Accounts Receivables Factoring

Accounts Receivable Factoring is a process of raising capital in which the businesses sell their accounts receivable to “Factor” (a company that specializes in purchasing discounted receivables). Also called Invoice Factoring, small businesses commonly use it with limited credit history. The two major types of accounts receivable factoring are recourse and non-recourse.

An organization can choose to sell or forward account receivables or a particular invoice to a factoring company at an amount lesser than the face value of the invoice. The factoring company provides immediate cash rather than the organization having to wait for the settlement date. Therefore, the payment risk also is transferred to the factoring company.

Accounts Receivable Factoring rates are a higher-cost source of funds and is used more by smaller firms that do not have a particularly strong credit history. There are other motivations behind opting for this financial instrument tool. It helps businesses focus on growing business and serving more clients rather than focusing on payment collection hassle, improves the cash conversion cycle, and removes credit risk, to name a few. However, it is important to mention that at times (particularly in the case of Non-recourse Factoring), the factor may put extra pressure on the business customer for payment, which could hurt the firm’s future business prospects with these customers.

Usually, a business sells goods and services to its customers either in cash or credit. In the case of credit, the company sends an Invoice to the customers, which is typically paid back to the business as per credit terms (varies from business to business and the period ranges from 7 days to 180 days and even more).

Instead of waiting for the customer to make a payment on due dates (Duration of credit terms), a business can sell its accounts receivables at a discount from their Face Value (Invoice Value) to the specialized company known as “Factor” and receive cash immediately.

Under Invoice Factoring, the discount (factor fees) charged by these companies depends on multiple factors, namely:

• Due date of Receivable (a Longer time frame will require more factor fees compared to a shorter time frame).
• The industry that the business belongs.
• The creditworthiness of Business Credit Customers;
• Collection history of the business on its receivables;
• Amount of Invoice Factoring assigned for factoring.
• Type of Factoring-Recourse or Non-Recourse (Discussed in detail below). Non-recourse factoring requires the factor to take additional credit risk arising from uncollectible accounts receivables, leading to more factor fees.

Let's discuss the types of accounts receivable factoring services through the points below:

#1 - Recourse Factoring

Under this Invoice Factoring arrangement, only the accounts receivables factoring companies provide only early payment of invoices in return for Factor Fees to the business. Suppose any bad debtarises later due to nonpayment of dues by the customer resulting in a loss. In that case, the business will make it good for the accounts receivables factoring companies. In other words, the credit risk remains with the original business, and in the unlikely event of any loss arising, the business will make good any loss to the factor. Under this, the whole debt collection process is taken care of by the business itself, and factor is paid Factor fees (the interest for advancing money against the invoice to the business from the date the advance was made to the date the business gives the factor the money).

The following equation can explain the same:

#2 - Non Recourse Factoring

Under this arrangement, a business sells its invoices to the factory and receives cash payments immediately. The factor takes all responsibility for analyzing the creditworthiness collection of payment on the due date, and credit loss arising on account of nonpayment by the customer (credit risk is transferred from the business to the accounts receivables factoring companies).

As evident from the above, Non-recourse factoring involves more risk and administrative cost for the factor and is usually more expensive compared to a Recourse Factoring for the business that utilizes Non-recourse factoring services.

Let us consider the following examples to understand how the accounts receivable factoring types differ:

Example 1 - Recourse Factoring

Let’s understand the accounts receivables factoring services concept with the help of an example:

Company A sends a Rs 10000 invoice to its customers to be paid in six months and a copy to its Factor, M/s X, in return for Rs 8500. On the due date (i.e., after six months), the customer pays the money, and Company A sends Rs 10000 to M/s X.M/s X charges 10% factor fees for the amount advanced to Company A and returns the balance amount to Company A.

• The amount advanced by M/s X to Company A: Rs 8500
• Interest Accrued (Factor Fees): 10% of Rs 8500=Rs 850
• Invoice amount received: Rs 10000
• Accordingly, =Rs 650
• Thus Rs 650 will be paid back by M/s X (Factor) to Company A after deducting factor fees to settle up the transaction with Company A.

Journal entry to record the same in the books of Company A will be:

Example 2 - Non-Recourse Factoring

Let's understand the factoring  of accounts receivable example:

Company A sends a Rs 10000 invoice to its customers to be paid in six months and a copy to its Factor, M/s X, in return for Rs 8500. On the due date (i.e., after six months), M/s X collects the same from the customer.

Let us discuss the benefits of incurring accounts receivables factoring rates through the points below:

• Provides immediate cash flow to Business;

• Helps businesses to focus on rendering value services as payment collection hassle is taken care of by factor in return for the Factor fees.
• Provides a source of funding for businesses with low (or no) credit history as Invoice Factoring companies discount invoices based on the credit history of the customer and not the business;
• In the case of Non Recourse Factoring (discussed in detail below), the business is a guard from losses, if any, arising from Bad Debts (Uncollectible Accounts Receivable).

This article has been a guide to Accounts Receivable Factoring and its definition. Here we explain it along with examples, advantages & types. You may also have a look at these articles to learn more about Accounting –

• Is Accounts Receivable a Debit or Credit?
• Journal Entry for Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Receivable vs. Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivables Turnover Ratio