The major reason for business problems or failure in the UK is the inability to collect money owed for goods and services supplied. Your company may be trading well and profitably but is starved of positive cash flow.
One option to assist positive cash flow is to request further overdraft facilities from your bank if this facility is available.
Another more flexible and generally lower cost solution is to use either Factoring, Confidential Factoring or Invoice Discounting. This financial service guarantees payment of all invoices issued up to 90% of invoice value – normally within 24 to 48 hrs from the time you issue the invoice. This has the major benefit of leaving your bank facility in place for other areas of business growth and investment: 01293972071 or submit an enquiry
At B Financial we work with all the major UK factors and will provide the most appropriate scheme to suit your exact business profile. We provide a broad range of services including a unique confidential factoring service which ensures none of your clients know you are factoring, a feature normally only associated with Invoice Discounting. As a reference, the major differences between the two financial products are given in our overview below.
Factoring and Invoice Discounting are rapidly growing in popularity and are used today, in some form or other, by around 25% of UK business owners. Whatever the size and age of your business if you would like to discuss the suitability and benefits then please call us today on 01293972071 or submit an enquiry.
Product Overview
Factoring provides cash to your business with no time delay from issuing invoices as well as sales ledger and collection services.
For many SMEs outstanding invoices are their largest asset. Most SMEs do not have the resources and information systems to efficiently collect their outstanding invoices. Factoring can be a smart alternative to transfer the debt collection and ledger management to a factor and almost immediately get cash advances with the issuance of an invoice. The cash can be used to reduce your own debt or for investments to grow your business.
The industry although often unknown is very large and growing. Almost 25% of UK SME’s use factoring and in 2005 over £60 billion turnover was factored. Contact us today for a no obligation discussion and quotation.
How It Works?
The factor fully manages your sales ledger and provides you with credit control and collection services of all your outstanding debts. The invoices you issue upon a sale are sent to the factor who typically advances up to 80 to 90% of the invoice amount to you. The balance, less charges, is paid when the customer makes payment directly to the factor. The service is disclosed to your customer who typically receives a letter from the factor, or attached note to your invoice, containing payment instructions to the factor. Funds are typically released to you within 24 hours of issuing the invoice.
There are typically two costs involved: a service charge expressed as a percentage of sales factored and an interest charge for the cash advances. The service charge, covering sales ledger management, collections services and, if you wish, bad debt protection can range between 0.60% and 3.0% of turnover. The main considerations in determining the service charge are your annual turnover, number of invoices and number of customers. The interest charges calculated on the daily usage of funds is typically comparable to normal secured bank overdraft rates.
When the risk of bad debts remains with you the service is referred to as recourse factoring. Non-recourse factoring protects you against customers who fail to pay. The factor typically covers this risk by taking out credit insurance. The cost of the credit insurance is passed on to you and depends on the risk profile of your customers and the amount you factor, typically between 0.3% and 0.7% of turnover. You also agree on coverage limits with the factor, normally 80-95% of the factored amount.
Many factoring companies provide Internet access to your account, allowing you to constantly monitor your sales ledger and individual customer details. Paper can be eliminated by electronic transfer of your invoices from your PC to the factor. Contact us today for a no obligation discussion and quotation.
Factoring vs Invoice Discounting
If your business is already large enough to afford the staff and information systems to efficiently manage and collect your outstanding invoices you may want to consider Invoice Discounting rather than a Factoring service. It is identical to factoring except that the sales ledger management – the collection responsibility – remains with you. The service is undisclosed to the customer.
Again there are two costs: An administration charge, either a flat fee or a percentage of turnover and an interest charge for the cash advances.
If your business has an annual turnover of more than £1 million and an own accounting system then invoice discounting will probably be more appropriate. Contact us today for a no obligation discussion and quotation.
Advantages
- Instant Cash. 80-90% of your issued invoices are pre-paid within 24 hours.
- Sales ledger management and debt collection. The factoring company does it for you.
- Factoring rivals and often replaces the traditional bank overdraft. In addition to all the credit management services, a factoring facility grows with the business and does not need renegotiating every time an increase is required.
General Coditions
- Term of Contract. A typical contract with a factoring company runs 12 months or more, after the initial term, contracts can be terminated.
- Trial period. Some factoring companies have a trial period when you begin using their services
- Reputation and references. The factoring company will be a critical interface with your customers. You should work only with a reputable firm to eliminate all risk of negatively influencing your customer relationship. White Rose Finance works with all the major Factoring organisations and will recommend the one that is ideally suited to your business. All our partners are members of the Factors and Discounters Association.
- Personalized service. Particularly if you are a small company an essential requirement is that you have a customer service team available for you
- Exports factoring capability. If you export it is essential the factor has its own network, or affiliate partners, in your customer’s country to provide on the spot collection
- Bad debt protection. All the partners we work with offer this additional service, many don’t!
- Chose the factoring company according to your customer profile. Whether your customers are other businesses, or individuals is an important criterion in choosing your factoring company – consult us for the best advice
- Transfer restrictions of your outstanding invoices. It is important that there are no existing contractual arrangements disallowing the transfer of your outstanding invoices to a factoring company. For example a loan that is secured against outstanding invoices.
- Information requirements to open an account with a factor. As part of our service White Rose Finance will work with you to complete the application form to the most appropriate factor. You will need to provide additional documents and accounting statements and be prepared to give a detailed overview of your customers and their risk profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges are involved ?
In general terms the service charge will be in the range of 0.6% to 3.0% of sales factored and an interest charge for the cash advances calculated and comparable to normal secured bank overdraft rates.
When do I receive the cash advances from the factor?
Typically within 24 hours of issuing the invoice.
How much of the invoice amount is advanced?
Typically 80 to 90% of the invoice amount.
What is the difference between factoring and invoice discounting?
Both provide immediate cash with the issuance of invoices. Factoring includes a full sales ledger service management and debt collection service that is disclosed to the customer. In invoice discounting the sales ledger management – the collection responsibility – remains with you. The service is undisclosed to the customer.
What is the difference between recourse and non-recourse financing?
Recourse factoring excludes bad debt protection. In the case of non-recourse factoring, if the customer fails to pay the invoice, the factor will pay you.
Glossary
Bank Overdraft – An alternative to factoring without the credit management services.
Credit Insurance – Insurance in case your customer fails to pay the invoice. You receive payments for your bad debts up to pre determined limits.
Factoring – Instant cash upon issuing invoices and sales ledger and collection services.
Invoice Discounting – Instant cash upon issuing invoices without sales ledger and collection services.
Invoice Finance – Another phrase for factoring and invoice discounting.
Non-recourse Factoring – If your customer fails to pay the invoice, the factor will pay you. You will pay an additional charge to cover the credit insurance costs.
Recourse Factoring – If your customer fails to pay the invoice, the factor will look to you for reimbursement of any amounts advanced against the invoice. The service excludes bad debt protection.