Factoring is Not Always About Cash Flow Problems, For Many It's About Growth

Even though Factoring is an extremely common business practice in Europe, many American business people have never heard of it or used it. Factoring has been practiced for centuries; the Romans sold promissory notes at a discount and the Pilgrims journeys to America were financed by advances from a Factor who provided the funds to pay for the journey. The Pilgrims repaid the money with earnings from America. The word "factor" comes from Latin, the language of Rome. It means "to do" or "to make."

Even the United State Congress acknowledges and supports factoring with the passing of the Assignment of Claims Act, (31 U.S.C.3727) which states that ?Contractor or its assignee may assign its rights to receive payment due as a result of performance? to a financing institution. This is the assignment of invoices, know as factoring.

Factoring is the selling of your accounts receivables for cash versus waiting 30, 60 or 90 days, to be paid by your customers. Its a flexible financial tool that when used properly can help increase a companies growth without incurring new or additional debt.

Factoring is not always about cash flow problems, for many its about growth with a reliable foundation. Factoring has allowed thousands of small businesses to bid on and wind contracts worth millions of dollar in the Government and Corporate sector

Industries that use Factoring as a normal course of business are Temporary Employment Agencies, Distributors, Manufacturers, Government Contractors, Freight Companies (BOL) and Importers for the Purchase Order Funding. It does not matter if the business is a start-up, high-growth business, under-capitalized, or companies with cash flow problems. Most factoring companies do not even require financial statements; something like the ?no docs? real estate loans!

Factoring differs from the banks mainly because, a bank makes credit decisions based upon a company?s financial history, cash flow and collateral. Factoring bases its decision on the credit-worthiness of your clients. Because factoring is not a loan, no liability appears on your balance sheet.

Factoring can take as little as 48 hours and take up to 3 to 4 weeks for Government Contracts. The good part is, once you have your factoring in place, it takes only a couple of days, or less, to wire monies into your business account once the Factoring company has received your invoices.

Factoring companies do not leave your growth up to chance. They actively participate in screening new vendors for your company as well as collecting your invoices and handling accounts receivables that relate to them. And IRS subsidizes the cost of this because all cost involved with factoring is tax deductible.

Cassandra Ingraham is a Tax Accountant in the San Francisco Bay Area. She can be found at http://www.taxeswilltravel.com providing Formal Introductions to Lenders for Accounts Receivable Funding (Factoring) and Purchase Order Funding.