Accounts Receivable Factoring
An Alternative Funding Option For Small Businesses
Because of their lack of financial sophistication and size,
today's small businesses continue to face the hardships brought
on by current economic challenges. Many firms struggle to
maintain their bank credit facilities, and securing a new line
of credit or increasing a company's current limit is nearly
impossible. So if the lending wells have dried up, what's a
small business owner to do? Capitalize on the benefits of
accounts receivables factoring.
Once a small business owner has been approved by an accounts
receivable factoring firm, the basic invoice factoring process
is as follows:
1. A small business owner's customer requests goods or
services from the company.
2. If it's a new customer, the business owner should request
a credit check and approval by the invoice factoring firm. Once
approved, the company completes the service or delivers the
goods.
3. The business owner issues an invoice, reminding the
customer that their receivable has been sold to and will be
collected by the factoring firm.
4. The business owner submits a schedule of accounts for
purchase to the factor, including the supporting
documentation
(purchase orders, invoices, time-sheets, etc.).
5. Upon verification of invoices for pre-approved customers,
the A/R factor will advance funds within hours.
6. The factoring firm provides all accounts receivable and
collections services as required.
7. In most cases, the customer makes payment(s) directly to
the factoring company's lock box.
8. Upon receipt of the payment, the invoice factor remits
the difference (reserve) between the collected amount and the
advance, less the discount fee.
It's easy to get things started. In most cases, the owner
needs only to complete a brief application and present a
current accounts receivables aging report to begin the process.
As if a quick approval process wasn't good enough (banks can
take
months to approve a loan), there are numerous additional
reasons why factoring invoices is an attractive alternative
financing option for small and medium-sized businesses-the
first being that entrepreneurs with less-than-perfect credit
can
qualify for financing based on their customers'
creditworthiness. This is simply not the case when looking for
a bank loan.
Traditional lenders review the applicant's financial
strength in combination with the company's operating history
before they are willing to extend credit.
Furthermore, healthcare invoice funding also gives business
owners the ability to offer credit terms to their
customers.
Especially in today's economy, customers appreciate the
value of having a 30-day grace period to make a payment.
Because a
business owner receives up to ninety percent of the invoice
upfront each time he/she factors, their cash flow remains
unaffected by the net-30 terms.
Additionally, accounts receivable factoring helps owners
build their company's credit. Once an entrepreneur begins
healthcare factoring and has adequate cash flow, he/she is
able to pay vendors on time, establishing a good credit
history
with them. This makes it so much easier for business owners
to get credit from other vendors and increases their chances of
borrowing from bank in the future.
All in all, invoice funding instantaneously relieves
business owners from many of the stresses involved with
managing working capital. The ongoing factoring process is
straightforward and easily adaptable. Accounts receivable
factoring gives small business owners the ability to control
their company's cash flow as the business grows, while
simultaneously improving their creditability.
Philip Cohen is the founder and president of PRN Funding,
LLC, which is an extraordinarily focused niche player in the
healthcare accounts receivable invoice financing market place.
Through a process known as factoring, PRN Funding provides
healthcare business owners with the financial resources needed
to grow and effectively compete in the industry. With no
minimums or fixed terms, PRN Funding (http://www.prnfunding.com) provides
healthcare companies with flexible and immediate access to
capital.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Cohen
Regards
The Team at www.EquityAssist.net
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