What is the Factor Cost of Factoring Accounts Receivable?

Canadian business owners and financials managers who are considering financing accounts receivable often ask us how they can calculate , or moreso, understand the factor cost of factoring accounts receivable .

There are a whole bunch of factors ( excuse the pun ) that seem to be coming together to make the financing of accounts receivable a high growth , popular, and accepted method of business financing in Canada . The reality is that even just a few years ago most business owners did not even realize that they could sell their accounts receivable to a private non bank firm, gaining valuable working capital, i.e. cash flow! in the process .

Business is being driven to this method of Canadian business financing out of a very basic need - meet payrolls, make fixed term obligations, and purchase products and services. And when your customers make you wait, 30, 60, and unfortunately 90 days for your funds all of a sudden factoring, also known as invoice discounting and receivable financing becomes very popular. Not hard to understand.

Business owners want to know more about factoring and receivable financing simply because they recognize that cash flow challenges hinder them from growing, and yes, even surviving. And, we are sorry to say, many clients simply can't get the bank financing they need to fund and grow their business - that isn't necessarily a condemnation of Canadian chartered banks, it's a case of individual financing challenges within the current credit crunch and global economic challenges.

So, let's cover off what you need and want to know about factor cost and the true way in which you should be looking at the pricing around factoring accounts receivable in Canada.

There are three; lets call them ' drivers ' in the pricing process of financing your receivables. Those three drivers are the time in which it takes for your invoice to be paid, and we mean right down to the day. Secondly the factor firm calls their pricing a ' discount ' - so the actual discount rate they quote you becomes critical in your knowledge of understanding your true cost of financing A/R. And finally, to keep things simple we often explain to clients in initial discussion that they receive immediate cash for their receivables once they finance them, i.e. same day cash.

However the reality is that the industry advances a (significant) portion of your receivable le, the rest is a hold back. Typically this portion is 90%, but many firms calculate total financing not just on the holdback but the invoice amount.

When do I get the holdback? Ask clients. The answer is that they receive the holdback as soon as the actual invoice is paid.

We thing its clear that the discount rate, of the three key drivers we have mentioned is the most focused on by clients. Because the commercial receivable financing industry is not regulated firms charge what markets will bear.

In summary, understanding the returns of your commercial factor firm will better assist you in determining if this overall receivable financing strategy is for you. Speak to a trusted, credible and experience Canadian business financing advisor to better understand the benefits of this growing method of financing your company.