accounts receivable factoring

Accounts Receivable Financing | Huntington Coast Capital
By Patrick

Accounts Receivable Financing | Huntington Coast Capital

 

If you are a business owner or financial manager, you know that cash flow management can be a challenging task. One tool that can help businesses address short-term cash needs is accounts receivable financing. In this article, we will provide an overview of what accounts receivable financing is, how it works, and the benefits to help you decide if it is the right option for your company.

 

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable financing helps businesses secure a line of credit by offering their accounts receivable as collateral. Accounts receivable are amounts that a company expects from its customers for goods or services that it delivered, but have not yet received payment for. Accounts receivable are company assets, because they represent future cash inflows that the company expects to receive. By securing a line of credit against your company’s accounts receivable, you are able to improve and level off the capital needed in your business. 

 

Mechanics

During your operations, your business will gradually accumulate credit from customers that have yet to pay for your products. However, you might need to pay recurrent expenditure like wages or bills and might require funds immediately. If the customers cannot pay within the time you require funds, a financing institution can lend you money minus the fee based on the amount of accounts receivable, business type, and industry.

 

Types of Accounts Receivable Financing

Accounts receivable financing is delivered in different forms depending on how the loan is structured between the financial institution and the borrowing entity. Asset sales, factoring, and loans are three types of financing arrangements that businesses can use to access funds based on their accounts receivable.

 

Asset sales

In an asset sale, a company sells its accounts receivable, a current asset, to a financial institution in exchange for immediate cash. The financial institution then becomes responsible for the credit and collection from the customer. Asset sale financing can be a useful option for businesses that need to access funds quickly and are willing to sell their accounts receivable at a discount. Also known as a “non-recourse” transaction, the invoices used as the collateral are purchased outright at a discount whereby the purchaser takes the risk of collection. This financing option is typically only available when the invoices being purchased are from large, credit-worthy institutions. 

 

Factoring

Factoring is a financial arrangement in which a lender provides a business with funds based on the value of its outstanding invoices. The lender evaluates the invoices and decides to fund a percentage of their value. The business then receives the funds upfront and uses them to cover everyday expenses. The lender charges a fee for this service, which they deduct from the proceeds of the invoice when the customer settles their debt. Unlike an asset sale, a factoring agreement is ongoing and accounts receivable are used on a daily basis as invoices are generated by the borrower. It is a line of credit that grows as the business grows using the accounts receivable as collateral. Advance rates range from 50% to 95% depending on the collection quality experienced by the business and industry as a whole. For example, in the temporary staffing and trucking industry, advance rates of 95% are fairly common because the invoiced amount is typically paid at full value. Conversely, in the healthcare industry where invoices are sent to insurance companies for payment, a much lower advance rate is given due to the reduced payments experienced in the industry (i.e. invoiced amount may be $10,000 and collected amount could be $7,500 based on what the insurance company deems as eligible). 

 

Loans

A loan is a financial arrangement in which a lender provides a business with a set amount of funds the business must pay over a fixed period, including interest. These are referred to as term loans. Businesses can use term loans to finance accounts receivable; however, the collateral is usually a blanket lien on all assets, including accounts receivable, in these scenarios. Term loans are used to cover fixed expenses such as acquisition of real estate, acquisition of a business, tenant improvements, new equipment, marketing and advertising, hiring, etc. Term loans usually include a 10-year amortization (the “fixed period”). Loans are the only option in accounts receivables where the business does not pass the accounts receivables to the financial institution. Rather, the accounts receivable are a part, together with other assets such as inventory and equipment, of the total collateral for the loan. 

 

Benefits

Unlike traditional business loans, institutions approve and fund accounts receivable financing quickly, often within a few days. Thus, this financing method makes it a good option for businesses that need to access cash quickly.

Many types of financing, such as business loans, require collateral to secure the loan. With accounts receivable financing, the only collateral is is the accounts receivable. This makes accounts receivable financing and attractive and easier to obtain form of financing to enhance the working capital of your business. 

Minimal paperwork and easy application process: The application process for accounts receivable financing is generally simpler and requires less paperwork than traditional business loans. This can be a significant advantage for businesses that are short on time or resources. There are fewer covenants and restrictions contained in accounts receivable financing contracts, making them an attractive option for most when compared to traditional bank financing. 

Accounts receivable financing can help businesses smooth out their cash flow and make it easier to plan for future financial needs. This kind of financing is especially useful to businesses with rapid growth but slow cashflows. They receive the funds they need and worry about debt collection later.

 

Contact us at Huntington Coast Capital to discuss your accounts receivable financing needs or call 844-239-2632. We look forward to bringing value to your business! 

 

Can A Factoring Company Help My Business?
By Patrick

Can A Factoring Company Help My Business?

Blog articles discussing factoring companies, factoring loans, invoice factoring and all things related.

Most of the small business owners we speak to would love to be approved for a bank loan or partner up with the coveted “equity investor” and ride off into the sunset. The reality of it, however, is that very few small businesses qualify for traditional bank financing and do not meet the requirements equity investors look for.

There is a gap in expectations between what small business owners want and what private investors and banks want. What are they? Summarized below:

Small Business Owner – “I wish to become wealthy by using someone else’s money at a very low rate of interest and prefer not to personally guaranty the loan.”

Investor/Bank – “I want to lend money in a nearly risk free scenario and gain a handsome return on the capital invested.”

The end result is the “Golden Rule” or those the rule that states those with the gold make the rules. It is not uncommon to reach a stale mate after months of negotiations as a result of the gap created by these polar opposite ideals.

What we have found is that the conversation (if the business owner is looking to fund variable expenses) usually migrates to factoring company solutions or an asset based loan. Why? Because factoring companies provide easier access to capital and focus on your customer’s credit. Does that mean they aren’t concerned with their borrower? Not exactly. Both borrower credit and customer credit are important in the factoring companies eyes, but not to the same degree. If you sell on net 30 terms and invoice your customers, chances are you can obtain the funding you need with a factoring company.

The profile of an average business that is approved for factoring has some of the following challenging characteristics:

  • losses and/or negative equity
  • business owner not willing to provide a personal guaranty
  • start up or under two years in business
  • internal financial statements
  • contractors
  • tax liens or past due tax payments
  • contractors
  • poor record keeping

This is not a complete list, but shown to demonstrate the flexibility of factoring companies over traditional lenders. As your business grows, your factoring charges will decrease as the factor’s main interest is to grow with your business. We have some clients that choose to stay in their factoring relationship for the ease of use and minimal financial reporting requirements.

Factoring companies finance your operating capital needs, manage your accounts receivable and stay out of the way and let you run your business.

If you have questions regarding whether or not factoring is right for you, please call us for a free consultation 714-719-8966.

To your success!

Patrick Zazueta | Founder | Huntington Coast Capital, Inc.| 714-719-8966

What Is Your Invoice Factoring Rate?
By Patrick

What Is Your Invoice Factoring Rate?

What is Your Rate?

This is the main question when searching for a commodity finance product such as a commercial or home mortgage. Let’s face it, if I am refinancing my home mortgage, I do not care about the customer service of the mortgage company because I expect them to competently manage my mortgage needs. Further, I would not pay more for a perceived better customer service experience. My main concern, as with all of us when shopping for a mortgage, is rate.

However, in the entrepreneurial lending world, things are much different. For example, as a business owner looking to deliver on a sizeable purchase order you have been pursuing for months, cost is not the primary concern. Availability of cash is. This is because if you fail to deliver on your first purchase order, you will likely never receive another one from the same customer. Your reputation on being able to deliver is what keeps the orders coming in.

Asset based loans, such as invoice factoring, solve most liquidity problems for B2B business owners. We deal with business owners on a daily basis that are under extreme timeline and performance pressure from a customer they have been pursuing for months. Once the opportunity finally comes, they simply must deliver! They view their invoice factoring partner as a team member versus just an asset based lender. Because without the factoring company, they would not be able to deliver on their customer orders.

Our asset based lending sources need to earn a return that is commensurate with the risk they are taking. It is a return that will both assist the borrower in their growth goals and earn the lender enough to justify the risk of capital. A flexible invoice factoring loan that allows the borrower a chance to expand their top line revenue where one did not exist before through traditional financing avenues.

So, the rate discussion is obviously something that is covered, but not nearly as important as it is with commodity lending. Opportunity cost, or the cost required to earn higher profits for the company, is of primary importance in asset based lending. Invoice factoring is the most commonly used forms of asset based loans.

Asset based loans can also be secured against equipment. Click here to learn more about our sister company, EquipmentFinanceQuotes.com.

If your business could use a flexible invoice factoring company to grow and meet your full potential, we would like to speak with you!

To your success!

Patrick Zazueta | Founder
Huntington Coast Capital, Inc.

Invoice Factoring and the Lock Box
By Patrick

Invoice Factoring and the Lock Box

Our calls with clients always involve providing them with improved working capital for the growth of their business. This almost always involves a conversation on invoice factoring also know as accounts receivable factoring.

An invoice factoring agreement is a buy/sell agreement whereby the factoring company purchases a company’s accounts receivable for a period of time. This time period is usually up to 90 days with some exceptions out to 120 days.

The invoice factoring company will advance between 75-90% of the face amount of the invoice on day 1. The factoring company will then wait for the customer to pay. This alleviates the cash burden sometimes felt while waiting for customers to pay.

A key requirement in an invoice factoring arrangement is the lock box. A lock box is a dedicated address where all customer payments are to be made. Customer payments pay down the advance the invoice factoring company made against the invoice. The lock box provides the factoring company with a certain level of control when managing repayment.

Some clients have hesitancy with using a lock box. They are concerned with how factoring their invoices will look to their customers. Specifically, they are concerned with the customer thinking they are in financial trouble. This is not always the case. In fact, rarely is it the case. Fast growing companies use invoice factoring to fund the growth of their business. Not having the cash to fulfill orders makes the negative impression.

Combining invoice factoring with purchase order funding and/or supply chain finance will provide even greater cash flow options for the company. More on that in the next blog.

If your business is growing and invoice factoring could help eliminate your cash flow concerns, give us a call 714-719-8966.

To your success!

Working Capital. Every Business Needs It!
By Patrick

Working Capital. Every Business Needs It!

How long would your business last without enough money to cover expenses? Most businesses fail within the first three years due to lack of enough working capital, and even well established operations can experience cash crunches. Competitors are a constant. How financially strong your business is, will determine how well you can compete.

The frustration for many business owners is this – traditional lending sources either require you to be financially solid before they lend you money to grow or are conservative in the amount of credit they extend to the seasoned business operator.

So where do most business owners obtain the financing they need to grow their business? In short, asset based lenders. There is a 2nd tier of lenders below bank financing that finance purchase orders, equipment needs, inventory, real estate and accounts receivable. Essentially any asset listed on a given company’s balance sheet can be eligible for financing. Their focus is either on the quality of the asset they are financing or the financial strength of the customer placing the order (in the case of purchase order and accounts receivable financing). This approach makes financing growth much more obtainable for business owners.

What about financing for the established companies? A challenge remains here as well. Financing available for the established business owners is often inadequate to meet growth needs. Banks are most typically conservative and provide small lines of credit, even to companies with strong net worth and income. Companies need creative solutions when seeking additional capital and this creativity comes from the non-regulated, more entreprenuerial thinking, capital sources in the market. Could your business benefit from knowing a partner like this?

About Huntington Coast Capital.

Huntington Coast Capital secures funding for companies in a broad base of industries. Our clients come to us to find a more flexible lending partner to meet their growth needs. Many are declined by the bank and are in need of a more creative and entrepreneurial funding solution.

We consult on a wide range of funding options for business owners throughout the United States in the following areas:

  • Supply chain financing
  • Equipment loans and lease programs (learn more about our equipment loan platform offered through our subsidiary)
  • Lines of credit for working capital needs
  • Term loans for marketing, hiring staff and general expansion needs
  • Factoring services for accounts receivable financing that also provides for back office credit and collection functions
  • Purchase order financing
  • Asset based loans
  • Business acquisition financing
  • Inventory financing
  • Private commercial real estate bridge loans
  • SBA loans for business and real estate needs

Whether you are a startup or established, in need of $100,000 or $10,000,000 we have the capital partners to meet your needs. Contact us to see how we can assist in taking your business to the next level. To your success!