This is suitable for businesses with high volume, low-value invoices that need cash quickly. Factoring companies take over the management of the sales ledger and collect payments directly from customers. This can help businesses save time and resources on credit control, allowing them to focus on growing their business.
A Beginner's Guide to Invoice Finance
Understanding the Different Types and Suitability for Your Business
As a business owner, cashflow can be a constant challenge, and traditional financing options may not always be the best fit. Fortunately, invoice finance offers a flexible and accessible solution for businesses to access cash quickly and improve their cash flow.
How it works (in a nutshell):
Let's say that an independent business has a customer who owes them £50,000 for goods or services delivered. However, the customer won't pay for another 30 days. This puts the business in a cash flow crunch, as they need that money to pay for their own expenses and keep their operations running smoothly. To bridge this gap, the independent business could use an invoice finance facility. They would submit the £50,000 invoice to the invoice finance provider, who would then advance them a portion of the value of the invoice (usually around 70-90%). This means that the business would receive £35,000-£45,000 upfront, which they could use to cover their expenses. Once the customer pays the invoice in full, the lender would return the remaining balance to the business (minus their fees for the financing). The business would have to pay interest and fees on the amount borrowed.
You can see from this, that invoice finance can be a valuable source of working capital for businesses that are grappling with their cashflow. Some of the benefits include improved working capital, increased flexibility, and faster access to funds. Invoice finance can also provide businesses with better control over their cash flow by reducing the risk of late payments and bad debts.
However, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider, such as the cost of financing and the potential damage to customer relationships if the financing company takes over the management of the sales ledger. It's important to carefully consider the pros and cons of invoice finance before deciding if it's the right solution for your business.
Here are some of the most common types of invoice finance and how they could benefit your business:
This type of financing is suitable for businesses with a reliable customer base that need to access cash quickly. The business retains control of its sales ledger, and the lender provides funding against the value of outstanding invoices. This means businesses can maintain their relationships with their customers while still improving their cash flow.
If your business has a large number of high-value invoices, block discounting could be the ideal solution. The lender buys a block of invoices at a discounted rate, providing the business with immediate cash flow. The business still retains control of its sales ledger, allowing them to continue to manage their customer relationships.
Suitable for businesses that need cash flow for specific invoices. The lender provides funding against selected invoices, rather than the entire sales ledger. This can be a great option for businesses that have one-off invoices or need cash flow for a particular project.
If your business needs to fund a one-off invoice, spot factoring could be the solution. The lender provides funding against a single invoice, rather than an entire sales ledger. This can be a quick and convenient way for businesses to access the cash they need, without committing to a long-term financing arrangement.
While these examples showcase a brief description of the different types of invoice finance available, it's essential to work with a finance broker who can help identify the most appropriate type of funding for your business. At James Murray Finance, we understand that every business is unique, and we work closely with our clients to find the best financing solutions within our large panel of lenders to support their growth plans.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business access the financing it needs.
About the author
Meet James, the founder of James Murray Finance. With nearly two decades of industry experience and eight years dedicated to the finance sector, James has worked with a wide range of businesses, from startups to established enterprises. Read More >
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