How Invoice Factoring Works
Invoice factoring is a straightforward financial transaction where a business sells its accounts receivable (unpaid invoices) to a third-party financial company (a factor) at a discount.
The 4-Step Process
You Invoice Your Customer
You provide goods or services to your B2B or B2G customer and generate an invoice with standard payment terms (e.g., Net 30, 60, or 90 days).
You Sell the Invoice to the Factor
Instead of waiting 30-90 days for your customer to pay, you submit the invoice to the factoring company. The factor verifies the invoice is valid.
You Receive the Advance
The factor deposits an advance (typically 80% to 95% of the invoice value) directly into your bank account, often within 24 hours.
The Factor Collects Payment & Returns the Reserve
Your customer pays the factoring company directly according to the invoice terms. Once paid, the factor sends you the remaining balance (the reserve) minus their factoring fee.
Example Math
- Invoice Amount$10,000
- Advance Rate (90%)$9,000 (Immediate Cash)
- Reserve Amount (10%)$1,000 (Held Back)
- Factoring Fee (2%)-$200
- Total Received by You$9,800