What Is Invoice Factoring? Definition & How It Works
Loan Types

What Is Invoice Factoring?

Turn unpaid invoices into immediate cash by selling them to a factoring company.

Invoice factoring is when you sell your unpaid invoices to a factoring company (factor) for immediate cash. The factor advances you 70-95% of the invoice value upfront, then collects payment directly from your customers. Once customers pay, you receive the remaining balance minus factoring fees (typically 1-5% of invoice value). It's a form of invoice financing where the factor handles collections, making it ideal for businesses that want to outsource accounts receivable management.

How Invoice Factoring Works

1

Submit Invoices

Send unpaid invoices to the factoring company. They verify invoices are legitimate and your customers are creditworthy.

2

Receive Advance

Get 70-95% of invoice value deposited within 24-48 hours. This is your immediate cash to cover expenses.

3

Factor Collects Payment

The factoring company handles collections from your customers. Customers pay the factor directly, not you.

4

Receive Remaining Balance

Once customers pay, you receive the remaining 5-30% balance minus factoring fees (typically 1-5% of invoice value).

Types of Invoice Factoring

Recourse Factoring

Most common type. If a customer doesn't pay, you're responsible for buying back the invoice or replacing it with another invoice.

  • • Lower fees (1-3% per month)
  • • You assume credit risk
  • • Best for: Businesses with reliable customers

Non-Recourse Factoring

Factor assumes credit risk. If customer doesn't pay, factor absorbs the loss (you still pay fees).

  • • Higher fees (2-5% per month)
  • • Factor assumes credit risk
  • • Best for: Businesses with uncertain customer credit

When to Use Invoice Factoring

Invoice factoring is ideal for:

  • B2B Businesses: Companies that sell to other businesses with net 30, 60, or 90-day payment terms.
  • Slow Collections: When collecting from customers takes too much time or resources.
  • Rapid Growth: Need cash to take on more work before getting paid for completed work.
  • Lower Credit Scores: Factoring is based on your customers' credit, not yours, making it accessible with lower credit scores.

Pros and Cons

Advantages:

  • Fast cash (24-48 hours)
  • Based on customer credit, not yours
  • Factor handles collections
  • Scales with sales
  • No collateral required

Considerations:

  • !More expensive than traditional loans
  • !Customers know you're using factoring
  • !Requires creditworthy customers
  • !Only works for B2B businesses
  • !You lose control of customer relationships

How Much Does Invoice Factoring Cost?

Factoring fees vary based on invoice volume, customer creditworthiness, and payment terms:

  • Factoring fee: 1-5% of invoice value per month
  • Advance rate: 70-95% of invoice value upfront
  • Example: $10,000 invoice, 2% fee, 85% advance = $8,500 upfront, $200 fee, $1,300 remaining balance

Fees are typically higher than traditional loans but provide immediate cash flow and outsourced collections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between invoice factoring and invoice financing?

Factoring means the factor collects from customers. Invoice financing (discounting) means you collect and use invoices as collateral. Compare invoice factoring vs business loans to understand your options.

Will my customers know I'm using factoring?

Yes, with factoring, customers pay the factor directly, so they know you're using factoring services. This is different from invoice discounting where you maintain direct customer relationships.

What if my customer doesn't pay?

With recourse factoring (most common), you're responsible for buying back the invoice or replacing it. With non-recourse factoring, the factor absorbs the loss, but fees are higher.

Can I factor all my invoices?

Yes, you can factor all invoices or select specific ones. Many businesses start with their largest or slowest-paying invoices to maximize cash flow impact.

Need Cash for Unpaid Invoices?

Get immediate cash for your accounts receivable and let us handle collections.

Fast funding • Based on receivables • Collections handled