Factoring: How To Use It For Cash Flow

Factoring is a financial transaction in which a company sells its accounts receivables (invoices) to a factor in return for an immediate cash payment. Factoring can provide your business with an injection of cash to help improve short-term liquidity. In this blog post, we will discuss what factoring is and how to use it in your business. We will also outline the three parties involved in a factoring transaction and explain the pros and cons of using a factor.

Some Background

What Is Factoring?

With factoring, the company sells its Accounts Receivable (AR) to a third party (called a factor). The factor then pays the company an advance based on the AR amount and collects the money from the customers. The advance is usually about 80-90% of the total AR amount.

The main benefit of factoring is that it’s quick, and the company doesn’t have to worry about collecting. The downside is that the interest rates are usually higher than other types of Accounts Receivable Financing.

What Are Accounts Receivable?

Accounts receivable are amounts of money that customers owe a business. They are for products or services that have been delivered but not yet paid for. On the balance sheet, they are recorded as a current asset since they are usually due within 30-90 days.

What Does It Mean To Me?

Factoring can be a useful tool for businesses that need quick cash and don’t want to wait 30-90 days for customers to pay their invoices. Factoring can also help businesses that have difficulty collecting payments from customers. The main downside of factoring is the higher interest rates.

How Factoring Works

There are three parties involved in a factoring transaction: the company selling its accounts receivable, the factor that purchases the receivables, and the company involved in a factoring transaction: the company selling its accounts receivable, the factor that purchases the receivables, and the company’s customer.

The company sells its invoices to the factor at a discount. The factor then pays the company an advance based on the invoice amount. The advance is usually about 80-90% of the total invoice amount. The factor then collects the money from the customers.

Other Types Of Accounts Receivable Financing

There are two additional types of Accounts Receivable Financing: asset-backed securities and accounts receivable loans.

Asset-Backed Securities

Asset-backed securities are a type of security that’s backed by assets, such as mortgages, loans, or Accounts Receivable. They are sold to investors and provide a way for businesses to get financing without having to sell their Accounts Receivable outright.

The main benefit of asset-backed securities is that the company can get financing without giving up control of its Accounts Receivable. The downside is that these are complex instruments and are usually only available to larger companies.

Accounts Receivable Loans

Accounts receivable loans are simply loans that are secured by Accounts Receivable. The company can get a loan for up to 80-90% of the total AR amount.

The main benefit of Accounts Receivable Loans is that they are the simplest type of Accounts Receivable Financing. The downside is that your company needs a strong credit profile and a great collections process since the loan is secured by your accounts.

Proceed With Caution

While financing with AR can bring in cash quickly, there are a few things you need to understand. First, these types of loans can be expensive. Factoring can cost upwards of 20% of the value of your receivables. If your cost of goods sold is less than 20%, you will quickly lose money.

Second, it is critical that your AR is either stable or growing to use this type of financing. If your AR starts to decline, you won’t have enough money in the bank to keep the bills paid.

Lastly, remember that you have to keep financing continuously to maintain the cash bump. You aren’t generating new cash, you are just pulling the cash forward a month or two. If you don’t keep pulling money forward, you will lose the extra cash. That’s why it’s best to use this when your business is growing since you will (hopefully) bring in more cash and wind down your AR financing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Account Receiveable Factoring And How Is It Different From A Loan?

Accounts receivable factoring is the sale of Accounts Receivable to a third party at a discount. With a loan, the company borrows money from a lender and pays it back over time with interest.

When Should I Use Accounts Receivable Financing?

Accounts receivable financing is a good option for businesses that have Accounts Receivable but don’t have other collateral to get money quickly. It’s also a good option for companies that don’t have the best credit. For companies to be successful with this type of financing, they need to either be growing or have very stable, recurring sales.

Can I Get Financing With Bad Credit?

It depends on the lender. Some lenders will work with companies that have bad credit, while others will not. It’s important to shop around and find the right lender for your company. Overall, companies with bad credit are most likely to be approved for factoring (since you are selling the receivable) and least likely to be approved for a loan on the accounts.

What Are The Benefits Of Accounts Receivable Financing?

This type of financing can provide businesses with the money they need to grow and expand. It’s a quick and easy way to get cash, and there are multiple ways to put your accounts to work. They are also more flexible for newer businesses or businesses with weak credit.

Let’s Recap

Factoring can be a useful tool for businesses that need quick cash. It works by selling invoices to a factor at a discount and the factor pays an advance on the invoice amount. The factor then collects the money from customers. Factoring can help businesses improve their short-term cash needs, but it’s important to understand the costs and risks involved. Factoring can be expensive and it’s best used when businesses are growing and their Accounts Receivable are stable or increasing. Thanks for reading!

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