Working capital is the lifeblood of every business. Without sufficient working capital
a business cannot meet its day to day liabilities and as a consequence may fail.
In the past the High Street Banks have provided capital via an overdraft secured either
by a debenture and sometimes external security provided by the shareholders and directors. Whilst the overdraft still exists factoring or invoice finance is now an increasingly normal method of providing working capital finance for the SME market.
The arrangement falls into two main areas;
Factoring- A factoring company takes an assignment of all outstanding
and future invoices and makes an advance of up to 85% of the value
of the invoices when they are raised. The factor will collect the money
from the customers and make the balance available when the customer
has paid. Costs are dependant on workload and risk. Interest rates charged
are in the region of 2.5% to 3% with charges in the region of 1% to 2.5%
of assigned sales.
Invoice Discounting – Similar to factoring apart from two main differences.
The factor does not collect the monies from the customer and the customers
have no knowledge of the involvement of the factoring company. The ledger
is managed by the company and the factoring company is more exposed as
the money has to be passed to them by their client and does not come direct
from the customer. Costs are lower for invoice discounting facilities as there
is less work for the lender, however there are more risks and these risks will
be reflected in the rates charged.
Main differences in an overdraft and invoice finance facility
Banks tend to have gearing policies and will only lend on a multiple
of 3 or 4 times the net worth of the Balance Sheet. A company with
a net worth of £50,000 would struggle to borrow more than £150,000 to
£200,000.
Factoring companies advance against a ledger. A company with a net worth of
£10,000 but a ledger of say £150,000 could raise, subject to the quality of the
ledger in excess of £100,000.
An overdraft may not rise in line with growth and may hold back the growth
ambitions of a company.
As sales grow so will a ledger and Factoring companies will finance this growth as long as they are comfortable with the ledger.
Banks can impose covenants to increase their security. These can be easily breached
and an overdraft is an ‘ on call’ facility.
Factoring companies offer 12 month facilities and their conditions are generally
Focussed on the performance of the ledger.
What Factoring Companies Like and Dislike
An ideal profile can be summarised as follows. A well established company
selling a straight forward product with no post invoice liabilities to a well spread
and low risk customer base.
It is fair to say that most proposals do not fall into this category. A proposal may
have one or two of these categories but not all. The positive aspect of factoring is
that facilities can be adjusted to meet the requirements of most companies. A factor
will look at all the issues, positive and negative and will be keen to structure a deal that will provide the prospect with a sensible working capital arrangement.
Not every proposal will be acceptable and the following can cause problems:
Businesses where the directors have had a history of corporate failure.
Goods that are sold on a sale or return basis
Seasonal trade
Construction related industries
Certain export businesses
Contra trade businesses
Products sold by stage payments.
Concentrations with one or two customers.
The above represent the main concerns for factoring companies. I could add
more items , however in order not to complicate things I have kept the list short. You will note that I have not included such matters as trading or creditor issues.
Whilst these are issues with larger facilities factoring companies are quite supportive of businesses where there have been trading problems.
A factor will focus on the ledger they are funding and if they are comfortable that they
can recover their advance then they will be prepared to offer a facility on terms that
protect their position.
Security and Terms
Factoring companies will require the following
Debenture
Guarantee of key directors
Warranties of key directors
The level of guarantee will depend upon the quality of the proposal. In certain situations they will limit the guarantee to a low figure. However they will
require a warranty which relates to the fact that all invoices represent a bona fide
transactions. Most factoring companies will offer 12 month facilities and many will
push for 2 year agreements.
Summary
With over 20 factoring and invoice discounting companies now offering a range of financial products this sector is offering a much more flexible service than any of the mains are able to offer
a business cannot meet its day to day liabilities and as a consequence may fail.
In the past the High Street Banks have provided capital via an overdraft secured either
by a debenture and sometimes external security provided by the shareholders and directors. Whilst the overdraft still exists factoring or invoice finance is now an increasingly normal method of providing working capital finance for the SME market.
The arrangement falls into two main areas;
Factoring- A factoring company takes an assignment of all outstanding
and future invoices and makes an advance of up to 85% of the value
of the invoices when they are raised. The factor will collect the money
from the customers and make the balance available when the customer
has paid. Costs are dependant on workload and risk. Interest rates charged
are in the region of 2.5% to 3% with charges in the region of 1% to 2.5%
of assigned sales.
Invoice Discounting – Similar to factoring apart from two main differences.
The factor does not collect the monies from the customer and the customers
have no knowledge of the involvement of the factoring company. The ledger
is managed by the company and the factoring company is more exposed as
the money has to be passed to them by their client and does not come direct
from the customer. Costs are lower for invoice discounting facilities as there
is less work for the lender, however there are more risks and these risks will
be reflected in the rates charged.
Main differences in an overdraft and invoice finance facility
Banks tend to have gearing policies and will only lend on a multiple
of 3 or 4 times the net worth of the Balance Sheet. A company with
a net worth of £50,000 would struggle to borrow more than £150,000 to
£200,000.
Factoring companies advance against a ledger. A company with a net worth of
£10,000 but a ledger of say £150,000 could raise, subject to the quality of the
ledger in excess of £100,000.
An overdraft may not rise in line with growth and may hold back the growth
ambitions of a company.
As sales grow so will a ledger and Factoring companies will finance this growth as long as they are comfortable with the ledger.
Banks can impose covenants to increase their security. These can be easily breached
and an overdraft is an ‘ on call’ facility.
Factoring companies offer 12 month facilities and their conditions are generally
Focussed on the performance of the ledger.
What Factoring Companies Like and Dislike
An ideal profile can be summarised as follows. A well established company
selling a straight forward product with no post invoice liabilities to a well spread
and low risk customer base.
It is fair to say that most proposals do not fall into this category. A proposal may
have one or two of these categories but not all. The positive aspect of factoring is
that facilities can be adjusted to meet the requirements of most companies. A factor
will look at all the issues, positive and negative and will be keen to structure a deal that will provide the prospect with a sensible working capital arrangement.
Not every proposal will be acceptable and the following can cause problems:
Businesses where the directors have had a history of corporate failure.
Goods that are sold on a sale or return basis
Seasonal trade
Construction related industries
Certain export businesses
Contra trade businesses
Products sold by stage payments.
Concentrations with one or two customers.
The above represent the main concerns for factoring companies. I could add
more items , however in order not to complicate things I have kept the list short. You will note that I have not included such matters as trading or creditor issues.
Whilst these are issues with larger facilities factoring companies are quite supportive of businesses where there have been trading problems.
A factor will focus on the ledger they are funding and if they are comfortable that they
can recover their advance then they will be prepared to offer a facility on terms that
protect their position.
Security and Terms
Factoring companies will require the following
Debenture
Guarantee of key directors
Warranties of key directors
The level of guarantee will depend upon the quality of the proposal. In certain situations they will limit the guarantee to a low figure. However they will
require a warranty which relates to the fact that all invoices represent a bona fide
transactions. Most factoring companies will offer 12 month facilities and many will
push for 2 year agreements.
Summary
With over 20 factoring and invoice discounting companies now offering a range of financial products this sector is offering a much more flexible service than any of the mains are able to offer
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