Invoice Factoring – Getting Started
If your business is experiencing significant growth but would benefit from
easier access to ready capital, invoice
factoring could represent an attractive alternative to taking out a loan or
an overdraft. Factoring can be more flexible, and also involves taking a
mid-long term look at how to streamline your accounts process, rather than
simply taking a lump sum and arranging to pay it off. But how does it
work?
The first step is obviously to find a factoring company that you
can work with. There are many companies on the market, and the services they
offer can vary considerably. Some factoring agencies will only work with
companies with a turnover of £200,000 or more, whereas others offer services
that are tailored towards working with start-up companies and companies with
turnovers of £50,000 or less.
There are also some considerations to take
into account to decide if factoring is going to be a good solution for your
company. In general, you should service multiple customers – no one debtor
should account for more than around 40-60% of your business. On the other hand,
if you depend mainly on a large number of relatively small invoices for your
income, factoring may not be the most cost-effective option with some providers,
so shop around. Factoring is only suitable for business to business
companies.
Once you’ve made contact with a factoring agency, the first
thing they will usually do is conduct an audit of your books and accounts to
establish if your sales ledger is in-line with their criteria. If both parties
are happy to move forward, the company will set up an account, allowing you to
make customer invoices payable to the factoring agency. You will
then receive an agreed proportion – usually 85% - of the value of your invoices
up-front. You will receive the balance, minus a service charge, once the factor
has received the payment.
There are numerous benefits to this process,
most notably allowing you access to ready cash when you need it and reducing the
time and resources you spend on debt collection. Factoring also enables you to
raise up to 85 per cent or more on your outstanding invoices, whereas an
overdraft secured against invoices would only raise up to 50 per cent. You can
also negotiate an initial credit line that grows in line with your business,
without the need for complex and time-consuming renegotiations. You should also
expect regular statements and instant online account information, plus a
dedicated account manager who can offer you consistent, well-informed service.
To get the best return on your investment, be sure to check for all of these
things before signing with a factoring agency.
Invoice
factoring allows you to release cash for your business utilising invoices as
collateral. Hitachi Capital is a reputable and leading provider of invoice
finance solutions. Winner of the Factor and Discounter of the Year award at the
CreditToday Awards 11.