Trade Finance in Ireland: Get Your Stock Funded and Take Up to 180 Days to Pay

Last updated: 4 November 2026

Quick Summary

• Trade finance helps businesses buy physical goods for resale without paying the full supplier bill from their own cash reserves.
• Once an approved limit is in place, the lender pays eligible supplier invoices and you repay the amount drawn plus agreed fees.
• Repayment terms can extend up to 180 days, subject to lender assessment and the individual transaction.
• The facility discussed here is aimed at businesses with at least 12 months trading, around €500,000 in annual sales and ideally a profit.
• It can suit Irish importers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors. Check the full cost, repayment date and any guarantees before drawing funds.

Table of Contents

• How trade finance works
• When does it make sense?
• Who is it for?
• Trade finance for importers
• Stock funding for retail
• Wholesale and distribution
• Costs and repayment planning
• Trade finance or another facility?
• Find out what limit could suit your business
• Frequently Asked Questions

If you sell physical products, you know the squeeze. Your supplier wants paying now, but your customers may not pay you for weeks or months after the goods arrive. In between, your cash is tied up in stock.

Trade finance is built for that gap. It can help an Irish business fund eligible goods purchases while keeping cash available for wages, rent and the other costs of trading. It is a short-term funding tool, not a substitute for a viable margin or a clear repayment plan.

How trade finance works

You apply for a trade finance credit limit through BusinessLoans.ie. We help match the requirement to a suitable specialist or non-bank lender. Once the lender approves the limit and its conditions are met, the process is straightforward:

1. Submit the supplier invoice. The lender checks the supplier, goods and transaction against the facility terms.
2. Request a repayment period. Explain how long you expect to need, based on delivery, stock turnover and when your customers will pay.
3. The lender pays the supplier. Eligible purchases are funded within the available approved limit.
4. Repay on the agreed terms. At the agreed date, repay the amount drawn plus the agreed fee, in line with the lender’s repayment schedule.

You can get up to 180 days to pay on qualifying transactions. Not every draw qualifies for the maximum term, and an approved limit does not mean every supplier invoice will be accepted. Further draws depend on available headroom and the facility’s conditions.

When does it make sense?

If your suppliers already offer payment terms that comfortably match your sales cycle, you may not need it. But many businesses cannot get terms at all, particularly with newer suppliers or suppliers overseas. Others are offered terms that are too short to be useful.

If that is you, trade finance can provide the breathing room your supplier will not. It can help fund the stock needed to fulfil purchase orders, replenish shelves or prepare for a busy season without draining the bank account.

The facility described here is for businesses buying physical goods and selling them on, not service-only businesses. It works best where there is a realistic route from buying the goods to receiving cash before the repayment falls due.

Who is it for?

For this stock-funding option, a useful starting profile is:

• At least one year of trading history.
• Around €500,000 in annual sales.
• Ideally trading at a profit, even if the profit is modest.
• A goods-based business with a clear supplier-payment and customer-collection cycle.

You do not need to be hugely profitable to have a useful conversation. A growing business with healthy sales and modest profits can still feel the pressure of upfront stock payments. The lender will assess affordability, margins, existing borrowing and the proposed transactions; meeting the indicative profile does not guarantee approval.

Trade finance for importers

Paying overseas suppliers upfront is normal in many markets. It also ties up cash for a long time, sometimes before the goods have even shipped.

For qualifying purchases, a trade finance provider can pay your overseas supplier and allow you to repay later. Some facilities can do this without a letter of credit, avoiding that particular banking process. This does not remove the need for supplier checks, invoices and relevant shipping or transaction documents.

Build shipping time, customs clearance, import VAT and duties where applicable, currency movements and the time needed to sell the goods into your cash-flow forecast. Confirm which countries, currencies and costs the lender will fund. A delivery delay does not automatically extend your repayment date.

Stock funding for retail

Empty shelves lose sales. But filling them takes cash, and cash is also what you need to find new customers.

Trade finance can help you replenish eligible stock while preserving your own cash for marketing and day-to-day costs. It is particularly relevant when you need to order ahead of seasonal demand or a supplier wants payment before dispatch.

The facility funds approved supplier purchases, not unrestricted marketing spending. For broader needs, see our retail business finance options. Be realistic about unsold stock, markdowns and returns when deciding how much to draw.

Wholesale and distribution

Whether you are importing tiles or buying goods to supply restaurants and shops, the pattern is similar: you pay for large orders upfront, then wait to be paid by your own customers.

A trade finance limit can help you accept bigger orders without waiting for last month’s invoices to clear before placing the next supplier order. Approval still depends on the goods, suppliers, margins and repayment cycle, rather than the purchase order alone.

For a distributor or manufacturer buying goods for onward sale, transaction-based funding may fit better than a general cash loan. Our manufacturing finance page covers other options for equipment and working capital.

Costs and repayment planning

The extra time to pay has a cost. Before you draw, ask for the full euro amount payable, including the funding fee, any facility or transaction charges and any other applicable costs. Check when fees are paid, what early repayment changes and what happens if you pay late.

BusinessLoans.ie never charges clients a broker fee; lenders pay us a commission when funding completes. See how we get paid. The lender’s funding fees and any third-party costs are separate.

Ask whether company security or a director’s personal guarantee is required. Read the agreement carefully and take independent advice where needed. Do not assume a stock-funding facility is free of personal exposure.

Use a cash-flow forecast to test what happens if shipping takes longer, stock sells more slowly or a customer pays late. Your margin needs to cover the funding cost, and repayment should not depend solely on the best-case sales forecast.

Trade finance or another facility?

• Trade finance: pays eligible suppliers for goods you are buying, before the resulting sales generate cash.
• Invoice finance: releases part of the value of eligible unpaid customer invoices after you have invoiced your customer.
• Unsecured term or flexible repayment loans: may suit a wider mix of stock and working-capital costs, subject to each lender’s criteria and any guarantee requirements.
• Asset finance: may be more appropriate for equipment or vehicles the business will use, rather than goods bought for resale.

More than one facility may be useful, but do not assume they can be combined without consent. Existing security and lender conditions can affect what is available.

Find out what limit could suit your business

At BusinessLoans.ie, we work with specialist and non-bank lenders who understand Irish small and medium-sized businesses. We can help you assess whether a trade finance limit matches how you buy, sell and get paid.

Have your latest accounts, current trading figures, recent business bank statements and supplier invoice or order details available. The lender will confirm the precise documents needed for the facility and transactions.

Tell us what goods you buy, where your suppliers are based, the funding amount and how long it takes to turn the purchase into cash. Contact BusinessLoans.ie to discuss the options, or use the application button below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get 180 days to repay every stock purchase?

Not automatically. Up to 180 days may be available for qualifying transactions, but the approved repayment period depends on lender assessment, your trading cycle and the terms of the facility.

Is trade finance suitable for a service business?

The stock-funding facility described here is for businesses buying and reselling physical goods. A service-only business may be better suited to invoice finance or a working-capital loan, depending on how it earns and collects revenue.

How much turnover do I need?

Around €500,000 in annual sales, at least one year trading and ideally a profit is the starting profile for this option. It is indicative, not a universal rule for every trade finance lender or a promise of approval.

Can an overseas supplier be paid without a letter of credit?

Some qualifying supplier payments can be funded without a letter of credit. The lender must still approve the supplier, country and transaction and may require invoices and shipping information.

Who pays the supplier?

The trade finance lender pays the approved supplier under the facility terms. BusinessLoans.ie helps arrange the finance as a broker; we are not the lender.

What if stock sells late or my customer does not pay?

You remain responsible for repayment under the agreement. A delay in sales or customer payments does not automatically postpone the due date. Contact the lender early if you expect difficulty meeting the repayment.

Finance is subject to lender assessment and agreed terms. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.