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Shellfish Grader Finance

Spread the cost of a shellfish grader from £5,000 to £45,000 with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a shellfish grader?

Yes, shellfish graders 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 £5,000 to £45,000, and most deals are written over 24–60 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

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2-minute application
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Typical Cost

£5k – £45k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for manual and rotary graders

Rates From

4.5% APR

What would a shellfish grader cost per month?

£15,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

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

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

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 4.9% APR
Term
24–60 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Shellfish growers wanting to own grading equipment outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 4.5% APR
Term
24–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim 100% of payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate
From 5.2% APR
Term
24–48 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Keep grading equipment current without capital outlay

Representative example

On a purchase price of £15,000: a 10% deposit of £1,500, then 48 monthly payments of £316 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £16,668, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Manual Riddle Grader (small shellfish operation class) £5,000 – £10,000 Manual Riddle Grader
Mechanical Rotary Grader (mid-scale operation class) £10,000 – £22,000 Rotary Grader
Automated Bar/Belt Grader (mussel and oyster class) £20,000 – £35,000 Automated Bar Grader
High-Throughput Shellfish Grading Line (large operation class) £30,000 – £45,000 Grading Line

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Tax benefits

Shellfish graders are moveable plant and generally qualify for the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting a shellfish grower deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to £1,000,000, subject to the normal AIA rules. HP gives access to capital allowances directly; lease payments are normally deductible from profits. A grader used on a quayside or moved between a boat and a shore base remains moveable plant either way, since it is not fixed to a specific building or mooring.

Market context

Shellfish graders are bought by mussel, oyster and other shellfish growers operating under a site licence and shellfish harvesting authorisation from the relevant marine and environmental authorities, and used to sort stock by size ahead of relaying, on-growing or sale. A grower's licence, which sets where and how much shellfish can be harvested, is usually the binding constraint on production rather than the grading equipment itself. Because a grader is used quayside or on a boat and is regularly exposed to saltwater, mud and grit, working life is generally shorter than for comparable land-based grading equipment, and replacement is driven mainly by corrosion and wear on rollers or belts rather than a fixed age. A modest used market exists through equipment dealers serving the shellfish sector, though many smaller growers keep equipment in service for many years with ongoing repair.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Does my shellfish harvesting authorisation affect the finance I can get?
It can. A lender assessing a grading equipment application will often ask about a grower's site licence and harvesting authorisation, since this sets the volume of stock the grader realistically needs to handle each season. A stable, long-held authorisation generally strengthens the investment case. A lender will generally want sight of the relevant licence or contract early in the process, so having it ready alongside your accounts helps keep the application moving quickly.
Can I finance used shellfish graders?
Yes, though because saltwater, mud and grit exposure shortens working life relative to land-based equipment, lenders place particular weight on the condition of rollers, belts and drive components. A grader reconditioned by a specialist dealer is financed more readily than an untested privately sourced unit. Ask the supplier for full service and inspection records before agreeing a price, since clear provenance makes the equipment easier to value and can improve the terms on offer.
What deposit do I need?
For hire purchase, most lenders ask for a 10-20% deposit. Finance leases and operating leases often require no deposit, which suits a grower timing a grading upgrade around a harvest season. A larger deposit reduces the monthly payment on the higher-throughput automated grading line options. A larger deposit is worth considering if you would rather keep monthly payments as low as possible, though most buyers in this sector choose a smaller deposit to preserve working capital.
How quickly can shellfish grader finance be approved?
Most applications are approved within a few working days once the supplier quote is confirmed. Same-day approval is common for lower-cost manual and rotary graders, which suits a grower needing equipment in place quickly ahead of a harvest season. A larger automated bar grader or grading line tends to take a little longer, since the lender will usually want to see the site's harvesting authorisation alongside the supplier quote.

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