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 Benefits: Get Ahead in the Game
- Forget about cash flow nightmares – focus on expanding your business.
- Ditch the stress of monthly loan payments. Get cash in a flash – 2 to 4 days!
- Stay in charge of your business destiny.
- Slash or completely eliminate those annoying payment collection costs.
- Call the shots on your cash flow by picking which invoices to sell.
- Stay one step ahead of clients who drag their feet on payments.
- Power up your production and sales with a constant cash stream.
- Take advantage of expert services for payment collection and credit checks.
- Make sure your payroll is always on point.
- Keep enough cash on hand for payroll taxes, no sweat.
- Enjoy the perks of bulk buying with ample cash reserves.
- Bolster your bargaining power for even better deals.
- Enhance your credit score with consistent, on-time payments.
- Have the cash ready for expanding your business ventures.
- Pump up your marketing with a healthy cash flow.
- Give your financial statements a healthy glow.
- Gain valuable insights from detailed accounts receivable reports.
Is Factoring For You
Recognizing the Importance of Factoring
"When you don't collect the money, a sale remains unfinished."
Have you ever felt like you're taking on the role of a part-time banker for your customers?
Take a moment to examine your accounts receivable aging schedule and count how many accounts are overdue by more than 30 days. Congratulations, you're essentially providing credit to those customers. By not receiving timely payment for your products or services, you're essentially offering interest-free financing to your customers. This may not align with your original business intentions, does it?
Let's consider this:
If your customers were to approach a bank and borrow the same amount of money, they would undoubtedly expect to pay a significant amount of interest for that privilege.
Moreover:
Not only are you missing out on earning any interest on that money, but more importantly, you're also losing the opportunity to utilize that capital while waiting for your customers to settle their debts. What is the cost of not having this money readily available? Essentially, your customers are essentially requesting you to finance their business by granting them extended payment terms, often exceeding 30 days.
However, have you ever taken a moment to contemplate the expenses incurred due to "missed opportunities" when your funds are tied up in accounts receivable? It's worth reflecting on the impact this has on your business and exploring how factoring can help alleviate these challenges.
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
Unlocking Quick and Continuous Cash: Yes, It's Possible!
Not only do we provide you with quick and continuous cash flow, but we also offer our credit risk expertise at no additional cost. Accurately assessing credit risk is a vital part of our factoring business, and few clients can perform this function as objectively as we can.
As part of our service, we act as your credit department for both new and existing customers, giving you a significant advantage over in-house credit performance. Consider a scenario where a salesperson is eager to secure a new account with the potential for large purchases. In their zeal for business, they may overlook red flags associated with credit difficulties. They might even bypass your internal credit checking procedures to circumvent established controls. While this may result in making the sale, it won't guarantee payment. After all, without money, there is no sale.
With us, this won't be the case. We make credit decisions with full knowledge of the new customer's credit situation. We refuse to buy the invoices of poorly-rated customers and risk nonpayment. However, please don't view our involvement as a tightening of credit to the extent that it negatively affects your business beyond your control.
If you have a new customer with questionable creditworthiness, the decision to do business with them is ultimately yours. (Although, we reserve the right to say, "I told you so!")
While we may not purchase invoices from such customers, you are still free to extend credit terms as you see fit. You remain in control. Whatever decisions you make, rest assured that our participation ensures you have access to more complete, objective, and higher-quality information than ever before.
We conduct thorough research on new clients and regularly check the credit ratings of your existing customers. This sets us apart from most businesses, where routine credit updates on the established customer base are seldom performed—an approach that can lead to potentially significant mistakes.
By opting for a credit check, businesses often discover issues when it's already too late and the problem has spiraled out of control. In contrast, we promptly inform you if there is a change in the credit status of any 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. Through this process, you gain access to accounting details, transactional information, aging reports, and financial management reports. These resources empower you to incorporate the data into your sales tracking, account history, and in-depth analysis.
With over 70 years of successful experience in cash flow and credit management, we're excited to put our expertise to work for you.
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?
