Factoring Company Guide
The First Stage: Client Application
Start by filling out a basic profile form we give you. This form asks for details like your company's name, address, what kind of business you run, and information about your customers.
You may also have to provide additional documents, such as an accounts receivable aging report or your customers' credit limits. This is because we, as the factoring company, want to understand the overall credit situation of your customers, beyond their history with your business.
In this initial stage, you'll also set up some fundamental financial terms with us. You need to decide how many invoices you want to factor each month (which indicates how much cash you need handy), what the advance rate and the discount rate will be, and how quickly we'll provide the advance to you.
Typically, the answers to these questions will depend on things like how financially stable your customers are, the expected monthly sales volume to be factored, the type of industry you're in, how long you've been in business, and the perceived riskiness of your customers. For example, factoring invoices for many high-risk clients will attract higher fees than a few invoices from slow-paying government agencies.
In the factoring world, volume matters a lot. The more (in terms of dollar amount) you factor, the better rates you'll get.
We'll use the profile you've completed to decide if your business is a good fit for factoring. We'll be weighing up the risks against the rewards, based on the details you've provided.
Once we approve your application, you can expect to negotiate the terms and conditions. This negotiation considers various aspects of the deal. For instance, a company factoring $10,000 can't expect as good a deal as another factoring $500,000.
During these negotiations, you'll get a clear idea of the cost to factor your accounts receivable. After reaching an agreement, the funding process starts. We'll do a background check on your customers' credit and any liens on your company. We'll also confirm that your invoice is valid before purchasing your receivables and giving you an advance.
Factoring Company Benefits
Factoring Benefits: Enhance Your Business Operations
- Alleviate cash flow concerns and shift your focus to business growth.
- Avoid the stress of loan repayments with quick cash access in 2-4 days.
- Maintain complete control over your business decisions.
- Significantly reduce or eliminate costs associated with collecting payments.
- Optimize your cash flow by selectively factoring invoices.
- Stay financially ahead of slow-paying clients.
- Boost your business’s production and sales capabilities.
- Utilize expert services for efficient payment collection and credit assessment.
- Consistently meet your payroll obligations.
- Always have sufficient funds for payroll taxes.
- Benefit from discounts on bulk material purchases.
- Enhance your purchasing power for additional savings and discounts.
- Improve your credit rating by maintaining adequate cash flow.
- Ensure available capital for business expansion.
- Secure necessary funding for your marketing efforts.
- See tangible improvements in your financial statements.
- Receive detailed reports on your accounts receivable for informed decision-making.
Is Factoring For You
The Importance of Factoring
"Without payment, a sale is just a promise."
Ask yourself, are you inadvertently funding your customers’ businesses? Take a close look at your accounts receivable. Those overdue payments? They're essentially interest-free loans you're giving to your customers. This diverges from your core business goals, doesn't it?
Imagine if your customers were borrowing from a bank. They would certainly be paying interest. Meanwhile, you're not earning any interest, and more importantly, you're missing out on using that capital to grow your own business. What's the real cost of having your money tied up in receivables?
It's not just about the interest you're losing; it's the growth opportunities you're missing while your funds are locked in accounts receivable. Are you sure you want to be in the business of financing your customers?
>Consider this: You might be acting as a lender to your customers without even realizing it. Look at your accounts receivable. Those overdue payments? They're interest-free loans you're giving out. This isn't what you planned when you started your business, right?
Factoring History
Factoring History
Hello Business Mavericks and Future Moguls! Ever heard of factoring? It's the unsung hero in the finance world, powering up businesses like yours across America.
It's almost a conspiracy: factoring is hardly ever talked about in business courses or strategy meetings. Yet, it's this secret ingredient that frees up billions of dollars, catapulting businesses to new heights.
What’s factoring, you ask? It's buying invoices at a bargain, a clever tactic for credit-extending businesses. And it's not some new-age gimmick; it’s been around since the days of ancient Mesopotamia.
History is full of factoring success stories, from the Romans to the American colonists, who used it as their financial lifeline. Unlike the slow traditional banking of the past, factoring was the express lane to cash flow.
Today, factoring stands as a titan in the financial world, especially for those who feel let down by traditional banking. It’s the behind-the-scenes hero for thousands of businesses, turning billions in receivables into real, spendable cash. Factoring isn't just about staying afloat; it's about sailing ahead of the competition.
Credit Risk
Quick Cash Flow Solutions: Unlock Expert Credit Risk Assessment at No Additional Cost!
Precisely assessing credit risk is a fundamental aspect of our factoring business. Few, if any, clients can perform this task as objectively as we do.
With no extra charges, we serve as your dedicated credit department for both new and existing customers. This grants you a significant advantage over managing these functions internally.
Imagine a scenario where a salesperson is pursuing a new account with the potential for substantial purchases. In their zeal to secure the business, they may overlook warning signs related to credit difficulties. They might even bypass your internal credit checks to expedite the process. While this could lead to a successful sale, it doesn't guarantee payment, and without payment, there is no sale.
Rest assured, this won't happen with us. 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 nonpayment. However, please understand that our involvement does not impose stringent credit restrictions that would negatively impact your business beyond your control.
The ultimate decision to do business with a new customer of questionable creditworthiness still lies with you. (Nevertheless, we reserve the right to say, ""I told you so!"")
Although we may not purchase those invoices, you still have the freedom to extend credit terms as you see fit. You retain control. Regardless of the decisions you make, our participation ensures that 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, equally importantly, regularly monitor the credit ratings of your existing customers. This sets us apart from many businesses that rarely perform routine credit updates on their established customer base. Neglecting this crucial step can be a grave mistake.
Typically, businesses only conduct a credit check when it's too late, and the problem has already escalated. On the contrary, 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. 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 experience in cash flow and credit management, we are eager to leverage our expertise for your benefit. Let us apply our knowledge to help you achieve your financial goals and unlock the full potential of your business.
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!
