Your Questions – Answered
Q: What is factoring?
A: Factoring is the sale and purchase of accounts receivable at a discount. It’s a financing method used by businesses to generate capital. More info.
Q: How does factoring work?
A: You set up an account with a Factor to sell invoices for goods or services sold and delivered and you’ll receive immediate cash advance rather than wait on your customer to pay. When your customer makes a payment, they’ll send it to the factor. Factor will then deduct the initial advance you received and applicable fees, and rebate the balance to you. More info.
Q: Will I continue to bill my customers as usual?
A: Yes. However, you must change the payment address to Factor’s. In some cases factor will send out invoices directly.
Q: How would a customer know to send or redirect payment to Factor?
A: Your customer will be sent an official but friendly notice of where to send the payment and your invoice will also have that address.
Q: Will you contact all my customers?
A: No, only the customers whose invoices you factor will be contacted.
Q: Am I required to factor all my customer’s invoices?
A: No, you can pick and choose which customer’s invoice to factor, however acceptance shall be governed by guidelines as established in the factoring agreement.
Q:What if I don’t want my customers to know that I am factoring?
A:That would require a non-notification factoring which is hardly available anymore and mostly only through major banks and subsidiaries, but often with much more stringent qualifying criteria, extra scrutiny, and even making such a request can arouse questions about your client relations, you, and your organization. But why wouldn’t you? Over recent decades, factoring has evolved to become a very fine financing strategy that is used by many astute managers in diverse industries, often in conjunction with, or as a substitute for other financing methods. You might be surprised; perhaps your customer is already familiar with it.
Q: Is there a required minimum or maximum factoring volume?
A: No, but the more the better because higher volume can translate to lower fees.
Q:What does factoring cost?
A: There are many factors such as industry, volume, payment terms etc that may influence the rates but it is generally between 1% and 5% per thirty days. More info.
Q:What amount or percentage of invoice will you advance?
A: Advances are between 70% and 95% of the face value of eligible invoices and are established at the time an account is opened. Established advances will for the most part depend on risk factors such as industry, terms of sales and delivery, volume, lien priority, time outstanding, client relations, experience etc..
Q:When, how, and how often are advances paid?
A: The time and frequency of advances often depends on when and how frequently you submit invoices for funding, whether it is early or late, daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Advances can be paid in any number of ways; the typical way is by wire transfer. The other payment options are by ACH, teller deposit, check by mail, payment on location etc.
Q: When will any balance amounts be released?
A: All balances less applicable fees will be rebated to you after it is collected.
Q: Will I be required to sign a long term contract?
A: A long-term contract is not usually required but, may be necessary in order to be viable and induce Factor to underwrite your funding and extend more favorable rates and terms to you.
Q: How can I qualify?
A: You qualify if you are a legally registered business selling goods or services on terms to other credit-worthy and reputable businesses, and you have full and unencumbered rights to receive payments.
Q: What if I have some credit issues, a prior bankruptcy, existing loan or line of credit?
A: One of the unique benefits of factoring is that eligibility is largely based on the credit-worthiness of your customers –the individual or organization who will be paying for the goods or services sold. There’s very little if any consideration at all on your credit. You may be eligible to factor even if you have some credit issues, on-going bankruptcy, loans, or other lines of credit.
Q:Do you work with small businesses and start-ups?
A: Yes, the majority of factoring clients are small businesses and start ups.
Q: How long will it take to set up an account?
A: It may take anywhere from 1 – 10 days to set up an account depending on your situation. A typical account can be set up in as little as 3 days all things equal, and funding within 24-48 hours from then on.
Q: How can I get started?
A: To get started, you submit an application along with some basic support documents. If approved, final documents will be completed for funding.
Q: Is there an application fee?
A: Typically, there are no application fees. However, many factors do charge due-diligence fees in order to investigate and qualify your accounts for funding after initial review and acceptance.
Q: What specific documents do you require?
A: The typical initial documents required to open an account are: Proof of business registration, photo identification of principals, customer list, invoices, and copy of accounts receivable aging.
Q: Who does the collections, you or us?
A: Once you start factoring, Factor will be responsible for and will do all collections on funded invoices unless exceptions are made.
Q: Do you have any geographical restrictions, industries, or areas you won’t factor?
A: No, as long as you are located within the U.S., its territories, and Canada, there are no other geographic or territorial restrictions and we can also provide some international factoring.
Q: How can I keep track of invoices and payments?
A: You’ll receive regular reports. In most cases, you will have direct online access 24/7 to your reports using your very own unique access code. Or you can request reports by fax, email, or call.
Q: What if a customer doesn’t pay an invoice?
A: What happens if a customer does not pay will depend on how your account is set up. An account may be set up in one of two ways -recourse or non-recourse. A recourse account requires a guarantee that you will either buy back unpaid invoices, swap it out, or deduct the amount from your reserve funds in-full or progressively until paid in full. With a non-recourse account the loss will be absorbed under certain conditions.
Q: Do I have to sign a personal guarantee?
A: Yes, some form of guarantee will be required to affirm your integrity, representations, warranties, and the validity of your statements, documents, attesting that you will perform as per the terms and conditions of the agreement and not commit fraud.
Q: What happens if I stop factoring?
A: To stop factoring you should send notice of termination as per your agreement. After all accounts are paid in full and all obligations under the terms and conditions of agreement has been satisfied, your remaining reserves and future receipts will be paid to you, and a general release will be completed.
Q: I have heard very serious caution against factoring, why?
A: Perhaps it is because they do not have sufficient information or believed some of the misconceptions about factoring such as –it’s very expensive, almost like loan shacks as it involves unscrupulous collection tactics and should not be used by small businesses except as a last resort to avoid liquidation, all of which are false. More info.
Q: What is Purchase Order Funding?
A: Purchase Order Funding is short-term financing, payment, or payment assurance made to a supplier on behalf of a buyer to procure or produce and deliver goods that has been pre-sold. More info
Q: How does P.O. Funding work?
A: If you have an order from a customer but lack the financial resources to fulfill it, you can request and receive advance funding on the order and repay with proceeds from the sale after completion or delivery. More info
Q: What do you charge for P.O. funding?
A: Every transaction is unique therefore, the real cost of P.O. funding will depend on the specific and associated terms and conditions of the P.O. The average cost of purchase order funding is about 5% of funds used, not including ancillary costs.
Q: What is the minimum and maximum amount you will fund?
A: We will consider purchase order funding requests between $10,000 and $10MM.
Q: How will you fund by cash, check, credit, Letter of Credit, or other?
A: All of the above depending on the situation. Our preference is by Letter Of Credit (LOC).
Q: Will you fund an entire project or only a portion?
A: We will fund 100% costs of goods or up to 70% value of P.O. towards the production of goods only. We will not fund soft cost such as labor except in rare cases.
Q: Will you advance the funds to us to pay our suppliers?
A: No, funds or payment assurance will be issued directly to benefit your supplier.
Q: Will you pay multiple suppliers?
A: Yes, in situations where there are multiple suppliers involved, we will issue payments to different suppliers within reason.
Q: How can I qualify for P.O. Funding?
A: Easy, first see that you meet the minimum criteria then submit an application along with required support documents. Your product has been pre-sold but not on consignment with reasonable profit margin, the P.O., is from a legally registered and credit-worthy business and is non-cancelable. Not absolute but essential that the product can be re-sold in the marketplace in case of recovery, and payment, assurance, or guarantees can be made directly to your supplier.
Q: What initial documents do you require?
A: A completed application, copy of your Purchase Order, agreement between buyer and seller (where applicable), invoice to buyer, supplier’s invoice, accounts receivable aging and accounts payable reports, and business financials.
Q: Do you fund start-ups?
A: In many cases yes.
Q: Is there an application fee?
A: No. There is no application fee.
Q: How long will it take to get funded?
A: Purchase Order Funding timeline will vary anywhere from 1 up to 90 days or more depending on any number factors such as if it were the first funding, types of goods, production capacity, quantities ordered, value, funding criteria, and terms and conditions of sales and delivery etc. Average is 7 – 10 days.
Q: How long will I have to repay the loan?
A: Purchase Order Funding is provided as discounted funding advance rather than as a loan. Since it is short-term financing provided to facilitate the fulfillment of orders, it is expected that it should be repaid immediately from the proceeds of the sale after delivery or thereabout. Therefore, the allowable time to repay purchase order advance will greatly depend on the terms and conditions of sales, production, delivery, and payment as accommodated by the lender, ideally less than 45 days.
Q: Do you fund Purchase Orders in all industries?
A: Yes, provided it is for the purchase of finished goods for direct delivery to the buyer.
Q: Do you require a term commitment?
A: No. You can fund only one or as many transactions as you like. Each transaction is deemed independent of the other unless otherwise indicated.
Q: Do I have to sign a personal guarantee?
A: Yes, as with most financial transactions some form of guarantee will be required to affirm your integrity, representations, warranties, and the validity of your statements, documents, transactions, and attest that you will perform as per the terms and conditions of the agreements and not commit fraud.
Q: What is the difference between P.O. and Invoice Funding?
A: Quite simply Purchase Order (P.O.) Funding is made before goods or services are delivered to buyer while invoice funding is done after goods or services is delivered. They’re both short-term funding except one provides funds to facilitate the production, acquisition, and delivery of pre- sold goods and the other is to provide expedited access to funds after delivery.
Q: What is an Asset based Loan?
A: An asset based loan is a loan that is secured by tangible and/or intangible assets such as accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, real estate, intellectual property etc. The loan is often a fractional value of the underlying asset. Ideally, the asset can be quickly and easily converted into cash if need be in case of recovery.
Q: What types of assets will you lend against?
A: We will consider funding against virtually all manner of business assets including accounts receivable, inventory, rolling stock, machinery, real estate etc.
Q: What is the minimum and maximum loan I can get?
A: We will consider minimum of a million up to ten million dollars ($1M – $10MM) funding request or higher in certain situations and advance at 50% value of underlying asset.
Q: Is there an application fee?
A: No. There is no application fee
Q: What’s the interest rate?
A: Every transaction is different and the costs of funds are determined based on several factors including amount, duration, and level of risk.
Q: How long will it take to be approved?
A: Generally, most requests are evaluated upon receipt and initial determination rendered within 24 – 48 hours, a typically, closing in 2 – 4 weeks.
Q: How long will I have to repay the loan?
A: It varies. Typical short-term requirement is 90 day minimum and maximum of three years, and up to 60 months in certain situations.
Q: Will approval be based on my personal credit?
A: While we will look at the principal’s credit, approval will largely be based on the value of the underlying asset, and often in spite of cash flow, financial condition, sales history, or other conventional lending criteria.
Q: How can I qualify?
A: To determine if you are eligible, please complete and submit our Asset Evaluation Profile or call 866-717-2274. After review, a representative will contact you.
Q: Do you fund start-ups?
A: In many cases yes.
Q: What is a lease?
A: A lease is a written agreement for temporary use of property for a specified period with an agreed upon payment.
Q: What types of equipment do you lease?
A: We lease almost all types of equipment from office equipments to heavy machineries both new and used.
Q: Do you require a down payment?
A: No down payment is required. However, to begin lease, we require up to two months upfront payment applied towards your total lease payments.
Q: Is there an application fee?
A: No, there is no application fee.
Q: What are your various lease terms?
A: There are various terms from 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 in some cases 84 months and in-between.
Q: What’s your interest rate?
A: The rate is determined based on credit history, cost of equipment, and duration of lease.
Q: Who will be responsible for equipment service and maintenance?
A: Service and maintenance responsibilities as well as insurance are usually the responsibility of the lessee and will be so stated in the lease agreement unless arranged otherwise.
Q: What is the minimum and maximum amount I can lease?
A: We consider leases between the ranges of $10K and $10MM.
Q: What will you require from me to qualify for a lease?
A: In most cases just a completely filled out application might be enough to receive an initial decision. After review and acceptance additional support documents such as Financial Statement, Tax Returns etc may be required.
Q: How long do I have to be in business to qualify?
A: Ideally, you need to be in business a minimum of two years, but there can be exceptions.
Q: What if I have personal credit issues?
A: We look at several factors such as years in business, etc in reviewing an application.
Q: How long will it take to be approved for a lease?
A: Most lease applications are processed upon receipt and initial decision given within 24 – 48 hours.
Q: Can I pre-pay or pay-off early?
A: Yes, you can pre-pay at anytime.
Q: Can I upgrade or add equipment?
A: Yes, option to upgrade and/or add more equipment is available and may be negotiated.
Q: Must I lease the equipment from a designated vendor?
A: No. You can acquire the equipment from any vendor of your choice.
Q: What options do I have at the end of lease term?
A: There are basically three options that can be exercised at the end of a lease thus: 1. Return the equipment, 2. Purchase the equipment, at Fair Market Value (FMV) or at a Nominal Fixed Rate, 3. Renew the lease.
Q: What is a buyout?
A: A buyout is an option you can exercise at the end of your lease.
Q: Wouldn’t it better to buy equipment outright than lease?
A: There are many advantages and benefits to lease instead of outright purchase which one is best for you will depend on your individual situation. For general benefits and advantages why businesses lease got to equipment finance and lease buyback page.
Q: What is debt collection?
A: Debt collection is the process by which outstanding or past due receivables are converted into cash.
Q: What will you charge to collect on my debts?
A: Rates varies but averages about one-third of gross collections.
Q: Is there an upfront fee?
A: Typically, there are NO upfront fees or costs. Payment is contingent on recovery, which means no payment unless collected.
Q: What if I don’t know where the debtor is?
A: It does not matter because almost anyone can be located through skip tracing.
Q: Do you collect personal debts, commercial debts, or both?
A: Yes, we can collect on both personal and business debts.
Q: Are there industries or individual accounts you will not collect from?
A: No.
Q: What is your minimum and maximum volume requirement?
A: There is a minimum of one hundred dollars but no maximum amount on any account placed for collections.
Q: Do you have geographic limits?
A: No, through our network of collectors we are able to provide services worldwide. We use locally licensed collectors, law firms and/or attorneys.
Q: Will you collect on old debt?
A: Yes, provided the debt is within the statute of limitations and jurisdiction.
Q: What if the debtor refuses or is unable to pay?
A: We can track down assets and take necessary legal steps to attach, seize, or lien identified properties, seek judgment, and recover.
Q: Can you or will you file a lawsuit if debtor refuses to pay?
A: Yes, if it is necessary. However, most accounts are resolved without litigation.
Q: Can I engage multiple collectors at the same time?
A: No. Once an account has been placed we require that you allow collection to proceed singularly and without interference.
Q: Do I have to sign a contract with you?
A: Yes, we require an agreement to protect our mutual interests – yours and ours, and for that matter the debtor’s.
Q: How long is your contract term?
A: There are various terms, depending on the types of accounts and individual needs whether they are single or multiple debtors, month-to-month, 6 months etc.
Q: How long will you collect on debts?
A: After placement for collections, we generally see results within 30 days. However, every account is different and many will take longer.
Q: When will I receive payment if you collect?
A: You will receive payments on collected accounts monthly in the month following collections.
Q: How do I engage your services?
A: To get started, simply call us at 866-717-2274.
Q: What is Merchant Cash Advance?
A: It is a lump sum cash advance provided to a business based on projected charge and debit card sales, to be repaid through daily deductions of a fixed percentage of credit and debit card sales receipts.
Q: Are all businesses eligible for Merchant Cash Advance?
A: No. Only businesses that accept credit and debit card payments, minimum of $4K per month in credit card sales receipts, have been in business at least 9 months, have 6 months of processing statements, provide at least 1 month bank statement, have a physical place of business (not virtual), and with landlord verification in good standing.
Q: What is the interest rate?
A: Merchant cash advance is not a loan but an advance against a business asset. So, there isn’t any principle or interest charge. Instead, the cost of advance is a set fee based on risk factors.
Q: How much advance can I get?
A: The amount you receive will depend on your total credit and debit card sales. You can get advance up to 6 months of credit and debit card sales receipts.
Q: How long do I have to pay back the advance?
A: There is no fixed time limit to repay the advance because it is done as daily deductions at a fixed percentage of credit and debit card sales receipts to accommodate fluctuations in sales. Therefore, when business is good you pay more and if business is slow you pay less.
Q: Do you have use of fund restrictions?
A: Generally no. How and what you use the funds is entirely up to you provided it is reinvested in the business or interests.
Q: How quickly can I get the money?
A: It can be very fast from application through processing to funding and would vary from one client to another, but is generally between 1 and 7 days and in some cases longer.
Q: Can I pre-pay or pay –off early?
A: Absolutely! You can pre-pay at anytime without penalty.
Q: Is there an application fee?
A: No. There is no application fee, upfront cost, or out of pocket expenses.
Q: Will you check my personal credit?
A: Yes, simply to verify that there are no outstanding bankruptcies, prohibitive judgments or encumbrances. Approval is based largely on the strength of your business rather than your credit score.
Q: Will I be required to switch payment processor?
A: In most cases no if your current processor has Business Loan Option and is equipped to process cash advance repayment. If not, switching can be easily done at no additional cost to you, and very likely at the same or lower rate than you’re currently paying.
Q: How can I qualify?
A: If you meet the minimum requirement above, call us at 866-717-2274.
Q: What is consumer receivable funding?
A: It is the sale of consumer receivables (contracts or installment payments) by a business for immediate lump sum cash advance.
Q: How does consumer receivable funding work?
A: If you sell big ticket items (goods or services) to individual consumers (not businesses) on finance or payment plans with interest, you can set up an account to receive immediate lump sum payment on each sale even though your credit approved buyer will still be given extended time to pay for their purchases.
Q: Do you have a minimum and maximum volume requirement?
A: The minimum is $500 and maximum of $25,000 or $40,000 on golf course memberships per individual consumer contract, and at least $10,000 in total monthly sales for the business. If your product or service cost more than maximum per individual contract, a down payment will be required to bring the balance to par.
Q: Will you finance all credit types?
A: No, only credit types A, B, and C. You can put your D credit buyers into our Servicing Program. Call us at 866-717-2274 or see consumer receivables funding for details.
Q: How much will you advance, discount, hold in reserve, and charge on each purchased account?
A: Advances, discounts, reserves, and rebates are established at the time your account is set up based on type of business, associated risks, and will vary for each category of your customer credit types A, B, and C. Please contact us at 866-717-2274 or complete and submit Consumer Finance Profile for a customized quote.
Q: What is your shortest and longest term contract?
A: There are various term contracts available, the shortest is 4 months on the “Flex Pay Plan,” 12 months on annual plans, and 60 month is the longest.
Q: Do you retain a reserve?
A: Yes, a small amount is held in reserve to offset defaults.
Q: When are reserves withholdings released?
A: Excess reserves will be released twice a year after initial hold.
Q: Will you work with me if I’m already working with other lenders?
A: Yes, as a secondary funding source, possibly to fund the “rejects” or accounts your primary funding source does not want, so you can get more sales. Ideally, we would like be your primary.
Q: Will you support online application and approval process?
A: Yes, we support 24/7 online application and instant decision while your customer is still in your store. Print application is also available if needed.
Q: How long will it take to receive a decision on an application?
A: Instant decision within 5 – 7 seconds with applications submitted online and no more than 48 hours after review with other options applications such as fax, email, or mail-in.
Q: How can I get started with you?
A: To become a client, please complete and submit an initial Consumer Receivables Funding Evaluation. After review, a representative will contact you to discuss available options and terms. If accepted, final documents will be completed to approve your account for funding. Clients who do not meet our criteria may be referred to other finance associates.
Q: What is the process and how long will it take to approve my account?
A: After completed application and full package is received and due-diligence is done, it goes to credit committee for approval. The process may take about 2 – 3 weeks.
Q: What is loan servicing?
A: Loan servicing is the method by which a firm collects and process payments from debtors on behalf of other lenders or creditors.
Q: How does your loan servicing program work?
A: You set up a contract to collect on your customers outstanding receivables either for a flat fee per account or an agreed percentage of collected payments based on credit types. Other ancillary services such as letters, phone calls, delinquent notices, skip traces, 24/7 online account reports, and complete portfolio accounting are included at no additional cost.
Q: Do you have a minimum servicing volume requirement?
A: Yes. We require at least $500 per month in servicing fees.
Q: What is lawsuit advance?
A: Lawsuit cash advance is a non-recourse funding made to a plaintiff or potential litigant and will be repaid with proceeds from the case if it is resolved.
Q: What does non-recourse mean?
A: Non-recourse means that if the case never settles, is dismissed, or you lose, you’ll repay NOTHING!
Q: What kinds of cases will you advance on?
A: Cash advance can be made on virtually all types of cases involving provable personal injury caused by something, another person or organization as a result of negligence, malpractice, or defective equipment, and you have legal representation.
Q: How much advance can I receive on my case?
A: The amount you can receive will depend largely on your needs and the probable value of your claim. Typically, advances will be limited to no more than 20% of the value up to $1 million.
Q: What is the interest rate?
A: Since it is cash advance is not a loan there is no principle or interest rate. The cost is calculated based on determined risks.
Q: Is there an application fee?
A: No. There is no application fee, upfront cost, or out-of-pocket expenses to you.
Q: Do I need good credit to qualify?
A: No, you do not need good credit because cash advance is based on the merit of your claim and not your credit report, unless there is a pending bankruptcy. And, it is not reported to the credit bureau and does not go on your credit.
Q: Do I have to be employed?
A: No, job is not required.
Q: How long do I have to repay the loan?
A: It is a cash advance and not a loan. The cash advance is made contingent on settlement from your case. So, there is no repayment time limit, no matter how long it takes for your case to be resolved. There is no payments schedule and you’re not required to make one unless and until your case is resolved. The advance will be repaid from the proceeds of your case. If your case never goes to trial, settles, is dismissed, or you lose, then you won’t have to pay anything.
Q: Do you have use of funds restrictions?
A: No, what and how you use the cash is entirely up to you.
Q: How quickly can I get the money?
A: You can get the money in as little as 1 – 7 days. It can happen very quickly from application to funding will depend on how fast the necessary documents are provided and processed.
Q: Will I be required to make monthly payments?
A: No, there will be no monthly payments schedule or required. You’ll repay the advance from proceeds of your claim if and only after your case it is resolved or never if it is not.
Q: What if I need additional funds later?
A: You may get additional funds if your case warrants it, based on the value of your case and provided it is below the estimated 20% maximum advance threshold.
Q: Would I still be eligible if I had prior funding elsewhere?
A: Possible, if the value of your case warrants it.
Q: Will you take over my case after I accept your funding?
A: No, we do not get involved or interfere in your case except as it relates to your cash advance. All other matters in your case is completely up to your attorney or legal team and you.
Q: Will you give me legal advice?
A: No, we will not give you legal advice.
Q: What if my case never settles, goes to trial, is dismissed, or lost?
A: You’ll pay absolutely nothing if your case never settles, goes to trial, is dismissed, or lost. That means the cash advance is FREE because it was provided contingent on the potential settlement on your case but is not guaranteed.
Q: What if do not have an attorney?
A: You must have professional legal representation in order for your case to be considered.
Q: How can I apply?
A: To apply, simply complete and submit a Lawsuit Cash Advance Request, and it will be promptly processed for funding.
Q: What is a structured settlement?
A: A structured settlement is a legally approved payment obligation that is created as a result of settlement from a lawsuit, other award, or claims that is spread out over time.
Q: What is structured settlement funding?
A: It is a lump sum cash advance given in lieu of regularly scheduled payments or a portion thereof. In other words, instead of waiting to collect periodic payments, you can elect to receive lump sum cash advance by selling portions of or all future payments at a discount.
Q: Is it legal to sell my settlement?
A: Yes, it is legal. Any recipient of a structured settlement may elect to sell portions or all of their scheduled structured settlement payments at a discount and receive immediate lump sum payment; however, it must be approved and authorized by a judge.
Q: How much can I receive?
A: How much you receive will depend on several factor such as: the total amount of your original settlement, the number of payments remaining, the date each payment is scheduled to be made, the interest rate, and the number of scheduled payments you would like to receive immediate cash against. There is a specific method that is used to estimate how much you can receive. Simply gives us a call or complete and submit a Settlement Funding Request.
Q: What documents do I need to apply?
A: Along with a settlement funding request, please provide the following:
- A copy of your award (Annuity Contract)
- A copy of your settlement agreement
- A copy of your identification
Q: How long will it take to receive approval and funds?
A: Timeline for approval and funding will vary depending on the requirements of your State of residence and when a judge can review your request. On average, it is about 30 days and sometimes longer.
Q: How do I apply?
A: To apply, call 866-717-2274 or simply complete and submit a Settlement Funding Request.
