Are you looking for a simple invoice financing product? Invoice factoring or accounts receivable financing isn’t a loan in the strictest sense of the word. However, it is a smart financial solution and financing device for the right business. The funding model works like this; instead of getting a loan, you trade your invoices for cash by selling them to a factoring business at a discount. Your customers will typically pay the factoring firm within 30 to 90 days, and the factoring company will get paid when it collects from them.
Small-business owners can quickly cash in on overdue clients’ invoices with invoice factoring. Business owners whose primary clientele are other companies (B2B) will benefit from this funding method. Invoice factoring can help business owners who have customers that don’t pay for goods or additional services right away by providing them with fast cash to cover payroll and other expenditures.
Debt factoring and accounts receivable factoring are sometimes known as invoice factoring.
A significant source of irritation for business owners is waiting for payment, whether it’s 30, 60, or 90 days. A lack of cash flow might result from extended or delayed payment cycles, negatively impacting business owners’ ability to grow and expand. In addition to being frustrating, these situations may also be illegal under state and federal law.
Invoicing practices vary widely among businesses. Some businesses send out an invoice immediately upon completion of work; others allow their customers to delay paying until they receive their monthly statements.
Factors typically offer financing terms ranging from 14 business days to 12 months. The length of the term depends on the size of the invoice and the creditworthiness of the customer.
The amount financed is based on the face value of the invoice. The rate of interest charged varies depending on the industry and the creditworthiness of the customer. Typically, factors charge discount rates anywhere from 2% to 20%.
Many factors require collateral, such as inventory, equipment, or receivables.
Some factors require the use of specific accounting software programs. Fortunately, some factors provide free integrations with software programs, while others require a fee. Other fees include document preparation costs, late charges, and initial account setup expenses.
Factors often require a personal guarantee from the business owner. Businesses should carefully evaluate all factoring offers. It’s essential to understand what type of contract you’re signing and how it affects you financially.
Could invoice factoring benefit your operation by increasing cash flow and streamlining financial management?
How invoice finance works:
Strategically, this improves your company’s cash flow and revenue stability. Invoice factoring involves “selling” all or a portion of your company’s outstanding invoices to a third party. Your B2B customers will pay the factor directly, and the factoring business will pay you most of your invoiced money instantly. After this example, we’ll go over the positives and downsides of invoice factoring.
Assume you run an office supply store and sell $10,000 worth of goods to another company. Your customer has agreed to pay your invoice in full within 30 days, but you need the funds immediately to pay your employees this week. You’re short on money.
For a standard business bank loan, you’ll likely need an outstanding personal credit score and collateral, such as a piece of real estate that the lender may sell if you default on your payments. You may be eligible for a loan, but you can’t wait for it to close for several months.
The factor agrees to pay you $9,700 in cash (the $10,000 less a factoring fee of $300 or 3%). The factoring company advances 85% of the invoice amount ($8,245). It is up to the factoring firm to collect the invoice when it is due and pay you the remaining $1,455.
When you have a lot of unpaid bills and your company’s cash flow is suffering due to the outstanding unpaid invoices, you should consider invoice factoring.
While most of your customers will settle their accounts within 30 days, some are more difficult to deal with and may demand a more significant effort on your part. In today’s economic environment, it’s not unusual to have payments delayed 60 or even 90 days.
This revenue might represent the bulk of your potential cash flow, and the delayed payments mean you can’t spend it. Factor invoices on time allow you to access some of that money right away. You might spend the money on the following:
The best way to determine whether invoice factoring is right for your business is to calculate what percentage of your total sales represents past due invoices.
This number will give you an idea of how much extra income you could generate if you could receive immediate payment.
You must also consider that invoice financing companies charge fees for using their services. These fees vary depending on the size of your business, the industry you operate in, and other factors.
A typical fee structure includes a one-time setup cost plus monthly maintenance costs. Before you sign anything with a factor company, know the pros and cons.
You might want to read our post on the pros and cons of invoice discounting.
As a result of implementing invoice factoring, you can get most of your outstanding invoices paid almost immediately rather than waiting for the money to arrive (potentially after extensive chasing on your behalf). As a result, business planning and forecasting are more precise, and opportunities that may otherwise be unaffordable can be taken advantage of with this capital solution.
Slow-paying clients experiencing a difficult time can produce a funding shortfall that invoice factoring can assist fill quickly. Factoring for cash flow means getting a quick payment.
An increased inflow of cash is better for your company’s survival. Invoice factoring can keep your firm afloat if you use it effectively. Yet, many businesses fail because of inadequate cash flow.
You can improve cash flow by retaining loyal clients on extended payment terms while at the same time increasing your cash flow to assist your business development.
Having a professional customer service department handling the individual invoices increases the customer satisfaction rate and customer experience.
Invoice factoring is less expensive and easier to get than a bank loan, making it an excellent choice for companies in need of short-term cash. It also removes the burden of managing your bad debt from your shoulders. If you have a sizable customer base, this could reduce debt collection and save money.
Invoice factoring services may help you save money on operating expenses. Invoice factoring has fees, although they may be less than the expense of employing a full-time credit manager. You might alleviate the difficulty of chasing down unpaid invoices by using an invoice factoring service.
Invoice factoring can provide the financing you need if your company doesn’t have collateral, you have a bad credit history or a short operating history.
For the most part, factoring providers are solely interested in your customers’ creditworthiness and the value of your bills.
If you don’t qualify for a business loan and need access to cash due to cash flow gaps, factoring facilities can boost your bottom line. You can get a quick infusion of working capital when you need it. When you’re trying to grow your business, having extra funds available can differentiate between success and failure.
It can be pricey to use this service. If your client is past due on a payment, you may have to pay late fees or application fees and processing fees for each invoice you finance. A rise in your annual percentage rate, the total cost of borrowing money each year, can result from missed invoice payments.
It’s not a good fit for everyone. Because invoices are involved in many company transactions, invoice factoring is best suited to businesses that engage with other businesses (B2B). As a result, firms that deal with customers directly will not be eligible for this option.
You give up some of your control. Treating your customers ethically and adequately is something to watch when dealing with the invoice factoring service.
Derailing your financing is when your customers have poor credit or finances. Your customers’ creditworthiness may need to be verified by the factoring company. You may not get funding if you have a payment history of late or missed payments from your clients or if your business has low revenue. Like other lenders, the factoring company expects repayment.
The collection is not guaranteed. The invoice factoring provider may never collect your outstanding debts. The factoring business may ask you to return or replace the unpaid invoice if it’s a recourse factor.
Invoice factoring isn’t a good option for organizations with few primary clients. Factoring companies want to spread their risk across multiple events to minimize their exposure to a single event. They strive to limit the number of invoices they send to a small number of clients.
Many factoring providers will want to take over most of your accounts receivable, which means you’ll have to make a significant financial investment. A two-year or longer contract is another way they may try to get you to sign on.
You can’t quickly jump in and out of invoice factoring whenever you want. It’s a huge choice for the company.
If your customers are high-risk (either by industry or after credit checks), you’ll have to pay more with this financing option. Factoring companies do their best to determine the risk of late payment or non-payment of debt.
The result is that factors will vet your customers will be thorough. Their fees will be high if they believe you or your customers are a high credit risk; expect to pay more if this is the case.
If it doesn’t function, there will be further charges. If your clients don’t pay on time, you may have to pay additional fees. There’s a chance that if a customer doesn’t pay, you’ll have to reimburse the factoring firm for the money they’ve already paid you. Beware of factoring companies who will accept your bad debts for free. They, too, are in it for the money.
It can damage your customer connections and customer relationships. In addition to handing over the responsibility of your client contacts, factoring companies also undertake credit control on your behalf.
Cold or harsh action by the factoring provider may discourage future business with your clients, who may not like working with you in the future. Some see a factoring company as a sign that your firm isn’t performing so well.
Small firms can’t function and avoid cash flow problems without access to operating capital. However, it is crucial to make an informed choice regarding the loan company you’re working with to help your finances.
We’ve compiled a list of eight key questions to ask when evaluating invoice factoring companies to help you narrow down your options. Consider your business’s needs before deciding on an invoice factoring company.
Choosing which invoices to submit for funding or having the option to factor in all your invoices is optimal. Do you want to take the chance that a customer won’t pay an invoice?
When it comes to factoring, it’s vital to understand the following financial language and options:
Whole Ledger Factoring vs. Spot Factoring
Whole Ledger Factoring
With Full Turn Factoring, a business must send all its client invoices to the factoring company. Whole ledger factoring costs less than spot factoring, but you’ll be hit with a high cancellation fee if you break your contract.
Spot Factoring
It is possible to factor a single outstanding invoice on a one-time basis without long-term contracts, allowing for greater flexibility, a short term cash flow problem, and immediate cash. On the other hand, spot factoring fees tend to be more significant.
Recourse vs. Non-recourse
Recourse
If a business customer fails to pay an invoice on time, recourse factoring means the business owner bears the risk. It’s your responsibility to cover the factoring company’s charges and repurchase the invoice if your customer doesn’t pay it.
Non-recourse
Nonrecourse factoring, on the other hand, is more hazardous for the factor and thus more expensive. Non recourse factoring means that business owners will not be liable if their clients do not pay the outstanding invoices.
However, the costs are typically higher because the business factoring company assumes more risk. Non-recourse factoring process, on the other hand, tends to reject bills from clients with low credit scores and bad payment histories.
Invoice Financing vs. Factoring
Receivable financing is a form of factoring that sells your accounts receivables to a factoring company at a discount for a cash advance. Advance rates are between 70 and 90 percent of a sale’s invoice and are in advance as a down payment. Because the cash you receive is on the invoices you submit, factoring offers greater flexibility than standard bank financing because it is essentially a debt-free type of financing.
Minimum Acceptable Prospect Criteria
Deal Killers
Industries/Deals We DON’T Serve
Basic Requirements
At Sunwise Capital, we can provide cash for your invoices in the next 24 hours. No more having to wait days for your payments. Imagine getting money today in your bank account rather than waiting for 30, 45, or even 60 days for that invoice payment. Start with our online application.
