Why Richard & Richard’s Does Not Currently Offer Interest-Free Credit
25th June 2026
Why We Don’t Currently Offer Interest-Free Credit
At Richard & Richard’s, we are often asked whether we offer finance or interest-free credit for kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and home offices.
At present, we do not offer finance or interest-free credit directly.
This is a decision we have made carefully. It is not because we are against finance as a concept, and it is not because finance is wrong for every customer. For some people, spreading the cost of a home improvement project may be helpful.
However, for our own business and the way we prefer to quote, we made the decision not to build the cost of offering finance into our project pricing.
Interest-Free to the Customer Does Not Always Mean Cost-Free to the Retailer
When customers see “interest-free credit”, it is understandable to assume that nobody is paying interest or charges.
In reality, some finance products can involve a commercial cost to the retailer. Depending on the provider, product, loan value and repayment term, the retailer may have to absorb a fee, subsidy or merchant cost in order to offer that finance option.
That cost has to be accounted for somewhere.
For a business like ours, that can create a difficult choice:
- absorb the cost and reduce the margin needed to run the project properly;
- increase prices to allow for the cost of offering finance;
- or choose not to offer finance directly.
We decided that the most transparent option for our customers was not to build finance-related costs into our kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or home office pricing.
Why We Prefer Transparent Project Pricing
Richard & Richard’s is a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and home office showroom based at Pear Mill Shopping Village in Bredbury, Stockport.
Our work is usually design-led and project-based. We design, supply and install fitted interiors across Stockport, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and nearby SK and M postcode areas.
Because our projects are detailed and often involve several stages, we prefer to quote clearly from the start.
A kitchen, bathroom, fitted bedroom or home office quotation may include furniture, worktops, appliances, sinks, taps, bathroom products, brassware, tiles, flooring, lighting, installation, preparation work and project management, depending on the agreed scope.
We want customers to understand what they are paying for, why it costs what it does, and how the project will be managed.
Adding the cost of finance into the overall price did not feel like the right approach for the way we work.
A Simple Example of How Finance Costs Can Affect Pricing
The figures below are only simple examples. They are not a quote, not a finance offer and not based on any individual customer’s project.
If a retailer had to absorb a finance-related cost on a home improvement project, the impact could be meaningful:
| Project Value | Example Retailer Cost at 5% | Example Retailer Cost at 10% | Example Retailer Cost at 15% |
|---|---|---|---|
| £10,000 | £500 | £1,000 | £1,500 |
| £15,000 | £750 | £1,500 | £2,250 |
| £20,000 | £1,000 | £2,000 | £3,000 |
| £30,000 | £1,500 | £3,000 | £4,500 |
On a fitted kitchen, bathroom renovation, bedroom installation or home office project, those costs can make a real difference.
For us, the question was simple: should we build potential finance-related costs into our prices for everyone, including customers who are not using finance?
We decided the answer should be no.
How Our Payment Stages Work Instead
Most of our projects are quoted and paid for in agreed stages.
The exact payment schedule depends on the project, but it is clearly explained before work begins. Invariably 25% deposit, 37% interim payment, and 38% on completion (5% of this as a retainer if something is outstanding). This helps customers understand what is due, when it is due, and how the payments relate to the progress of the work.
For larger kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and home office projects, this staged approach can make the process easier to plan without us having to offer finance directly.
It also keeps the quotation focused on the actual design, products, installation and project work required.
We Are Not Saying Finance Is Always a Bad Thing
Finance can be useful in some situations, and many businesses choose to offer it.
We are not criticising customers who use finance, and we are not criticising other companies who offer finance as part of their service.
Every business has to decide how it prices its work and what options it provides to customers.
For Richard & Richard’s, we prefer a straightforward approach:
- clear project pricing;
- agreed payment stages;
- no finance cost is built into our quotations;
- and honest conversations about budget, timescales and specification.
Planning a Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom or Home Office Project?
If you are planning a new kitchen, bathroom, fitted bedroom, utility room or home office, we are happy to help you understand the likely costs and timescales before you commit to anything.
Our showroom is based at Pear Mill Shopping Village in Bredbury, Stockport, where you can discuss your ideas, view products and talk through the options available.
We offer design, supply and installation across Stockport, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and nearby SK and M postcode areas.
If you are planning a larger project, it is helpful to speak to us early. We can advise on layout, products, installation requirements, lead times and realistic budgets, so you can plan properly from the start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Richard & Richard’s offer finance?
At present, we do not offer finance or interest-free credit directly.
Why don’t you offer interest-free credit?
We have considered finance options, but decided not to build the cost of offering finance into our project pricing. We prefer clear, transparent quotations and agreed staged payments.
Can I still arrange my own finance?
Customers are free to make their own private payment arrangements if they wish. Richard & Richard’s does not provide financial advice, act as a lender or arrange finance directly.
Do you take staged payments?
Yes. Most of our kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and home office projects are paid for in agreed stages, with the schedule clearly explained before work begins.
Does this mean your prices are lower than companies offering finance?
Not necessarily. Every company prices differently. We keep a high-quality product rather than make room for additional costs with a lower-quality alternative. Our point is simply that we do not currently build a finance offering into our own project pricing.
Can you help me understand the likely cost before I commit?
Yes. We can talk through your ideas, preferred products, installation requirements and budget so you have a clearer understanding of what may be achievable.