Factoring Company Guide
Step One: Application
The process starts with you filling out a straightforward form we'll provide. It asks for basic details such as your company's name, address, the kind of business you do, and some info about your customers.
There might be a need for you to share some documents like an aging report of accounts receivable or credit limits of your customers. The factoring company is interested in assessing your customers' ability to pay, and this isn't based solely on their past dealings with your business. We're looking for a comprehensive understanding of their financial health.
In the beginning, you'll also talk about financial specifics with the factoring company. You'll discuss how many invoices you plan to factor each month (meaning how much cash you want readily available), the rates of advance and discount, and the speed of issuing the advance by the factoring company.
Typically, these elements might differ based on your customers' financial stability and your estimated monthly sales volume for factoring. Other variables could be your industry, business longevity, and perceived risk associated with your customers. For instance, dealing with many high-risk customers could mean higher factoring fees compared to having a few slow-paying government agencies as customers.
In factoring, the total dollar amount you factor is crucial. More the volume (the total dollar amount of the invoices you factor), better the rates you get.
The factoring company will examine the application you submit to decide if factoring suits your business. They will assess the potential risks and rewards using the details you've provided.
Upon approval, negotiations for terms and conditions can be expected. The negotiation takes into account several aspects of the deal. For example, a $10,000 factoring deal won't have as favorable conditions as a $500,000 one.
During the negotiation, you'll understand the cost of factoring your accounts receivable. Once an agreement is reached, the factoring company begins the funding process. They'll check your customers' credit, look for any liens against your company, and confirm the authenticity of your invoice. Only after these checks, they buy your receivables and give you the cash advance.
Factoring Company Benefits
Factoring Advantages: Catalyze Your Business Success
- Shift your attention from cash flow stress to strategic business growth.
- Relieve yourself from the constraints of loan repayments with rapid cash access.
- Keep complete control over your business’s trajectory.
- Slash or completely avoid the costs involved in payment collection.
- Exercise superior control over your cash flow by selecting invoices to sell wisely.
- Overcome the challenges posed by late-paying clients.
- Use a reliable cash flow to increase your production and sales.
- Leverage expert services for efficient payment collections and credit checks.
- Ensure timely payroll management, securing employee satisfaction.
- Always be prepared for payroll tax obligations.
- Seize the opportunity for discounts through bulk purchases.
- Amplify your buying power for more economical purchases and early payment discounts.
- Consistently pay your bills on time, enhancing your credit rating.
- Generate the capital you need for business expansion.
- Invest in marketing your business effectively with a solid financial foundation.
- Witness significant improvements in your financial statements.
- Receive detailed reports providing valuable insights into your accounts receivable.
Is Factoring For You
The Importance of Factoring
"A sale isn't complete until the payment is secure."
It's time for a wake-up call: Are you inadvertently acting as a financial crutch for your customers? Review your overdue accounts. These are not just numbers; they represent your hard-earned money being lent out, interest-free. This wasn't part of your business plan, was it?
Consider this: If your customers borrowed from a bank, they'd pay interest. Yet, here you are, not only missing out on interest but also losing vital opportunities to grow your business with that capital. What could you achieve if that money was available to you now?
It's more than just lost interest; it's about the lost opportunities and growth potential that's being tied up in receivables. Is it really your role to finance your customers' operations?
"Remember, a sale isn't complete until the money is in your hands."
Factoring History
Factoring History
Welcome to the world of factoring. Whether you're a business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or seeking new financial tools for your current employer, factoring can help you achieve your financial goals. Surprisingly, factoring serves as the financial backbone for many successful American businesses.
The irony lies in the fact that factoring is rarely taught in business colleges, seldom mentioned in business plans, and remains relatively unknown to the majority of American businesspeople. However, it plays a crucial role in freeing up billions of dollars every year, enabling thousands of businesses to thrive and prosper.
So, what exactly is factoring? It is the process of purchasing commercial accounts receivable (invoices) from a business at a discount. In today's business landscape, offering credit terms to customers has become a common practice in order to secure business. However, these terms can strain the financial health of new or struggling companies, as cash flow is the lifeblood of any business.
Factoring has a rich and ancient tradition, dating back 4,000 years to the days of Hammurabi, the king of Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia, often called the "cradle of civilization," contributed numerous advancements including writing, structured business codes, government regulations, and the concept of factoring.
Over time, various civilizations embraced factoring. The Romans, for example, were the first to sell promissory notes at a discount. In the American colonies before the revolution, factoring gained widespread documented use. The colonists relied on merchant bankers in London and Europe who provided funds in advance for shipping cotton, furs, and timber before they reached the continent. This allowed the colonists to continue their operations without waiting for payment from European customers.
It's important to note that these arrangements differed from modern banking relationships. If the colonists had relied on traditional banking services in eighteenth-century England, the process would have been much slower. Banks would have awaited payment from the European buyers before paying the colonists. This impractical process led to the emergence of factors in colonial times, who advanced funds against accounts receivable, enabling clients to continue their operations before receiving payment.
During the Industrial Revolution, factoring evolved to focus more on credit issues while preserving its core principle. Factors assisted clients in assessing the creditworthiness of their customers and establishing credit limits, thus guaranteeing payment for approved customers. This practice, known as non-recourse factoring, is common in today's business landscape.
Prior to the 1930s, factoring primarily occurred in the textile and garment industries, as these industries directly inherited the colonial economy's reliance on factoring. After the war years, factors recognized the potential to extend factoring to other industries that relied on invoices, leading to its expansion.
Today, factors come in various forms and sizes. They exist as divisions within large financial institutions, but more frequently as privately owned entrepreneurial endeavors. The rise of private factors surged in the 1960s and 1970s when interest rates soared to unprecedented heights. This trend continued in the 1980s due to increasing interest rates and changes in the banking industry. With banks becoming costly and inflexible due to heavy regulations (recall the Savings and Loan crisis), small business owners sought alternative sources of financing for their expansion and growth. As more banks distanced themselves from small business owners, factoring emerged as a popular option.
Each year, thousands of businesses sell billions of dollars in accounts receivable through factoring. They do so to achieve profitability, fuel growth, and, in some cases, ensure their very survival.
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
Thinking about switching your invoice finance provider? Whether it’s due to dissatisfaction or a strategic move, this guide is your comprehensive handbook. We'll navigate through the complexities of UCCs, the transition process, and key considerations before you commit to a new financial partner.
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Explained
A UCC filing is a standard practice for invoice finance companies. It’s akin to a safety net, ensuring their rights are protected:
- It keeps track of asset rights.
- Alerts potential lenders about existing financial arrangements.
- Guarantees that your financier has priority claim over your invoices.
Transitioning Between Providers
Switching providers is similar to refinancing a mortgage. It involves a "buyout" where your new provider takes over the balance from the old one, formalized by a Buyout Agreement.
Calculating the Buyout Amount
The buyout amount typically includes the total unpaid invoices minus any reserves, along with fees from your old financier. Always ask for a detailed breakdown to understand any additional charges or early termination fees.
Cost Implications of a Buyout
Transitioning can be financially neutral if you use new invoices. However, reusing financed invoices might incur double fees. Some financiers offer discounts, but timely notification to your old provider is crucial to avoid extra charges.
Time Considerations
Switching may extend the usual processing time due to buyout calculations and approvals. The amount can fluctuate based on accruing fees and ongoing payments. Partnering with an experienced company can make this transition smoother.
Complex Scenarios
In certain cases, both your old and new financiers might have rights to your invoices until the previous balance is settled, though this isn’t the norm.
Questions to Ponder Before Committing
- Is it feasible to work with multiple invoice finance companies at once?
- What is the notice period for changing providers, and are there associated penalties?
- How does the new provider handle payments, and what’s the turnaround time?
- Who will be your primary contact at the finance company, and how many different people will you work with?
- Will you be responsible for postage costs for sending invoices?
- Are there extra charges for credit checks or setting up new clients?
- When does the provider start holding reserves?
