0845 643 9485
Call now for expert advice

Free, instant quote

Free, instant quote

Latest Stories

21 Sep

Smart Factoring Quotes – new quotation tool »

by

Smart Factoring Quotes have updated their new website to include a new and improved quotation tool.

As an independent and impartial invoice finance broker, Smart Factoring Quotes are keen to attract businesses looking for a new finance facility or a business looking to review their existing facility.

The new improved quotation tool takes into account the criteria of your business and provides a quotation that is bespoke to your business.

The quotation tool is also now accessible from each and every page on the website.

10 Sep

What makes a good invoice finance company? »

by

We often get asked to recommend the best invoice finance company. I thought I would look at what makes a good invoice finance company.

In part it is a case of horses for courses. Some lenders are well suited to small businesses while others are better suited to larger businesses. The same goes for different sectors, different geographic locations and different scenarios.

Common complaints with lenders surround poor service levels. I must admit in some cases it is simply because the lender has said no to a client. Sometimes this is justified and in other instances it just seems like a lazy answer rather than doing some work to solve a problem.

Some lenders genuinely pride themselves on top quality service levels and customer satisfaction. This however can be a double edged sword as the same lenders can be described as expensive in comparison to lenders who cut corners and provide a poor service.

Communication is a key factor. As an invoice finance broker I can fully appreciate this. It seems like the most basic concept in any business relationship but I am often left amazed at how many lenders simply fail to return calls or e-mails both with myself and clients.

They say that service is inseparable from the people that provide it. This means that staff within invoice finance companies need to be engaged and happy. This comes as a result of fair remuneration, good training, clear goals and a good environment to work in. Some lenders clearly provide this while I know that others simply don’t. It may be a bit of a generalisation but the lenders that treat their staff properly also seem to be the 0ones that treat their clients properly.

25 Aug

Construction Factoring – Do you need a specialist lender? »

by

It is interesting to see certain invoice finance providers now using specialist departments to deal with businesses that operate in the construction sector.

In part this is really good news for businesses that are definitely a part of the construction sector. If they are very much entrenched in contractual debt, applications for payment and stage payments then a lot of businesses would not have a suitable cash flow solution. Now they at least have an option albeit an expensive one with low prepayments. That said it is probably structured and priced according to risk although part of me feels in some instances lenders are taking advantage where they feel they are the only lender willing to assist.

Read Full Article
22 Aug

Confidential Invoice Discounting »

by

Confidential invoice discounting is the ideal invoice finance product for businesses that want to do their own credit control and do not want their customers to know that invoices are being funded. Confidential invoice discounting provides businesses with working capital and will prepay up to 90% of the gross invoice value.

Confidential invoice discounting can however be very hard to come by due to the criteria invoice finance companies put in place.

Lenders look beyond the basic invoice finance criteria of selling to other businesses on credit terms and invoicing in arrears of delivery. Lenders will look more carefully at a businesses financial performance and they expect a robust balance sheet. Equally important are the processes that a business employs to collect in outstanding invoices.

 

15 Aug

Recruitment Finance »

by

Recruitment Finance is a new site that has been launched by the Cash Flow Solutions group.

While it is still under development it will provide an in depth guide on what facilities are available for recruitment companies.

Recruitment companies typically access recruitment finance to allow them to pay wages of their temps. This can take the form of a simple invoice discounting facility, a factoring facility with the added benefit of a credit control service or a full back office solution that provides a full back office service.

15 Aug

Invoice Discounting »

by

For many businesses invoices discounting provides the cash that is needed to ensure that their business can survive. Without the necessary cash they cannot pay employees or suppliers. Customer payment patterns can be erratic and can cause cash flow issues and headaches.

Invoice discounting is typically the cheaper of the invoice finance facilities available to businesses. It can also be confidential meaning your customers are unaware of any lenders involvement.

In terms of qualifying for invoice discounting it really rests on processes rather than financial performance. Don’t get me wrong financial performance is important but without the right processes in place you will not qualify for invoice discounting no matter how profitable you may be.

There are 2 main process that will be looked at. Your invoicing process will be interogated. It is important that a good audit trail exists and that invoices are raised in arrears of delivery.

Your credit control process or procedure is also important to demonstrate that debts are collected methodically and professionally rather than not at all or on an ad hoc basis when you have time.

If your invoicing process is not right it is unlikely any type of invoice finance facility will be made available. If your credit control procedures are not adequate it is likely a factoring facility would be offered rather than an invoice discounting facility.

10 Aug

Asset Refinance – Can it assist cashflow? »

by

Asset refinance is typically the re-financing of equipent or vehicles already owned by a company.

This can be done to inject cash into the business when the assets are unencumbered. In this instance there will be an initial injection of cash into the business but equally there will be additional monthly repayments that will need to be met.

Alternatively assets can be refinanced to reduce the monthly repayments on an existing finance agreement. This can be done by spreading the repayments over a longer term. Typically this will be done to reduce monthly repayments and as such it has a positive impact on cash flow.

The assets that are suitable for refinance are what we terms hard assets. These are durable, identifiable assets that can easily be valued and readily sold. Suitable assets include vehicles, printing presses, earth moving plant, etc.

30 Jul

Import Finance »

by

Import finance is used to facilitate the import of goods and their subsequent sale.

We typically use a combination of trade finance and invoice factoring to structure a finance facility that funds the entire trade cycle.

On the back of a confirmed order we can provide a finance facility that will pay your supplier and will finance the transaction right up to your customer settling your invoice.

Recent Posts

Twitter Updates

    Our Network

    © 2024 Invoice Factoring Forum | Sitemap