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Request a meeting...Updated: 5th February 2021
If you sell your goods or services to other businesses on credit, invoice financing offers a flexible method of borrowing using the value of your sales ledger to release regular sums of working capital.
This type of finance provides an attractive alternative to traditional bank lending due to the speed with which it can be accessed, and the fact that acceptance doesn’t rely on a good business credit rating.
Invoice financing offers significant benefits to a company’s cash flow, and is a useful resource if your business suffers excessive bad debts or delays in receiving debtor payments.
So how does invoice financing work, and could it be suitable for your business?
Invoice finance providers typically offer between 85% and 95% of the value of each invoice - this can vary according to the type of business you run and the industry in which you operate. The financing contract has no fixed duration, and your access to cash is limited only by the number of credit sales you make.
There are two types of invoice finance – factoring and invoice discounting. Although the lending principals are the same for each method, there are also clear differences.
Invoice factoring involves the purchase of your sales ledger by the financier. The factoring company manages your credit control facility, including chasing payments, which means your customers will know about the arrangement as they pay the factor rather than your company. The factor also credit checks your customers, reducing the potential for late payers and bad debts.
Invoice discounting is very similar to factoring, but it doesn’t involve handing over control of your sales ledger to the financier. You remain responsible for chasing payments, and customers aren’t generally aware that you’re securing additional finance in this way.
If your business depends on regular cash flow, invoice finance can be a good borrowing option and offers you peace of mind that bills will be paid. Invoice discounting may be more suited to large companies with a dedicated credit control department, and effective systems for chasing payments.
For some smaller companies, chasing overdue payments represents an administrative burden and takes focus away from making sales and providing high levels of customer service. In these cases, factoring might be a better option.
Industries that commonly use invoice finance include construction, manufacturing, logistics, recruitment, publishing, and business services. Overall, it allows them greater agility in a marketplace that can change quickly, and helps them overcome the risks associated with late payment.
For more information on invoice financing and how it could benefit your business, as well as information on other commercial funding options, please call Begbies Traynor for a free consultation. We have contacts with over 50 alternative financiers around the UK, and can advise on the best form of finance for your business.
Call our Confidential Advice Line. Calls to this number are free of charge.
Call us now...We invite you to come and discuss your enquiry with us at your convenience.
Request a meeting...Call our Confidential Advice Line. Calls to this number are free of charge.
Call us now...We invite you to come and discuss your enquiry with us at your convenience.
Request a meeting...Call our Confidential Advice Line. Calls to this number are free of charge.
Call us now...We invite you to come and discuss your enquiry with us at your convenience.
Request a meeting...