Showing posts with label receivables. Show all posts
Showing posts with label receivables. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Why Truck Factoring Is Necessary For You

Factoring thus is a relatively efficient and simple process as it just uses the invoices for a loan and does not necessitate the presence of any collateral or guarantee. Invoice factoring is a business method through which the firm 's receivables or invoices may be secured by another company, which would facilitate instant cash that would have otherwise been accessible only after a certain specific period. The process of factoring utilizes the invoice of a company as a security against the provision of an immediate loan to that particular company.

Factoring is a competent strategy through which the capital needs of any business may be achieved.


The ready liquidity offered by truck factoring acts as a respite to the trucking firms where cash payments are received only after a stipulated time period; thus hindering the smooth functioning of the firm due to deficit cash. Through truck invoice factoring, small or big, all types of establishments sell off their invoices and in return get financial support that enables the firms to sustain an even cash flow. Truck factoring refers to out-and-out purchase by the truck invoice factoring firm, the invoices of the trucking and transportation firms.

It is advisable to look at the larger picture while figuring out truck factoring. Even though the fee for factoring may be high, the advantages are plenty. Truck invoice factoring firms take into account certain measures to determine the service fee and purchase the invoice like, total business volume, credit limits of existing clientele and the credit history of the customer, track record of the firm and accounts receivable reports. The truck invoice factoring firm then negotiates the fee as per the value of the invoice, this could range anywhere between 2 to 5% of the invoice face value.

Once the negotiation is completed, the truck-factoring firm releases the advance that is part of money paid up immediately for purchasing the invoice. This could range between 60 to 95% of the invoice face value. The remaining amount is cleared when the firm 's customer repays the invoice. In this way, truck factoring brings in that ready cash flow.

Truck factoring is necessary, since by using this business process you can reap in many benefits. It enables you obtain ready cash fast, in just about a couple of days time, thereby saving time for concentrating on your business rather than finding out ways to sort out the collection process for tackling cash flow issues. There are truck invoice factoring firms, which offer professional services that take care of your credit checking and collections. This provides you with streaming liquidity.

Thus, truck factoring gives an enhanced control over the complete business. It also helps in taking care of your payroll and taxes. Regular cash flow gives you sufficient cash for marketing, expansion by increasing production and sale. Ready money enables the trucking firm to benefit from bulk procurement discounts as the procuring or buying power also goes up.

Thus truck factoring is necessary, as it saves time and money spent on recovering payments from customers and helping truck firms to focus on business development. Also it prevents the truck companies from falling into a debt trap with the ready cash flow. Truck factoring is definitely advantageous as it enhances your financial statement and gives a detailed portfolio of your accounts receivable.


Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Asset Based Lending In the Capital Markets

A borrower might require an asset based loan to expand his/her business or to fund new acquisitions or mergers, or for a turnaround of his company or to stave away impending bankruptcy or even for the purchase of new plant and machinery. An Asset based loan is when a borrower avails of a loan against a borrowing base that is the assets that the borrower might possess at the time of the loan.

Asset based lenders can show more flexibility, while approving loans, since they have the borrower 's assets as collateral in case of any problem in recovering the loan amount and can also be flexible in the mode of repayment. material sold on credit, but payments not yet received, or even purchase orders or letters of credit from overseas clients. The term borrowing base implies all the assets of the business or company including real estate, existing plant and machinery, inventory and even the receivables of the company, i.e.

Borrowers should compare the cost of availing an asset-based loan with a traditional loan and also measure it against the benefits offered by availing the loan. But, whereas traditional lenders would advance loans against only fixed assets as collateral, asset based lending companies, not only advance loans against fixed assets, but also against receivables and they could also take future profits into account, which traditional lenders would not consider. Also, in a traditional loan, a borrower might just get a fixed amount, whereas in an asset based loan, the amount might vary as per the borrowers' current and future standing.

So, if borrowers have limited fixed assets, but show great future potential and have a healthy receivable report in their hand, then asset based lenders would be willing to advance bigger loans to them. Borrowers with huge orders from credit worthy clients or borrowers facing liquidity problems due to seasonal sales could also benefit from asset based lending. Borrowers have to submit regular details of the current status, not only of their property, but also of their receivables to their lenders as per their requirement.

However, the credit crunch especially in the US market has now put some strain on the traditional lending institutions, such as banks, since the inter bank liquidity crunch has now spread from the US to the UK and also to other European countries. With banks tightening their lending norms and the prices of real estate sliding southwards, this could turn out to be an advantage for asset based lenders, who could see more borrowers at their doorsteps. The problem is that the fixed assets, which are to be attached as collateral, are reducing in their market value on a day-to-day basis and this could affect both the lenders and the borrowers.

So, for medium to large corporations requiring capital for mergers or acquisitions, or even restructuring during these tough times, asset based lending groups can provide customized solutions, as per the corporations needs. However, if the borrowers' receivables are healthy and if his business shows future potential, then an asset based loan is a better option to the now strictly monitored traditional loan.

So, whatever the sector, asset based lending companies can tailor make a suitable loan to suit any corporation or companies or businesses and these tough times may see them veer away more from the strict rules of lending banks to a more flexible asset based lender.


Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Pros And Cons Of Using Freight Factoring To Increase Your Business

There are drivers' salaries to be paid, fuel and repair bills to be cleared and you might also need to keep a tidy amount ready for unexpected expenses, in case any of your trucks breakdown en-route to their destination. Every business requires an uninterrupted flow of cash to meet all related expenses and this is especially true in the trucking business.

However, there are some pros and cons to be kept in mind, before you rush to tie-up with any freight factoring company. These companies can also take over your collection activity by collecting the payment from your clients on the due date and thus this method of finance is flexible and can provide you with an opportunity to flourish in your trucking business. In this process, a freight factoring company will 'buy' off your credit invoice that you have issued to your client and pay you the amount of your invoice minus a 'factoring fee', which could range between 1.5% to 5%.

Freight factoring can solve all these problems.


Pros:

The biggest advantage of entering into a freight factoring arrangement is that you will get your invoice amount immediately, even if you have issued a credit invoice. This will improve your cash flow and help you to meet your expenses, take on larger and longer hauls and even put into action any expansion plan that you might have nurtured. You will also require fewer documents and no collateral, without which you would not have gotten a bank loan anyway, even if you did wish for one.

The freight factoring company could, at an additional cost, also handle your receivables department, thus freeing your mind and staff from the trouble of running after your clients for your money. Since the incoming amount only depends on the value of the invoices that you 's ell' to the factoring company, you will not need to worry about any monthly installments or interest rates, which would have been the case, if you had taken a traditional loan.

Cons:

It is essential to conduct a thorough survey of the freight factoring industry, before you tie-up with a particular factoring company. The factoring company should be able to handle your account efficiently and should make your payments within the stipulated time for you to enjoy the benefits. Their staff should be available to hear your queries and should also be courteous and polite, while handling your queries. Some of your clients too might not like the idea of answering to a third party in financial matters.

You will therefore need to placate them, if you do not wish to lose them as your clients. If you are already working on wafer-thin profit margins, then by paying the 'factoring fee', you will only end up transferring your profit to your factoring company. This might prove to be disastrous for your business in the long run. If the factoring company is retaining a certain amount of the invoice as security against bad debt, then that too could prove to be troublesome, in case of any dispute with the company or your client.

Therefore, even though freight factoring seems to be an answer to all your financial woes, by not paying heed to the above points, you could end up in even more trouble.

Thus, it is important to study the pros and cons of this mode of finance, in order to avoid any pitfalls associated with it.


Recent Posts

  © Blogger template Brooklyn by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP