Factoring Company Guide
Starting Point: The Client Application
First, you'll fill out a basic client profile form we'll give you. This will ask for straightforward information such as your company's name, location, business type, and some details about your clients.
Additionally, you might have to provide documents like an accounts receivable aging report or details on your clients' credit limits. Keep in mind, we (the factor) are trying to determine how creditworthy your clients are, not just based on their history with you but their overall credit status.
At this stage, we'll also talk about some financial arrangements. Questions like, how many invoices do you want to factor each month (or how much cash you need immediately)? What will be the advance rate and the discount rate? And, how soon can we give you the advance?
Typically, the answers to these questions depend on the financial health of your clients and the expected monthly sales to be factored. Other aspects like your industry, the duration of your business, and the risk profile of your clients also play a part. For example, a long list of high-risk clients would mean higher factoring fees than a list of slow-paying government agencies.
In the factoring world, volume is key. The more invoices you factor (the higher your volume), the better rates you will get.
We'll use the client profile you provide to see if your business fits well with factoring. Basically, we're assessing the risks and rewards based on the information you've shared.
Once we approve, you'll then negotiate terms and conditions. This process considers various aspects of the deal. For example, factoring $10,000 won't get you as good a deal as a company factoring $500,000.
During negotiations, you'll fully understand the cost of factoring your accounts receivable. Once an agreement is reached, the funding process starts. We'll conduct due diligence by researching your clients' credit and any liens against your company. We also make sure your invoice is genuine before purchasing your receivables and advancing cash to you.
Factoring Company Benefits
Benefits of Invoice Factoring:
- Spend less time worrying about money and more time growing your business.
- Forget about the stress of regular loan repayments. You could have the money in just a few days.
- You keep complete control over your business operations.
- Reduce or even eliminate the costs and effort of chasing clients for payment.
- You decide which invoices to sell and when, giving you better control of your cash flow.
- Overcome the problem of clients who are slow to pay.
- Increase your production and sales volume.
- Benefit from professional help with collecting debts and checking credit.
- Meet your payroll commitments with ease.
- Pay your payroll taxes without any hassle.
- Get discounts for cash payments for your supplies.
- Boost your purchasing power, allowing you to take advantage of bulk purchase or early payment discounts.
- Improve your credit rating because you always have cash available to pay bills on time.
- Have ready cash to expand your business.
- Have funds available for your marketing campaigns.
- Improve the look of your financial statements.
- Get comprehensive and detailed reports on your accounts receivable.
Is Factoring For You
The Importance of Factoring
"Only when the money’s in your pocket is a sale complete." Ever feel like you’re doubling as a banker for your customers? It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee.
Take a peek at your accounts receivable. Those invoices overdue for over 30 days? That's you, extending credit without interest. Bet you didn’t plan on being a lender when you started your business.
Picture this: If those same customers went to a bank, they'd be paying interest. But to you? They get a free pass. And what do you get? Missed opportunities to grow your business. Think about the real cost of that.
Here’s the deal: You’re not in the business to finance your customers’ operations. Let’s stop the cycle and take control of your cash flow. It's time to play it smart.
Factoring History
Factoring: Empowering Businesses to Thrive and Flourish
Welcome to the world of factoring, where businesses discover the power to thrive and flourish. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or a budding business owner, factoring can be the key to unlocking your business's true potential.
It's surprising that factoring often remains overlooked, with many business owners unaware of its immense benefits. Yet, factoring serves as a catalyst for growth, providing businesses with the financial boost they need to succeed.
But what exactly is factoring? At its core, factoring involves selling your accounts receivable (invoices) to a specialized financial institution at a discount. In today's competitive landscape, offering credit terms to customers is essential for attracting and retaining business. However, waiting for payments can strain your cash flow and hinder your ability to invest, expand, and take advantage of new opportunities.
Factoring has a rich history that spans centuries, evolving and adapting to meet the changing needs of businesses. Today, factoring empowers businesses to access immediate cash flow by converting their unpaid invoices into working capital. This influx of funds enables you to cover expenses, invest in growth initiatives, and navigate the ups and downs of the business world with confidence.
Factoring is not limited to specific industries or business sizes. Whether you're in manufacturing, services, or retail, factoring can be tailored to meet your unique needs. It provides the flexibility to grow and adapt alongside your business, supporting your journey towards success.
Working with a reputable factor brings additional advantages. Factors offer expertise in credit analysis, collections, and risk management. They assume the responsibility of managing your receivables, allowing you to focus on core operations and strategic decision-making. This partnership ensures a steady cash flow, minimizes the risks associated with late payments, and frees up valuable time and resources.
Embracing factoring means breaking free from the constraints of traditional financing options. It offers a fast, flexible, and accessible solution for businesses seeking growth and stability. With factoring, you can seize new opportunities, expand your market presence, and invest in the future of your business.
Join the ranks of businesses that have harnessed the power of factoring and experience the transformative impact it can have. Unleash your business's true potential, fuel its growth, and create a path to long-term success. Factoring is the bridge that connects your aspirations to reality, empowering you to thrive in today's competitive business landscape.
Credit Risk
Quick Continuous Cash: Get Expert Credit Risk Assessment at No Extra Cost!
Accurately evaluating credit risk is a crucial aspect of our factoring business. Very few, if any, clients can perform this function as objectively as we can.
At no additional fee, we act as your dedicated credit department for both new and existing customers. This gives you a significant advantage over handling these functions in-house.
Imagine a scenario where a salesperson is pursuing a new account with the potential for substantial purchases. The salesperson may be so focused on winning the business that they 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 won't guarantee payment, and without payment, there is no sale.
With us, this situation won't occur. We make credit decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of the new customer's credit situation. We won't purchase the invoices of customers with poor credit ratings, minimizing the risk of nonpayment. However, please don't view our involvement as a tightening of credit to the extent that it negatively impacts your business beyond your control.
If you have a new customer with questionable creditworthiness, the ultimate 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 still retain the freedom to extend credit terms as you see fit. You remain in control. Regardless of the decisions you make, thanks to our participation, you can be confident that you'll have access to more comprehensive, objective, and high-quality information for informed credit decisions compared to your past practices.
We thoroughly research new clients and, equally importantly, regularly monitor the credit ratings of your existing customers. This is in stark contrast to most businesses where routine credit updates on the established customer base are rare. Such neglect 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. On the other hand, we will promptly inform you if there are any changes in the credit status of your existing customers.
In addition to providing specific customer credit information, you'll also enjoy the benefits of comprehensive, detailed reports on your accounts receivables as a whole. As part of our process, you'll receive 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 Factoring Service Provider
Need-to-know info about switching invoice factoring firms.
Are you considering a different invoice factoring firm?
Are you dissatisfied with your current one?
Planning on ditching your current factoring firm?
What should I know before I switch factoring companies?
Here's a guide answering all these queries and more:
Understanding UCC and its role in switching factoring firms:
Usually, factoring companies file a general Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) to secure their claim over the invoices they've funded.
The UCC helps factoring companies, banks, and lenders know who's lent money on which assets. As invoices change daily, factoring companies need to file a 'blanket' UCC that secures all your receivables, even if you're only factoring a part of your sales. This 'blanket' UCC acts as a signal to other lenders, showing a Security Agreement exists between you and the factoring company.
Your specific factoring details, like rates and which accounts are factored, are laid out in the Security Agreement, which is not publicly accessible. Essentially, a UCC works like a first mortgage on your business.
The Process of Switching Companies
The lender with the earliest UCC filing gets 'First Position' on the promised collateral. For instance, a factoring firm has first rights to collect payments on your invoices.
To switch factoring firms, the new factoring firm has to pay off the old one. At the same time, the old factoring company's claim is released, and the new company's claim is filed, similar to refinancing a house.
A 'buyout' is when the new factoring firm pays off the old one using funds from your first financing.
The Buyout Agreement details the transition process and is signed by the old factoring firm, new factoring firm, and your company. In this agreement, you agree to the 'buyout figure' provided by the old factoring company.
How is the Buyout Figure Determined:
The buyout figure is usually the total outstanding receivables minus any reserves and then plus any fees owed to the old factoring firm. It's a good idea to ask for a detailed breakdown of your figure to ensure you understand if there are any early termination fees or additional charges.
What does the buyout cost?
If you can provide new invoices to the new factoring company, which they can use to pay off the outstanding invoices at your old firm, then you wouldn't incur additional costs for the switch. However, most companies need to resubmit some of the invoices already factored with the old company to the new one. In this case, the 'overlap' invoices will incur fees from both factoring firms.
How long does a buyout take?
When you're switching factoring firms, plan for the first funding to take two to three more days than the normal setup process. The extra days will be used to verify the invoices and calculate buyout figures for your approval.
What if my situation is more complex?
Although it's not usual, the old and new factoring firms can collaborate via an Intercreditor or Subordination Agreement until the old firm is paid off. Depending on the situation, factoring firms have managed to 'draw a line in the sand,' where the old firm has rights to invoices up to a certain date, and the new firm has rights to all invoices after that date.
Questions you should have asked before signing up with your current factoring firm:
- Can I use multiple factoring firms at once? The universal answer is one, according to the Uniform Commercial Code/UCC.
- If I decide to switch factoring firms, how much notice do I need to give?
- What is the penalty for leaving without giving the required notice and can you provide an example of how the fees are calculated? Beware of 13-month contracts that require a certain monthly factoring volume.
For example, a 13-month contract where you've agreed to factor $100,000 per month at a rate of 3% means you promise to pay them $3,000 per month in factoring fees or $34,000 in total over the next year. If you want to leave after 6 months, they will charge you the fees for the remaining 6 months, which equals $13,000. This can be too expensive for most companies, especially those with low profit margins. You're stuck!
