Factoring Company Guide
First Step: Filling Out the Application
Ready to jump into the factoring world? It all starts with a simple form. Fill us in about your business – it’s the first move in this financial chess game.
Bring your financial A-game, too. We need stuff like your accounts receivable aging report. Why? Because we're playing detective, looking into how likely your customers are to settle their bills. This isn't about your past with them; we're looking at their whole financial picture.
This stage is where you lay out your financial needs. How many invoices are you looking to factor? What kind of cash do you need upfront? It’s all about the strength of your customers' credit, your sales expectations, and your industry's quirks.
Here's a factoring truth: the more you factor, the better your rates. It’s that straightforward.
Your application is our crystal ball. We use it to see if factoring fits your business. Once you're approved, we get down to brass tacks, negotiating the deal. The bigger your factoring amount, the better the terms you can snag.
In these negotiations, expect total transparency about the costs. Then, once we shake on it, we kick things into high gear – checking your customers' credit, ensuring your invoices are solid, and getting that cash advance to you fast.
Factoring Company Benefits
Perks of Factoring:
- Say goodbye to cash flow worries and say hello to more time managing your business.
- No need to stress about monthly loan payments. Get your cash in as quick as two to four days.
- Enjoy the power of having full control over your business.
- Reduce or even eliminate costs tied to chasing down payments.
- Decide how many invoices to sell and when, giving you more control over your cash flow.
- Overcome the challenge of clients who are slow to pay.
- Boost your production and increase your sales.
- Get access to professional collection and credit checking services.
- Make sure your payroll is always met on time.
- Easily pay your payroll taxes.
- Have the ability to give cash discounts for your materials.
- Get more purchasing power, allowing you to take advantage of bulk purchase or early payment discounts.
- Improve your credit score by consistently having the cash to pay your bills promptly.
- Have cash ready for growing your business.
- Have money to spend on marketing your business.
- Improve your financial status.
- Get comprehensive and detailed reports about your accounts receivable.
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 History
Welcome to the world of factoring, a pivotal yet often unheralded element in the financial framework of successful American businesses. Whether you're steering a company, dreaming of entrepreneurship, or seeking innovative financial solutions, factoring can be a game-changer in your financial strategy.
Though rarely highlighted in business academia, factoring is a fundamental force in the business world, unlocking billions of dollars each year and enabling a multitude of businesses to prosper.
So, what is factoring? It's the savvy process of buying invoices at a discount, a key tactic for businesses extending credit in today’s competitive landscape. This practice has a storied history, originating in ancient Mesopotamia and evolving through civilizations like the Romans and the American colonies.
Factoring provided a practical financial alternative to the slow-paced traditional banking of the past, especially during the colonial era. As businesses transformed in the Industrial Revolution, so did factoring, adapting to the new commercial landscape.
Today, factoring is a vital component in the financial strategies of diverse industries. It has risen in prominence, especially during periods of high interest rates and strict banking regulations. Each year, factoring helps thousands of businesses to not only sustain but also expand, by selling billions in receivables for growth and profit.
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!
