Factoring Company Guide
The First Step: The Client Application
First, you fill out a basic profile for your company that we provide. This profile will ask for simple things like your company's name, address, what your business does, and some info about your customers.
You might also need to give us things like an accounts receivable aging report or the credit limits of your existing customers. Keep in mind that we're trying to figure out how creditworthy your customers are, beyond their credit history with your business. We're interested in their overall financial health.
At this stage, you'll also discuss basic financial details with us. For example, you'll decide how many invoices you want to factor each month (which helps us know how much cash you need to have on hand), what the advance rate and discount rate will be, and how fast we'll get the advance to you.
Most of the time, the answers to these questions will depend on how financially solid your customers are, how many sales you expect to factor each month, the industry you're in, how long you've been running, and how risky your customers might be. So, if you have lots of risky clients, you'll end up paying more in factoring fees than if you just have a few government agencies that are slow to pay.
In the factoring industry, the more you factor (in terms of dollar amount), the better your rates will be. That's why volume is crucial.
We'll look at the client profile you filled out to decide if factoring is a good fit for your business. Essentially, we're weighing the risks against the potential benefits, using the info you gave us.
Once we say yes, you can expect to start negotiating the terms and conditions. This negotiation will consider different aspects of the deal. So, if you want to factor $10,000, you can't expect to get as good a deal as a company that wants to factor $500,000.
During these negotiations, you'll get a good understanding of what it costs to factor your accounts receivable. After you agree on terms with us, we start the funding process. We'll check out your customers' credit and any liens against your company. We also need to make sure your invoice is legit before we buy your receivables and give you cash.
Factoring Company Benefits
Benefits of Factoring:
- Free up your mind from cash flow concerns and focus more on growing your business.
- No stress about repaying a loan with monthly payments. Get cash in your hands within two to four days.
- You maintain total control over your business.
- Reduce or even eliminate the costs you incur while trying to collect payments.
- Get better control over your cash flow by choosing the exact number and timing of invoices to sell.
- Get ahead of clients who are slow to pay their bills.
- Boost your production and sales.
- Take advantage of professional services for collecting payments and checking credit.
- Ensure you can always meet your payroll.
- Always have enough to cover your payroll taxes.
- Get discounts for buying materials in bulk.
- Strengthen your buying power, which can help you get discounts for paying early or buying in large quantities.
- Better your credit rating because you always have enough cash to pay your bills on time.
- Have enough cash for expanding your business.
- Have enough cash for marketing your business.
- Improve your financial statements.
- Receive detailed and comprehensive reports about your accounts receivable portfolio.
Is Factoring For You
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The Importance of Factoring
"Without payment, a sale is just a promise."
Ask yourself, are you inadvertently funding your customers’ businesses? Take a close look at your accounts receivable. Those overdue payments? They're essentially interest-free loans you're giving to your customers. This diverges from your core business goals, doesn't it?
Imagine if your customers were borrowing from a bank. They would certainly be paying interest. Meanwhile, you're not earning any interest, and more importantly, you're missing out on using that capital to grow your own business. What's the real cost of having your money tied up in receivables?
It's not just about the interest you're losing; it's the growth opportunities you're missing while your funds are locked in accounts receivable. Are you sure you want to be in the business of financing your customers?
p>Imagine if your customers got the same amount of money from a bank. They'd be paying significant interest. But here you are, not earning any interest and, worse, losing the chance to invest that money back into your business. What could you be achieving with that capital right now?
Factoring History
Factoring: Empowering Businesses for Success
Welcome to the world of factoring, where businesses find the financial support they need to thrive. Whether you're a business owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or seeking innovative financial solutions for your employer, factoring can play a crucial role in helping you achieve your financial goals.
It's interesting to note that factoring has often been overlooked and remains relatively unknown in the business world. Despite this, it serves as the backbone for many successful American businesses, unlocking billions of dollars each year and enabling thousands of enterprises to grow and prosper.
So, what exactly is factoring? Simply put, it involves purchasing commercial accounts receivable (invoices) from businesses at a discounted rate. In today's competitive landscape, offering credit terms to customers is often necessary to secure business. However, this can create cash flow challenges, particularly for new or struggling companies that rely on steady and timely payments.
Factoring, with its long and rich history, traces back 4,000 years to the time of Hammurabi, the king of Mesopotamia, often considered the birthplace of civilization. Mesopotamians were pioneers in developing writing, establishing business codes, and introducing the concept of factoring.
Over time, factoring gained traction in various civilizations. The Romans, for instance, were early adopters, introducing the sale of promissory notes at discounted rates. In the American colonies, factoring played a crucial role before the revolution. Merchant bankers in London and Europe provided funds in advance for goods such as cotton, furs, and timber, allowing colonists to continue their operations without being hindered by delayed payments from European customers.
It's important to highlight that these historical arrangements differ from modern banking relationships. In fact, modern banks would have caused delays, waiting to collect payments from European buyers before disbursing funds to the colonists. This impractical process led to the emergence of factors in colonial times who provided advances against accounts receivable, enabling clients to maintain their operations while awaiting payment.
As the Industrial Revolution unfolded, factoring adapted to address credit concerns while maintaining its core principles. Factors began assisting clients in assessing customer creditworthiness, establishing credit limits, and guaranteeing payment for approved customers. Today, this approach, known as non-recourse factoring, is commonly practiced in the business world.
Before the 1930s, factoring primarily served the textile and garment industries, which inherited the practice from the colonial economy. However, after the war years, factors recognized the potential to expand factoring to other industries reliant on invoicing, leading to its broader adoption.
In the present day, factors come in various shapes and sizes. Some operate as divisions within large financial institutions, while many others are independently owned entrepreneurial endeavors. The popularity of privately owned factors surged in the 1960s and 1970s when high-interest rates made traditional bank financing less accessible. This trend continued in the 1980s, driven by increasing interest rates and changes in the banking industry. As banks became more expensive and inflexible due to regulatory constraints, small business owners sought alternative financing options. Factoring emerged as an increasingly popular choice.
Each year, thousands of businesses leverage factoring to sell billions of dollars in accounts receivable. By doing so, they unlock cash flow, achieve profitability, drive growth, and, in some cases, secure their very survival. Factoring empowers businesses by providing them with the financial support they need to thrive in today's competitive market.
Credit Risk
Quick Cash Flow Solution: Unlocking Success with Expert Credit Risk Assessment
No Additional Cost for Access to Comprehensive Credit Expertise
Accurately evaluating credit risk is a vital aspect of our factoring business. Few clients possess the same level of objectivity as we do in performing this function.
At no extra cost, we serve as your dedicated credit department, supporting both new and existing customers. This provides you with a significant advantage compared to handling credit evaluations internally.
Imagine a scenario where a salesperson pursues a new account with potential for substantial purchases. In their eagerness to secure the business, they might overlook warning signs related to credit difficulties and bypass your internal credit checks. While this approach may lead to a sale, it does not guarantee payment, and without payment, there is no true success.
With us, such situations are avoided. We make credit decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of the new customer's credit situation. We refrain from purchasing invoices from customers with poor credit ratings, minimizing the risk of nonpayment. However, please note that our involvement does not imply a tightening of credit to the extent that it negatively impacts your business beyond your control.
Ultimately, the decision to engage with a new customer of questionable creditworthiness remains yours. (Although, we do reserve the right to say, ""We told you so!"")
While we may not purchase those invoices, you retain the freedom to extend credit terms as you see fit. You remain in control. Regardless of the decisions you make, our participation ensures that you have access to comprehensive, objective, and high-quality information to make informed credit decisions, surpassing your previous practices.
We conduct thorough research on new clients and, equally important, regularly monitor the credit ratings of your existing customers. This stands in stark contrast to the common practice of neglecting routine credit updates on the established customer base. Such oversight can prove to be a costly mistake.
Typically, businesses conduct credit checks only when it's too late, and the problem has already escalated. In contrast, we promptly notify you of any changes in the credit status of your existing customers.
In addition to providing specific customer credit information, we offer comprehensive and detailed reports on your accounts receivables as a whole. Our process includes accounting details, transactional insights, aging reports, and financial management reports. This valuable data empowers you to integrate it into your sales tracking, account history, and in-depth analysis.
With over 70 years of successful experience in managing cash flow and credit, we are excited to leverage our expertise for your benefit. Let us put our knowledge to work for you, helping you achieve your financial goals, unlocking your business's true potential, and paving the way for sustained success.
How To Change Factoring Companies
Changing Your Invoice Finance Provider
Are you considering switching your invoice finance provider? Whether due to dissatisfaction or other reasons, our guide provides clear, factual information. We cover critical aspects like UCCs, the process of transitioning to a new provider, and important questions to consider before making your decision.
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Explained
UCC filings are essential in invoice finance, serving to:
- Monitor rights over assets.
- Inform other lenders about your existing financial agreements.
- Ensure that your financier has priority over your invoices, similar to mortgage or car title arrangements.
Transitioning Between Providers
Switching providers is a critical process involving a "buyout." Here, your new provider takes over the obligations from the old one, akin to mortgage refinancing. This is formalized in a Buyout Agreement.
Calculating the Buyout Amount
The buyout amount generally includes your outstanding invoices minus reserves, plus any fees from your previous financier. It's important to get a detailed breakdown to understand any extra costs, including early termination fees.
Cost Implications of a Buyout
Transitioning can be cost-effective by providing new invoices to your new financier. However, reusing previously financed invoices might incur double fees. Prompt communication with your old provider is crucial to avoid additional costs.
Time Considerations
The transition may add extra time to the typical process, due to buyout calculations and necessary approvals. Choosing an experienced financier can make this transition more efficient.
Complex Scenarios
In some scenarios, rights to your invoices may be shared between your old and new financiers until the balance is settled. However, this is not typically standard practice.
Questions to Ponder Before Committing
- Is working with multiple invoice finance companies simultaneously feasible?
- What are the conditions for changing providers, including notice periods and penalties?
- How does the new provider handle payment processing?
- Who are your primary contacts at the finance company?
- Are there any postage costs associated with mailing invoices?
- Are there additional fees for credit checks or new customer setups?
- When does the provider start reserving funds?
