote
Tell us about the press
Send us the supplier quote and a few details about your business. 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.