Factoring Company Guide
First Step: Filling Out the Application
Hey there! Ready to kickstart your financial revolution? It all begins with our no-nonsense application. Just the basics: your company's name, what you do, and a bit about your customers. This isn't just paperwork; it's the first step to unlocking a treasure trove of cash flow.
Got some financial docs lying around, like an accounts receivable report? You'll need those too. We're digging deep to understand your customers' real ability to pay up, not just their history with you. We're talking big picture here.
This is where it gets juicy. We'll talk numbers - how many invoices you're playing with, the cash you need at your fingertips, and how fast you can get it. All this depends on how solid your customers are, what you're selling, and how risky your business dance is.
Remember, size matters in factoring. The more invoices you throw into the mix, the sweeter the deal gets for you.
Once you hand us your application, we'll weigh the risks and rewards like financial pros and see if factoring is your golden ticket. After you're in, get ready to haggle over the nitty-gritty of the deal. Bigger numbers, better terms - that's the name of the game.
In these negotiations, we'll lay it all out – every cost, clear as day. Then, once we shake hands on it, we're off to the races: checking your customers' credit, making sure your invoices are legit, and getting you that cash advance pronto.
Factoring Company Benefits
Factoring Advantages: Strengthen Your Business Financially
- Shift your focus from cash flow to proactive business growth.
- Eliminate loan repayment stress with quick, accessible cash.
- Maintain autonomy and control over your business decisions.
- Lower or eliminate costs associated with payment collection efforts.
- Optimize your cash flow management by selecting the right invoices to factor.
- Outmaneuver clients who are slow to pay, securing your financial health.
- Boost your business’s production and sales with a steady cash stream.
- Access expert services for streamlined payment collection and credit assessments.
- Always be ready to meet your payroll commitments.
- Secure funds to cover payroll taxes without concern.
- Unlock the ability to buy materials in bulk at discounted prices.
- Enhance your buying power, leading to more cost-effective business operations.
- Better your credit rating with consistent and timely bill payments.
- Ensure you have the capital for business expansion and new ventures.
- Allocate adequate funding for marketing and promotional activities.
- See marked improvements in your financial reporting.
- Benefit from detailed accounts receivable reports for informed decision-making.
Is Factoring For You
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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?
p>Imagine if your customers got the same amount of money from a bank. They'd be paying significant interest. But here you are, not earning any interest and, worse, losing the chance to invest that money back into your business. What could you be achieving with that capital right now?
Factoring History
Factoring: Empowering Businesses for Success
Welcome to the world of factoring, where businesses find the power to thrive and achieve unparalleled success. Whether you're an established business owner or an aspiring entrepreneur, factoring can be the driving force behind your financial growth and prosperity.
It's surprising that factoring often remains a well-kept secret, with many business owners unaware of its transformative benefits. However, factoring holds the key to unlocking your business's potential, providing the necessary financial support to fuel your ambitions.
But what exactly is factoring? At its core, factoring involves selling your accounts receivable (invoices) to a specialized financing company at a discounted rate. In today's competitive landscape, offering credit terms to customers is essential for business growth. However, delayed payments can hinder your cash flow and impede your ability to invest, expand, and seize new opportunities.
Factoring has a rich history that spans centuries, adapting to the evolving needs of businesses over time. Today, factoring acts as a catalyst for growth, empowering businesses to access immediate cash flow by converting their outstanding invoices into working capital. This infusion of funds provides the flexibility to cover expenses, invest in innovation, and fuel your journey towards success.
Factoring is not limited to specific industries or business sizes. Whether you're in manufacturing, services, wholesale, or beyond, factoring can be tailored to your unique needs. It accommodates the diverse requirements of businesses, offering scalability and adaptability as you navigate the ever-changing business landscape.
By partnering with a reputable factor, you gain more than just financial support. Factors bring expertise in credit analysis, collections, and risk management. They assume the responsibility of managing your receivables, freeing up your time and resources to focus on core business operations and strategic decision-making. This collaborative approach ensures a steady cash flow, minimizes the risks of late payments, and provides peace of mind.
Factoring liberates businesses from the limitations of traditional financing options. It offers a faster, more accessible alternative that aligns with the dynamic nature of modern business. With factoring, you can unlock working capital, seize growth opportunities, expand your market reach, and take your business to new heights.
Join the ranks of businesses that have embraced factoring and experience the transformation it brings. Harness the power of financial stability, enhanced liquidity, and accelerated growth. Factoring is the catalyst that empowers your business to thrive, exceed expectations, and conquer new horizons of success.
Credit Risk
Quick Continuous Cash: Access Expert Credit Risk Assessment at No Extra Cost!
Accurately evaluating credit risk is a vital part of our factoring business, and few clients can match our objectivity in performing this function.
As part of our service, we act as your dedicated credit department for both new and existing customers, providing you with a significant advantage over handling these functions internally.
Imagine a scenario where a salesperson is pursuing a new account with the potential for substantial purchases. The salesperson's focus on winning the business may lead them to 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 doesn't guarantee payment, and without payment, there is no sale.
With us, this situation doesn't arise. 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 non-payment. However, please understand that our involvement doesn't tighten credit to the extent that it negatively impacts your business beyond your control.
If you have a new customer with questionable creditworthiness, the 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 retain the freedom to extend credit terms as you see fit. You remain in control. Regardless of the decisions you make, our participation ensures 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 regularly monitor the credit ratings of your existing customers. This contrasts with the norm in many businesses, where routine credit updates on the established customer base are rare. Neglecting this 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. 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'll also benefit from comprehensive, detailed reports on your accounts receivables as a whole. Our process includes 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!