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Factoring Receivables – Factoring Companies That Don’t Charge Interest in Canada!

Guest post by: Stan Prokop

Article Overview: Free Factoring – does it exist ? Lowest factoring rates .

Factoring Receivables – Factoring Companies That Don’t Charge Interest in Canada!

More and more Canadian business owners and financial managers are considering factoring as a viable alternative financing solution. Everyone seems to tell you that 'factoring is expensive '. If that's the case why would you want to choose this financing solution? Even moreso, is it even remotely possible to achieve interest free factoring or factoring at zero cost? Let's show you why that premise is defensible and we will let you decide.

If you are a small or medium sized business you know the true value of financial serenity when you have positive working capital and cash flow. Actually, cash flow is great, if you have positive working capital that simply means that you have a major investment in accounts receivable and inventory, and that isn't necessarily great, especially if your balance sheet accounts such as receivables aren't turning over every 30 days.

Does anyone ever pay in 30 days anymore? We don't think so, that's for sure.

When your firm is able to more efficiently used cash flow generated from accounts receivable you have easier ability to grow your business. In fact as a business owner you quickly realize that the single largest asset on your books is often accounts receivable. In the current economic environment it takes easily one, often two, and sometimes 3 months to collect the average receivable. When you delay payments to suppliers you are increasing your cash flow from operations, when you grant credit to your customers you are decreasing that same cash flow - it's a daily battle that plays out every day.

Factoring, or receivable financing allows you to collect and immediately invest those funds back into your business.

A quick example offered by a firm called the Receivables Exchange (U.S. based) is as follows -

Let's say your firm earns 20% on the money it invests in itself, therefore in 44 days your firm can earn a 2.2% return.

Now let's get to the root of our premise. Factoring companies don't charge 'interest 'per se, because you are not borrowing funds. You are simply monetizing your receivables at a discount for immediate cash today. Let's use a typical factoring discount rate of 2%, which is certainly not uncommon. That's a 30 day rate. There is better pricing, and there is higher pricing.

But look at what we are saying - if you can immediately, on the same day you generate an invoice get cash , re invest in your business , and earn a profit, ( we will use our example of 2.2% return in 44 days ) haven't you in effect achieved zero interest charges on your working capital financing .

Let's make a more clear and dramatic point - Use our example again of a 2% discount fee for 30 days. What if your receivables for the month were $ 300,000 and you were factoring them at our 2% discount rate. If you have immediate cash for that $ 300,000.00 do you think you could pay major suppliers immediately and subtract 2% for their stated net 30 day payment terms. Also, do you think you could meet with your major and valued suppliers, advice them you were in a position to pay cash on the basis of getting better pricing, and would they accept!

We hear the saying 'cash in king 'everyday in business - after the 2008 economic meltdown Cash ruled supreme. By offering to pay your suppliers more promptly and buy in greater quantities we have had many clients tell us they have achieved as much as a 5% saving in some cases.

Let's recap the premise of our information. It's simpler that it may sound:

**Factoring offers you immediate working capital, and purchases your invoices at a discount - it is incorrect to view these funds as a loan, or an interest rate per annum.

** If you got the typical fee of 2% as a discount charged on factoring by your factoring company and had unlimited cash flow and working capital could you purchase more effectively and pay suppliers more promptly, taking a discount all along the way . Yes we believe you could.

You will never get a letter from a factor firm that states you are being charge no finance charges - but we have effectively shown that the cost of that financing, balanced against carrying your customers and being able to take supplier discounts and purchase more effectively can add thousands of dollars to your bottom line . And at the same time you have removed the business person oft greatest worry - lack of working capital.

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Article Tags: factoring companies, factoring cost, factoring receivables, lowest factoring rates



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Re: Using factoring companies - [quote="BigJim22":3e4n6n63]I haven't used it myself but can see how it would be valuable for some entrepreneurs. It's hard when you get an order but don't get paid until 30, 60, or 90 days later. But it's also hard to give up $ to the factoring companies![/quote:3e4n6n63] ..."But it's also hard to give up $ to the factoring companies!" Great comment, Jim! However, it's not as hard as it may appear from the outside. Unfortunately, there is no free meal ticket with any financing option (other than gov. grants). The real question regarding the financial viability of factoring is this: I have 2 checks for you; one is for $100 and you can have that one in a month; the other one pays you $80 now plus another $15 in a month. Yes, you net 5 cents less on the dollar with option 2, but if you can take the first $80 now and turn them into $90 or $100 (e.g. more sales!) in a month, then you've not only off-set the loss but actually grown your top and bottom line. Factoring is really much more like running a price promotion. Just look at all the sales events that are happening daily. Companies discount their goods by 10% - 75% only to sell more volume. What are the costs of these programs? Another good example are credit cards! If you as a merchant accept credit card payments from your customer, you're already paying 2% - 5% of each sale to the credit card company. That's the same principle as factoring! Or how many businesses offer a 2% net 10 days discount to their customers, only for them to pay within 10 days? By the way, I can beat those 2% net 10 hands down with our factoring rate! And then there are traditional loans.... you always have to pay back the principal AND interest periodically, no mattter how the business is doing. With our factoring programs there is no principal or interest to be paid back, and the "cost of factoring" is tied to sales and cash flow (i.e., when an invoice actually gets paid and after you have already received the money). The objective truth is that factoring is not the right solution for everybody. Used wrongly or irresponsibly, it can do a lot of damage to a company. But used for the right reason and under the right circumstances, a good factor and factoring program will do miracles for a company's growth (or survival). And in these situations, the $ that go to the factoring company become totally moot. It will truly be the famous win-win. Best, Ralf
Seminar attendance - I read through most of these posts and the first thought that popped into my head Andy already posted. Charge a fee to register, that will be refundable at the end of the seminar. This will ensure they show up and STAY for it.
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Accessing the Canadian Market - Leo, an idea that came to mind is try to align yourself with Hispanic Organizations in Canada. This will build your credibility within communities and get more referrals. Not sure if you plan on being based in Canada or operate your business from Columbia but either way being in the web development arena allows you to work from anywhere. You can also search for opportunities originating from Canada thru elance.com, getafreelancer.com, freelance.com or rentacoder.com
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Export To start exporting or moving into new markets grants of 50% of costs up to £20,000 each. Training and Education Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Achieving Best Practice in Your Business, Investors in People Modern Apprenticeships New Deal for various grants. Environment BOC Foundation for the Environment: 25% to 50% of Project cost, typically £20,000 to £100,000 Clean up Fund: Emission reducing equipment up to 75% of cost Community Chest Fund: Up to £25,000 for projects near active SITA sites High Impact Fund: £150,000+ for larger projects near SITA sites Assisted Areas Regional assistance grants of between 10 and 35% for capital expenditure in less favoured areas of the UK. Loans Loans are an excellent source of finance if you have suitable security to borrow against or a reliable earnings stream. This needs to be planned and presented well to obtain funds. Credit cards Provides up to 56 days free credit if you play the game! Overdraft Banks are surprisingly supportive when presented with a well thought through plan and competent management. Bank Loans Lenders tend to look for a good business plan and security. Typically the loan is approved by a centralised back office function rather than the person you meet. Terms and rates depend upon the risk. Repayments can be very flexible to meet your specific needs. Mortgages These can include flexible repayment terms to meet your business needs. This can even be incorporated into your overdraft finance so that you have one flexible account for both personal/ business mortgages and overdraft Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme Up to two years trading: Up to £100,000 Over two years trading: Up to £250,000 However these are difficult to obtain and are a loan of last resort. Export Guarantee Scheme This is government backed insurance against appropriate export documentation. Mezzanine This is a halfway house between loan and equity. It can be an innovative way of raising funds for the more established business. Mostly for expansion capital. Equity This is not as easy as the papers would have you know. Only 1% of business plans received by Venture Capital Funds are successful. However, a good business proposition consisting of a strong demand for the product or service, management track record and a sound financial plan will enhance the chance of success. Business Angels These are high net worth individuals who are successful businessmen looking for investment opportunities. They can provide both time expertise and money. Typical investment size is £25,000 to £250,000 but can go as high as £2m for the right opportunity. Exit within 3-5 years. Venture Capital These are investment funds seeking high rates of return. However typically investments are over a million pounds. Some funds are targeted at lower amounts depending upon the sector and region. 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Invoice discounting Invoice Discounting can be Confidential or Disclosed; it depends upon the strength of the financial information. The service is the same as Factoring, except that the sales ledger administration and the debt collection is the responsibility of the client and not the Factor. Pre payment of the approved sales invoice is still up to 95% and the factor will still have a first charge on the book debt and therefore own the debt. This service can also have credit protection cover. All sales invoices need to be for a business to business debt, and some proof of delivery is generally required. Trade Finance This is funding provided against stock purchases, signed contracts and orders whereby the funder will prepay a certain percentage of the value Pension fund It may be possible to use your pension funds for a loan back to the business What do u think about it?


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