Factoring Company Guide
First Step: Filling Out the Application
Begin your path to financial freedom with our straightforward application process. Just a few simple details about your company and its operations, and you're on your way to unlocking new financial opportunities.
Be prepared to provide documentation like accounts receivable reports. Our goal is to understand the broader financial context of your customers, beyond just their interactions with your business.
This initial step also involves discussing your specific financial requirements, such as the volume of invoices you wish to factor and the rates you can expect. These terms depend on various factors, including the strength of your customers' finances and your business's industry.
The more invoices you factor, the more advantageous your rates can be. We cater to your business's scale and financial aspirations.
We use your application to evaluate if our factoring services match your business's needs. Approval leads to detailed negotiations, where we tailor the agreement to your business's size and factoring volume.
Our negotiation process is transparent, ensuring you understand the cost implications. Once terms are agreed upon, we proceed with due diligence on your customers and invoices before commencing the funding.
Factoring Company Benefits
Factoring Benefits: Unleash Your Business Potential
- Redirect your focus to business growth, free from cash flow worries.
- Avoid loan repayment stress; access cash swiftly in 2-4 days.
- Retain complete control over your business operations.
- Significantly cut costs associated with payment collections.
- Gain precise control over your cash flow by selecting which invoices to sell.
- Stay ahead of slow-paying clients and safeguard your financial stability.
- Boost your production and sales capacity with reliable cash flow.
- Benefit from professional services in payment collection and credit assessment.
- Ensure consistent payroll management, avoiding employee dissatisfaction.
- Maintain sufficient funds to cover payroll taxes.
- Access bulk purchase discounts, thanks to readily available funds.
- Enhance your bargaining power, securing early payment or bulk buying discounts.
- Improve your credit rating with timely bill payments.
- Secure the necessary cash for expanding your business ventures.
- Allocate funds effectively for targeted marketing strategies.
- See tangible improvements in your financial statements.
- Receive in-depth reports on your accounts receivable for better financial planning.
Is Factoring For You
The Importance of Factoring
Completing a sale goes beyond just making the transaction. It's about collecting the money that is owed to you. Imagine being a part-time banker for your customers, providing them with interest-free financing.
Take a moment to examine your accounts receivable aging schedule. How many accounts are overdue by more than 30 days? By not receiving timely payment, you're effectively extending credit to these customers. This may not align with your original business intentions.
Consider this: If your customers approached a bank for the same amount of money, they would expect to pay a significant amount of interest. Yet, you're not earning any interest on the money you've extended to them.
What's more, you're missing out on the opportunity to utilize that capital while waiting for customers to settle their debts. The cost of not having this money readily available can be significant. Essentially, your customers are asking you to finance their business by granting them extended payment terms.
Have you thought about the expenses incurred due to missed opportunities when your funds are tied up in accounts receivable? It's time to take a closer look at the impact on your business and explore the benefits of factoring.
Factoring History
Factoring: Unlocking Financial Opportunities for Businesses
Welcome to the world of factoring, where businesses discover a gateway to financial opportunities. Whether you're a business owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or seeking innovative financing solutions, factoring can be a game-changer in helping you seize growth and success.
Surprisingly, factoring often operates under the radar and remains unfamiliar to many in the business realm. Yet, it serves as a secret weapon for countless thriving enterprises, unlocking vast financial potential year after year.
So, what exactly is factoring? It's a dynamic financial tool that involves selling your accounts receivable (invoices) at a discounted rate. In today's competitive landscape, offering credit terms to customers is a common practice to attract and retain business. However, this can create cash flow challenges, especially for small or emerging businesses that rely on consistent cash flow.
Factoring has a fascinating history that spans centuries. It traces back to ancient civilizations, where innovative minds recognized the value of turning unpaid invoices into immediate funds. Over time, this practice evolved and adapted to meet the changing needs of businesses.
In the modern context, factoring acts as a catalyst for business growth and expansion. By leveraging factoring, businesses can gain quick access to much-needed funds. This infusion of cash enables them to cover operational costs, invest in new initiatives, manage inventory, and seize growth opportunities.
Factoring is not limited to specific industries. Its versatility allows businesses across various sectors, such as manufacturing, services, and wholesale, to leverage its benefits. Whether you're a supplier, a contractor, or a service provider, factoring can provide the financial boost you need to propel your business forward.
Factors, the key players in the factoring process, come in different forms. They can be specialized financial institutions or independent firms dedicated to providing factoring services. These experts understand the unique financial challenges businesses face and tailor their solutions accordingly.
Beyond providing immediate cash flow, factors offer additional value. They assist in credit checks, manage collections, and assume the risks associated with unpaid invoices. This comprehensive approach allows businesses to focus on their core operations while leaving the financial intricacies to the experts.
With factoring, businesses can break free from the constraints of traditional financing options. It offers a flexible alternative that adapts to your specific needs. Say goodbye to lengthy loan applications and rigid repayment terms. Factoring puts you in control, allowing you to unlock the capital tied up in your accounts receivable and utilize it to drive your business forward.
Join the ranks of businesses that have harnessed the power of factoring and experience the transformation it brings. Embrace the financial opportunities it presents, strengthen your cash flow, and unlock the full potential of your business. Factoring is your key to unlocking a world of financial possibilities.
Credit Risk
Gain a Competitive Edge with Quick and Continuous Cash Flow
Expert Credit Risk Assessment Included at No Extra Cost
Accurately assessing credit risk is a critical component of our factoring business. Our objective approach sets us apart from other providers.
We act as your dedicated credit department for both new and existing customers, providing you with a distinct advantage over managing these functions internally.
Imagine a scenario where a salesperson pursues a new account with the potential for substantial purchases. In their eagerness to secure the business, they may overlook credit warning signs and bypass internal credit checks. While this might result in a sale, it offers no guarantee of payment – and without payment, there is no sale.
With us, such situations are avoided. We make credit decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of the new customer's credit situation. We do not purchase invoices from customers with poor credit ratings, mitigating the risk of nonpayment. However, please understand that our involvement does not restrict your credit flexibility or negatively impact your business beyond your control.
Ultimately, the decision to do business with a new customer of questionable creditworthiness remains yours. (Nevertheless, we 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 deem appropriate. You remain in control. With our participation, you gain access to comprehensive, objective, and high-quality information that empowers you to make informed credit decisions, surpassing your previous practices.
We diligently research new clients and regularly monitor the credit ratings of your existing customers. This stands in contrast to the neglect seen in many businesses, where routine credit updates on the established customer base are scarce. Such oversight can be a significant mistake.
Typically, businesses conduct credit checks only when it's too late – when problems have already escalated. 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 benefit from 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 invaluable data allows 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 eager to leverage our expertise for your benefit. Let us harness our knowledge to help you achieve your financial goals, gain a competitive edge, and ensure the continuous flow of cash for your business.
How To Change Factoring Companies
Changing Invoice Financing Providers
Want to switch your invoice financing provider? Not satisfied with your current one? Planning to bid goodbye to your present provider? Not sure what to know before making the switch? Here's a simple guide with all the answers.
Understanding UCC and its role in changing providers
Typically, an invoice financing company (also called a factor) will file a Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). This is like staking a claim on the invoices they've funded. This helps to keep track of who's got a claim on what assets, especially because invoices change every day - some are paid, some are collected, and some new ones are created.
So, the factor files a 'blanket' UCC covering all your invoices, even though you might not be getting funding for all your sales. It's just not practical to file a new UCC for every single invoice. The UCC is like a warning sign for other lenders that there's a deal between your business and the factor.
The specifics of your agreement with the factor, like rates and which accounts are factored, are outlined in a private Security Agreement. A UCC is kind of like having a first mortgage on your business.
The process of changing factors
The factor with the oldest UCC is said to be in the 'First Position' on the collateral. This means they have the first right to collect payments on your invoices and any related items.
If you want to change factors, the old one must be paid off by the new one. This is similar to refinancing your house. The old factor's claim is released and the new one's claim is filed.
The process where the new factor pays off the old one using money from your first funding is called a 'buyout'. The Buyout Agreement, which outlines the transition process, is signed by the old factor, new factor, and your company. In this agreement, you approve the 'buyout figure' provided by the old factor.
How is the Buyout Figure Calculated:
The buyout figure is usually calculated by subtracting any reserves from the Gross Receivables Outstanding and adding in fees due to the old factor. It's good to ask for a breakdown of this figure so you can understand if there are any early termination fees or other charges added to your usual factoring fees.
Once the old factor is paid off, you only have to deal with the new factor. If you're changing from an 80% advance rate to a 90% advance rate, you might have enough money to pay off the old factor without needing more invoices.
How much does the buyout cost?
If you can give the new factor new invoices to pay off the old ones, there's no additional cost for the switch. As payments come in on the old invoices, those payments are forwarded to the new factor who then sends them to you.
However, if you need to resubmit some invoices already factored with the old factor to the new one, those invoices will incur fees from both factors. As a result, your factoring fees for the first month after the change could be higher than normal. If the new factor's rate is lower, you can calculate how long it will take to recover this cost and make a cost-benefit analysis.
How long does a buyout take?
When changing factors, expect the first funding to take a couple of days more than the usual setup process. This extra time is needed for invoice verification and for calculating the buyout figures.
What if my situation is not that easy?
In some cases, the old factor and the new one can work together via an Intercreditor or Subordination Agreement until the old factor is paid off. The old factor has rights to invoices up to a certain date and the new one has rights to all invoices after that date.
Questions you might have wished you asked before signing up with your current factor:
- How many factors can I use at one time? (The universal answer is one, according to the UCC.)
- If I want to change factors, how much notice do I need to give?
- What is the penalty if I leave without giving the required notice?
- Do you use a bank lock box to post my customer payments? If so, how long does it take for a customer's payment to post to my account from the date the bank receives it?
- How long do you hold my original invoices before sending them to my customers?
- How many different people will I work with at your company?
- Do I need to pay for postage for you to mail my invoices?
- Do you charge me every time I have a new customer to check or set up?
- Do you start holding reserves once a customer hits 60 days even though I have 90 day recourse?
