Entrepreneurs Turn to Factoring for Success
According to research, Los Angeles, Cook (Chicago), and New York have the higher entrepreneurial activity levels; Colorado, Utah, and Washington have the highest firm birth rates and levels of entrepreneurial activity.
High technology is the only industry sector specifically favored in counties with access to an educated workforce and a local research and development structure. Higher unemployment is correlated with higher firm birth rates except in the business services industries—an indication that business service firms depend on the success of other firms; and the retail trade has the highest rate of new firm births, followed by industries in local markets.
These days loans are not as easy to come by, so many small businesses have turned to invoice factoring so they can meet obligations and continue to grow. Also known as accounts receivable factoring, a business owner often has a tough time when waiting for invoices to be paid, 30/60 or 90 days out, when employees must be paid and new materials and supplies need to be purchased for the next job. Factoring companies first look at the creditworthiness of the client's customers.
A factoring company purchases selected invoices at a discount and they will usually advance up to 90 percent against the company's invoices. Most factors can fund within as little as 24 hours, and they do not expect to buy 100 percent of a company's receivables, so there are no minimum or maximum sales volume requirements.
The latest news that banks are lending more stems from the FDIC's objective of asking larger banks to lend more or to not be "model based." But like any private business, most banks will make their own determinations of what business to pursue and how to do it. Although the banking industry is doing better than it was a year ago, there are still plenty of bad loans and many banks are skittish about making new loans. Funded a business loan will remain difficult for the foreseeable future, because banks will only feel more comfortable lending once the economy improves.
Many people believe that conditions will only improve when banks start lending again, so a number of companies are migrating towards alternative solutions, which were virtually unused years ago. Accounts receivable factoring, for example, is just one example whose popularity is growing as it is a viable alternative in today's economic climate. Factoring is a viable alternative solution in today's economic climate. There were companies that would have not given factoring a second thought three years ago are now flocking to factoring companies looking for financing.
Although it's a very different product from a business loan - factoring has many benefits. For small businesses, invoice factoring provides cash when needed and is very flexible to use. A company can sell quality invoices when necessary and have cash in hand immediately. To begin accounts receivable factoring, you will need to know some basic financial details about your business, including: 1.What are your annual sales? 2.What are your annual costs? 3.What is your gross margin? 4.How much debt does your company have? reputable factoring companies will do their due diligence in order to discover any potential problems.
Eventually, they may decline to fund the company. The end result is the same - the client is not funded. it wastes both the prospect's and the factoring company's time and gives the prospect false hope which eventually leads to disappointment. Most clients will be better off disclosing all problems upfront. If the factoring company can't help them - they will save themselves the time and effort of applying. And to see if the factoring company can offer help - they'll appreciate the honesty. In a lot of cases the initial dishonesty leads the factoring company to reject even viable companies due to lack of integrity.
About the Author
Kristin Gabriel handles online marketing for The Interface Financial Group. The company provides short-term financial resources including construction factoring and serves clients in more than 30 industries in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. IFG offers expertise in factoring, accounting, financing, law, marketing and banking. http://www.ifgnetwork.com
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