Factoring Company Guide
First Step: Filling Out the Application
You start by completing a basic application we give you. This application asks for simple details like your company's name and address, what your business does, and information about your customers.
You might also have to give us documents like an accounts receivable aging report or information about your customers' credit limits. Keep in mind that the factoring company will try to figure out how likely your customers are to pay their bills, regardless of their past history with your business. We want a bigger picture of their overall financial situation.
In this first step, you'll also discuss the financial setup with the factoring company. This includes things like how many invoices you want to factor every month (or how much money you need to have on hand), what the advance rate and discount rate will be, and how fast the factoring company will give you the advance.
Usually, the answers to these questions change based on how financially strong your customers are and how much you expect to sell and factor every month. There might be differences based on what industry you're in, how long you've been in business, and how risky your customers are. For example, if you have many high-risk customers, you'll likely pay more in factoring fees than if you only have a few government customers who pay slowly.
In the factoring world, the amount of money you're factoring is really important. The more invoices you factor (or the more money you're dealing with), the better your rates will be.
The factoring company will use the application you give them to decide if factoring is a good fit for your business. They'll do this by weighing the risks and rewards based on the information you gave them.
Once you're approved, you can expect to start negotiating the specifics of the deal. These negotiations take many parts of the deal into account. For example, if you want to factor $10,000, you won't get as good a deal as a company that wants to factor $500,000.
During these negotiations, you'll get a clear idea of how much it costs to factor your accounts receivable. After you and the factoring company agree on the terms, they'll start the funding process. They do this by checking your customers' credit, looking for any issues with your company, and making sure your invoice is legitimate before they buy your receivables and give you the cash advance.
Factoring Company Benefits
Factoring Advantages: Strengthen Your Business Financially
- Shift your focus from cash flow to proactive business growth.
- Eliminate loan repayment stress with quick, accessible cash.
- Maintain autonomy and control over your business decisions.
- Lower or eliminate costs associated with payment collection efforts.
- Optimize your cash flow management by selecting the right invoices to factor.
- Outmaneuver clients who are slow to pay, securing your financial health.
- Boost your business’s production and sales with a steady cash stream.
- Access expert services for streamlined payment collection and credit assessments.
- Always be ready to meet your payroll commitments.
- Secure funds to cover payroll taxes without concern.
- Unlock the ability to buy materials in bulk at discounted prices.
- Enhance your buying power, leading to more cost-effective business operations.
- Better your credit rating with consistent and timely bill payments.
- Ensure you have the capital for business expansion and new ventures.
- Allocate adequate funding for marketing and promotional activities.
- See marked improvements in your financial reporting.
- Benefit from detailed accounts receivable reports for informed decision-making.
Is Factoring For You
The Importance of Factoring
"A sale isn't truly complete until the money is in your bank." Are you unwittingly becoming a part-time banker for your customers? It's time to take stock.
Review your accounts receivable. How many are overdue by 30 days or more? This isn't just a number; it's a reflection of how you're inadvertently extending credit, interest-free. This likely wasn't your plan when you started your business.
Imagine if your customers sought a bank loan for the same amount. They would expect, and accept, a significant interest rate. Yet, here you are, not reaping any interest, and more crucially, missing out on reinvesting that capital in your business.
Your clients, in essence, are enjoying an interest-free loan at your expense. What could you achieve with that capital if it were available for immediate use? It's time to reassess the real cost of your generosity.
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 Continuous Cash: Access Expert Credit Risk Assessment at No Extra Cost!
Accurately evaluating credit risk is a vital part of our factoring business, and few clients can match our objectivity in performing this function.
As part of our service, we act as your dedicated credit department for both new and existing customers, providing you with a significant advantage over handling these functions internally.
Imagine a scenario where a salesperson is pursuing a new account with the potential for substantial purchases. The salesperson's focus on winning the business may lead them to overlook warning signs related to credit difficulties. They might even bypass your internal credit checks to expedite the process. While this may secure the sale, it doesn't guarantee payment, and without payment, there is no sale.
With us, this situation doesn't arise. We make credit decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of the new customer's credit situation. We avoid purchasing invoices from customers with poor credit ratings, minimizing the risk of non-payment. However, please understand that our involvement doesn't tighten credit to the extent that it negatively impacts your business beyond your control.
If you have a new customer with questionable creditworthiness, the decision to do business with them remains yours. (Nevertheless, we reserve the right to say, "I 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 you have access to more comprehensive, objective, and high-quality information for informed credit decisions compared to your previous practices.
We conduct thorough research on new clients and regularly monitor the credit ratings of your existing customers. This contrasts with the norm in many businesses, where routine credit updates on the established customer base are rare. Neglecting this can be a grave mistake.
Typically, businesses only conduct a credit check when it's too late, and the problem has already spiraled out of control. In contrast, we promptly inform you of any changes in the credit status of your existing customers.
In addition to providing specific customer credit information, you'll also benefit from comprehensive, detailed reports on your accounts receivables as a whole. Our process includes accounting details, transactional insights, aging reports, and financial management reports. This data empowers you to incorporate it into your sales tracking, account history, and in-depth analysis.
With over 70 years of successful cash flow and credit management experience, we are eager to leverage our expertise for your benefit. Let us put our knowledge to work for you and help you achieve your financial goals.
How To Change Factoring Companies
Changing Your Invoice Finance Provider
Thinking about switching your invoice finance provider? Our comprehensive guide provides you with a clear understanding of the entire process. We cover the essentials, from UCCs to transitioning, along with critical questions to consider before committing to a new partnership.
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Explained
Invoice finance companies use UCC filings to protect their interests. Understanding UCCs is crucial as they:
- Track rights over assets.
- Inform other lenders about existing financial agreements.
- Ensure the financier's priority on your invoices, akin to how mortgages or car titles work.
Transitioning Between Providers
When you switch providers, it involves a "buyout." Your new provider takes over the balance from your previous one, similar to a mortgage refinancing. This is formalized in a Buyout Agreement.
Calculating the Buyout Amount
The buyout amount typically includes your unpaid invoices minus any reserves, plus additional fees. It's important to request a detailed breakdown to fully understand all costs, including early termination fees.
Cost Implications of a Buyout
Transitioning can be cost-effective, especially if you provide new invoices to your new financier. Avoid re-submitting previously financed invoices to prevent double fees. Prompt communication with your old provider is essential to avoid additional charges.
Time Considerations
Changing providers may require extra processing time due to buyout calculations. Working with an experienced financier can help make this transition smoother.
Complex Scenarios
In some cases, both your old and new financiers may hold rights to your invoices during the transition, though this is not always the case.
Questions to Ponder Before Committing
- Is it possible to work with multiple invoice finance companies?
- What are the notice periods and penalties for changing providers?
- How long does the new provider take to process payments?
- Who will be your point of contact at the finance company?
- Are there any postage costs for sending invoices?
- What additional fees, like credit checks or new customer setups, can you expect?
- When does the financier start reserving funds?
