Firewall Finance

Q: Can I finance the firewall appliance without the security subscription?

Yes, and in most cases that's exactly how it works. The physical firewall appliance is an asset that can be financed through HP or a lease, while the security subscription that unlocks threat intelligence, intrusion prevention and web filtering is billed annually or over a multi-year term by the vendor and paid separately, since it's a licence rather than something with resale value.

Q: Why is the subscription usually a bigger cost than the firewall hardware?

Modern firewalls are sold with the expectation that most of their value comes from continuously updated threat intelligence, not the box itself, so vendors price the ongoing subscription accordingly. Over a typical three to five year term, the cumulative subscription cost on a mid-range firewall can match or exceed the hardware price. This is worth knowing before you compare quotes, since the headline price often only reflects the appliance.

Q: How often should a business firewall be replaced?

Most next-generation firewalls are sold and supported on a three to five year cycle tied to the security subscription term, and once that subscription lapses the appliance stops receiving the threat intelligence updates that make it effective, so replacement is usually driven by the subscription renewal rather than the hardware failing. Some businesses choose to replace the appliance slightly earlier than the subscription forces, particularly where throughput requirements have grown and an older model is starting to bottleneck internet or VPN performance.

Q: Will a lender finance a firewall for a small or newly formed business?

Yes, this is usually one of the more straightforward IT items to finance even for a newer company, since the amounts involved are relatively small and firewalls are rarely the asset a lender is relying on for security. Expect standard checks on trading history and credit profile rather than the extra scrutiny applied to larger, more portable IT purchases. A broker can also help match a newer business with the lender most comfortable at this end of the market, which often speeds up the decision further.

Q: How quickly can firewall finance be approved?

Most applications are approved within 24 hours, and firewall purchases under £30,000 are often approved the same day, provided the business has a clean credit history and the supplier's quote is straightforward to review. Larger orders, multi-site rollouts, or purchases bundled with other equipment on the same agreement can take a little longer, since the lender needs to review the full specification and how the purchase fits with what the business already has in place.

Spread the cost of a business firewall from £800 to £50,000+ with flexible finance options: HP, lease or refinance.

Can you finance a firewall?

Yes, firewalls are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £800 to £50,000, and most deals are written over 24–36 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

Typical Cost

£800 – £50k

Approval Speed

24 hours

Same-day for < £30k

Rates From

5.6% APR

What would a firewall cost per month?

Firewall price (ex VAT) £6,000

Deposit 10%

Agreement term 60 months

Annual interest rate 9%

Balloon payment £0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical firewall price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate: From 6.0% APR
Term: 24–36 months
Deposit: 10–20%
Ownership: Yours at the end
Best for: Businesses that want to own the appliance once the licence subscription ends its natural cycle

Finance Lease

Rate: From 5.6% APR
Term: 24–36 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for: Deducting the hardware payment against profit separately from the security subscription

Operating Lease

Rate: From 6.4% APR
Term: 24–36 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return at end
Best for: Refreshing the appliance in step with its security subscription renewal, since most firewalls are re-specced on that cycle anyway

Representative example

On a purchase price of £6,000: a 10% deposit of £600, then 48 monthly payments of £127 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £6,696, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

Machine or specification	Guide price	Type
Fortinet FortiGate 60F/100F Series	£800 – £2,500	Small Business Firewall
Fortinet FortiGate 200F/600F Series	£3,000 – £15,000	Mid-Market Firewall
Cisco Meraki MX Series	£1,200 – £10,000	Cloud-Managed Firewall
Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine/UXG Series	£400 – £2,000	SME Firewall/Gateway

Tax benefits

Firewall hardware qualifies for the Annual Investment Allowance, so the appliance cost can be deducted against taxable profit in the year of purchase or claimed through HP. Lease payments are deductible in full as they are paid. The security subscription that licenses the firewall's threat intelligence, filtering and support, which is usually charged annually per appliance, is a running cost and is not covered by the finance agreement.

Bad credit?

Some specialist lenders consider businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options may be available. Fundably may use a soft credit check for matching, which does not affect your credit score. A hard check may happen if you choose to proceed with a lender.

Frequently asked questions

Can I finance the firewall appliance without the security subscription?

Yes, and in most cases that's exactly how it works. The physical firewall appliance is an asset that can be financed through HP or a lease, while the security subscription that unlocks threat intelligence, intrusion prevention and web filtering is billed annually or over a multi-year term by the vendor and paid separately, since it's a licence rather than something with resale value.

Why is the subscription usually a bigger cost than the firewall hardware?

Modern firewalls are sold with the expectation that most of their value comes from continuously updated threat intelligence, not the box itself, so vendors price the ongoing subscription accordingly. Over a typical three to five year term, the cumulative subscription cost on a mid-range firewall can match or exceed the hardware price. This is worth knowing before you compare quotes, since the headline price often only reflects the appliance.

How often should a business firewall be replaced?

Most next-generation firewalls are sold and supported on a three to five year cycle tied to the security subscription term, and once that subscription lapses the appliance stops receiving the threat intelligence updates that make it effective, so replacement is usually driven by the subscription renewal rather than the hardware failing. Some businesses choose to replace the appliance slightly earlier than the subscription forces, particularly where throughput requirements have grown and an older model is starting to bottleneck internet or VPN performance.

Will a lender finance a firewall for a small or newly formed business?

Yes, this is usually one of the more straightforward IT items to finance even for a newer company, since the amounts involved are relatively small and firewalls are rarely the asset a lender is relying on for security. Expect standard checks on trading history and credit profile rather than the extra scrutiny applied to larger, more portable IT purchases. A broker can also help match a newer business with the lender most comfortable at this end of the market, which often speeds up the decision further.

How quickly can firewall finance be approved?

Most applications are approved within 24 hours, and firewall purchases under £30,000 are often approved the same day, provided the business has a clean credit history and the supplier's quote is straightforward to review. Larger orders, multi-site rollouts, or purchases bundled with other equipment on the same agreement can take a little longer, since the lender needs to review the full specification and how the purchase fits with what the business already has in place.

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Guides and resources

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