How Does Accounts Receivable Financing Work?
Business owners have many available ways to obtain financing for commercial purchases. For big-ticket items such as machinery and real estate, term loans and SBA loans are an excellent choice. However, these methods of financing take quite a while for approval, and they’re usually used for a large sum. How can you get needed capital for day-to-day operations quickly? One excellent option is accounts receivable financing.
About Accounts Receivable Financing
As its name suggests, this type of financing involves your company’s accounts receivable department. This area of the business oversees payment of outstanding invoices. In fact, financing using accounts receivables is sometimes called invoice factoring. The basic idea is that you “sell” unpaid invoices to a third-party lender, which then takes care of collection duties instead of your company. In exchange, you receive a large portion of the invoice’s value immediately. This constitutes a cash advance.
Having access to immediate capital can be very advantageous for companies, and especially for small businesses without significant money in savings. For example, cash advances can help you pay your employees on time or adapt to seasonal shifts in workers required. They’re also useful for obtaining inventory at excellent pricing tiers, capitalizing on important business opportunities that appear and facing unexpected emergencies without problems.
Tips for a Smooth ARF Process
There are a few areas where it’s important to take the time to select a good partnership for ARF. For instance, it’s a good idea to ask how collection is made on outstanding invoices. Because a third-party will be calling your customers to request payment, it’s important to find a lender that uses a professional and respectful touch. Many trustworthy financial partners treat your customers well, and that actually enhances your business. Shy away from organizations that seem aggressive or demand absurd percentages of the value of your invoices.
Uses of Accounts Receivable Financing
ARF isn’t commonly used for large, long-term purchases. Instead, it excels for short-term financing needs. For one thing, you don’t have to worry about accruing debt, since cash is advanced to you based on payable invoices. Another advantage is that you aren’t obligated to leverage valuable assets such as vehicles or real estate, which may be expected in more traditional loans. ARF is a great choice for expanding business operations and investing wisely in your company at the right time.
You can use this type of financing for advertising campaigns, upgraded computer systems, e-commerce design, office redecoration, and vital payments. In fact, with a little planning, ARF can take care of almost any financial need that arises quickly.
