diff --git a/.changeset/cuddly-fishes-switch.md b/.changeset/cuddly-fishes-switch.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..75f09c16b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/cuddly-fishes-switch.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+'@backstage/backend-defaults': patch
+'@backstage/backend-app-api': patch
+---
+
+Use new `ServiceFactoryOrFunction` type.
diff --git a/.changeset/eight-mugs-draw.md b/.changeset/eight-mugs-draw.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9d530e2a6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/eight-mugs-draw.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/backend-plugin-api': patch
+---
+
+Added `ServiceFactoryOrFunction` type, for use when either a `ServiceFactory` or `() => ServiceFactory` can be used.
diff --git a/packages/backend-app-api/api-report.md b/packages/backend-app-api/api-report.md
index 1ff40c8b5d..a402150755 100644
--- a/packages/backend-app-api/api-report.md
+++ b/packages/backend-app-api/api-report.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import { RootLifecycleService } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { RootLoggerService } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { SchedulerService } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { ServiceFactory } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { ServiceFactoryOrFunction } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { ServiceRef } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { TokenManagerService } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 import { UrlReader } from '@backstage/backend-common';
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ export function createSpecializedBackend(
 // @public (undocumented)
 export interface CreateSpecializedBackendOptions {
   // (undocumented)
-  services: (ServiceFactory | (() => ServiceFactory))[];
+  services: ServiceFactoryOrFunction[];
 }
 
 // @public (undocumented)
diff --git a/packages/backend-app-api/src/wiring/types.ts b/packages/backend-app-api/src/wiring/types.ts
index 115488d596..d3c4fc48c7 100644
--- a/packages/backend-app-api/src/wiring/types.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-app-api/src/wiring/types.ts
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@
 import {
   BackendFeature,
   ExtensionPoint,
-  ServiceFactory,
   ServiceRef,
+  ServiceFactoryOrFunction,
 } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 
 /**
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export interface BackendRegisterInit {
  * @public
  */
 export interface CreateSpecializedBackendOptions {
-  services: (ServiceFactory | (() => ServiceFactory))[];
+  services: ServiceFactoryOrFunction[];
 }
 
 export interface ServiceHolder {
diff --git a/packages/backend-defaults/api-report.md b/packages/backend-defaults/api-report.md
index 050ebde759..6cc58de663 100644
--- a/packages/backend-defaults/api-report.md
+++ b/packages/backend-defaults/api-report.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 ```ts
 import { Backend } from '@backstage/backend-app-api';
-import { ServiceFactory } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { ServiceFactoryOrFunction } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 export function createBackend(options?: CreateBackendOptions): Backend;
@@ -12,6 +12,6 @@ export function createBackend(options?: CreateBackendOptions): Backend;
 // @public (undocumented)
 export interface CreateBackendOptions {
   // (undocumented)
-  services?: (ServiceFactory | (() => ServiceFactory))[];
+  services?: ServiceFactoryOrFunction[];
 }
 ```
diff --git a/packages/backend-defaults/src/CreateBackend.ts b/packages/backend-defaults/src/CreateBackend.ts
index 6f9e8e39b6..bef80e4f2b 100644
--- a/packages/backend-defaults/src/CreateBackend.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-defaults/src/CreateBackend.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import {
   tokenManagerFactory,
   urlReaderFactory,
 } from '@backstage/backend-app-api';
-import { ServiceFactory } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { ServiceFactoryOrFunction } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 
 export const defaultServiceFactories = [
   cacheFactory(),
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export const defaultServiceFactories = [
  * @public
  */
 export interface CreateBackendOptions {
-  services?: (ServiceFactory | (() => ServiceFactory))[];
+  services?: ServiceFactoryOrFunction[];
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/backend-plugin-api/api-report.md b/packages/backend-plugin-api/api-report.md
index 2dcd0dccb4..6dc36c83b3 100644
--- a/packages/backend-plugin-api/api-report.md
+++ b/packages/backend-plugin-api/api-report.md
@@ -347,6 +347,11 @@ export interface ServiceFactoryConfig<
   service: ServiceRef<TService, TScope>;
 }
 
+// @public
+export type ServiceFactoryOrFunction<TService = unknown> =
+  | ServiceFactory<TService>
+  | (() => ServiceFactory<TService>);
+
 // @public
 export type ServiceRef<
   TService,
@@ -364,7 +369,7 @@ export interface ServiceRefConfig<TService, TScope extends 'root' | 'plugin'> {
   // (undocumented)
   defaultFactory?: (
     service: ServiceRef<TService, TScope>,
-  ) => Promise<ServiceFactory<TService> | (() => ServiceFactory<TService>)>;
+  ) => Promise<ServiceFactoryOrFunction<TService>>;
   // (undocumented)
   id: string;
   // (undocumented)
diff --git a/packages/backend-plugin-api/src/services/system/index.ts b/packages/backend-plugin-api/src/services/system/index.ts
index d00c2da4bd..cd15d8127d 100644
--- a/packages/backend-plugin-api/src/services/system/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-plugin-api/src/services/system/index.ts
@@ -20,5 +20,6 @@ export type {
   TypesToServiceRef,
   ServiceFactory,
   ServiceFactoryConfig,
+  ServiceFactoryOrFunction,
 } from './types';
 export { createServiceRef, createServiceFactory } from './types';
diff --git a/packages/backend-plugin-api/src/services/system/types.ts b/packages/backend-plugin-api/src/services/system/types.ts
index 7c3a9547b6..ffbbdb5f0c 100644
--- a/packages/backend-plugin-api/src/services/system/types.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-plugin-api/src/services/system/types.ts
@@ -71,13 +71,22 @@ export type ServiceFactory<TService = unknown> =
       >;
     };
 
+/**
+ * Represents either a {@link ServiceFactory} or a function that returns one.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export type ServiceFactoryOrFunction<TService = unknown> =
+  | ServiceFactory<TService>
+  | (() => ServiceFactory<TService>);
+
 /** @public */
 export interface ServiceRefConfig<TService, TScope extends 'root' | 'plugin'> {
   id: string;
   scope?: TScope;
   defaultFactory?: (
     service: ServiceRef<TService, TScope>,
-  ) => Promise<ServiceFactory<TService> | (() => ServiceFactory<TService>)>;
+  ) => Promise<ServiceFactoryOrFunction<TService>>;
 }
 
 /**