How To Offer Finance For Orangeries

What offering finance really means for an orangery business

Customer finance is simply a way for your clients to pay over time while you get paid for the job in the normal way. For an orangery installer, it turns a high-value, once-in-a-decade purchase into a monthly decision, which is often how homeowners prefer to budget. Done well, it is not a gimmick or a discount, it is a payment method that makes premium projects feel achievable without forcing the customer to compromise on specification, glazing, lighting or finishes. In practice, offering finance also professionalises the sales process: you can quote like-for-like totals, show realistic monthly figures, and reduce the number of leads that stall after a site visit.

Why homeowners reach for finance in this market

Orangeries often sit in that awkward middle ground: they are not an everyday purchase, but they are also not always funded like a full house move. Many homeowners want the space now for family life, entertaining or working from home, yet would rather not deplete savings in one hit. UK providers increasingly meet that demand with clear options such as Buy Now Pay Later style deferrals, interest-free periods, and longer-term instalment plans. For customers, the attraction is control and timing: they can align payments with planned income, bonuses or a remortgage later, while still getting the build booked in and completed.

How finance can lift conversion and order value

Offering finance lowers the upfront barrier, which usually means more customers progress from “quote” to “survey” to “signed”. In the home-improvement sector, deferred payment plans are often marketed with 6 to 12 months to pay and 0% during the deferral window, which can be compelling when a customer is waiting for funds to clear or wants to keep cash available. Longer 0% APR options over several years can also make mid-range projects feel straightforward, particularly where the total cost is in the £5,000 to £15,000 band. The commercial upside is not only more sales, but better sales: customers who can spread the cost are less likely to value-engineer away premium doors, roof upgrades or interior lighting that protect your margin.

Typical orangery transaction values (UK)

What you can finance: real-world examples

1. Full orangery supply and installation

2. Groundworks and foundations

3. Structural openings (RSJs, lintels, load-bearing alterations)

4. Glazed roofs, lanterns and roof upgrades

5. Bi-fold, sliding or French doors

6. Heating, electrics and lighting packages

7. Plastering, flooring and internal finishes

8. Planning and building control related costs (where applicable)

FCA and compliance, in plain English

If you introduce customers to finance, you must be clear, fair and not misleading about costs and outcomes. Marketing should reflect the representative example where required, and any 0% or deferred terms must clearly explain what happens if the balance is not cleared on time, including when interest starts and how it is calculated. Many providers use an initial soft credit check so customers can explore eligibility without impacting their credit score, but a hard check is typically needed before a lender final decision. Always follow your broker partner’s compliance guidance.

Broker-led finance: how the introducer model works

With an introducer arrangement, you introduce your customer to a regulated credit broker who can source offers from multiple lenders. The customer completes a simple application, often starting with a soft search to show likely outcomes quickly, then chooses from available terms and rates. This approach suits home-improvement businesses because it supports a wide range of credit profiles and loan sizes, while keeping the admin burden away from your sales team. It also strengthens trust: customers can see transparent repayments and total cost, and you can position finance as a responsible option rather than a pressure tactic. Once the customer is approved and accepts an offer, the project can move forward with clearer payment expectations on both sides.

What the customer journey can look like (step by step)

1. Quote stage: Provide a cash price and at least one illustrative monthly payment example based on a typical term.

2. Finance prompt: Ask a simple question: “Would you like to see monthly options alongside the full price?”

3. Soft-check application: Customer completes basic details to view eligibility without affecting their credit score (where available).

4. Offer selection: Customer compares term length, monthly payment, total repayable and any promotional periods.

5. Full application: Customer proceeds to the lender decision, which typically includes a hard credit check.

6. Acceptance and paperwork: Customer e-signs agreements and receives confirmation documents.

7. Project scheduling: You confirm dates and specification, now with payment method agreed.

8. Aftercare: Keep a clear line for customer questions about instalments, deferral deadlines and what to do if circumstances change.

Standout line: Affordability is not just the monthly figure, it is the total cost and the customer’s ability to stay in control.

Next-step suggestions to improve conversion

• Add a finance calculator to your website and link to it from every orangery quote or gallery page.

• Show more than one route (for example, interest-free where available, BNPL-style deferral, and standard monthly repayments) so customers can self-select.

• Put “soft search available” messaging near your enquiry form to reduce drop-off.

Getting started with Kandoo

To offer finance through Kandoo, you typically set up as an introducer and embed finance into the points where customers naturally hesitate: after the initial quote, on the design sign-off, and on your website’s pricing pages. The goal is to make finance feel like a normal payment option rather than a separate, intimidating process. You can present clear choices, keep the customer experience fast, and let Kandoo handle the lender panel, application flow and regulated broking. Over time, the most effective approach is to treat finance as part of your sales toolkit: train your team to explain APR and total repayable in practical terms, and to flag key deadlines on any deferred-payment plans so customers avoid surprises.

FAQs

What finance options are most popular for orangeries?

The most common are monthly repayment plans via unsecured personal loans, 0% APR offers where available, and deferred payment options that allow 6 to 12 months before payments begin.

How does Buy Now Pay Later work for larger home improvements?

In this sector it is often a deferred payment plan: the customer may pay nothing for a set period and can sometimes pay 0% if the balance is cleared within that window. If it is not cleared, interest can apply and may be charged from the start, so deadlines matter.

What does 0% APR actually mean for the customer?

It means no interest is charged during the promotional term if the agreement terms are met. Customers should still look at the term length, any deposit, and what happens if they miss payments.

Will offering finance slow down my sales process?

Usually it speeds it up, because it removes the need for customers to “go away and think about it” purely to arrange funds. Many journeys start with a soft search to show likely options quickly.

Do soft credit checks affect a customer’s credit score?

Soft checks are designed not to impact the customer’s credit score and are commonly used at the eligibility stage. A hard credit check is typically required before a lender confirms an approved agreement.

Should I offer secured finance like a remortgage option?

Some customers will consider mortgage-based borrowing for larger projects because it can be cheaper over long terms, but it is secured against the property and carries higher risk. Many homeowners prefer unsecured loans to avoid putting their home at risk.

What are typical terms for unsecured loans used on orangeries?

Unsecured personal loans commonly run from 1 to 7 years, with eligibility based on income and credit history. Longer terms reduce the monthly payment but increase the total repayable.

Can I present multiple finance choices on one page?

Yes, and it often helps. Displaying several routes side-by-side, with a calculator and total-cost breakdowns, reduces friction and lets customers choose what fits their budget.

What should my team say when asked about APR?

Explain it in real terms: the monthly payment, the total amount repayable, and whether the rate is fixed. If there is a deferred period, clearly explain the deadline and what happens if the balance is not cleared.