Accounts receivable financing, also known as a receivable pledge, is a financial tool used to release cash thats locked up in accounts receivable. This cash can then be used to cover working capital needs such as purchasing new inventory or hiring additional staff. Accounts receivable financing is a type of asset-based lending, where a business borrows money based on the value of its accounts receivable.
Businesses invariably have expenses that must be paid months before customers pay their bills, or extended payment terms prohibit payment of expenses. To balance this mismatch, a business might choose to finance its accounts receivable. This type of financing helps businesses clear short-term payroll and inventory expenses, allowing for continued operations.
Accounts receivable financing generally involves pledging a portion of the business’s accounts receivable as security for a loan. The amount of the loan and the interest rate depend on the factors such as the creditworthiness of the borrower. To use accounts receivable financing, businesses generally turn to alternative loan and financing companies such as Fintechs because their services are quicker and easier than traditional lenders.
Once a loan agreement is established, the accounts receivable lender will begin collecting payment from your customers, instead of you. Yes, you read that right—the financial company will become the one collecting directly from the customer. As your customer pays its bill, the lender keeps track of the funds and deducts an additional fee, usually around 10%, as repayment for the loan. The lender continues to collect payments until the debt is repaid in full.
Accounts receivable financing is beneficial to businesses that need quick infusions of cash and those that want to minimize the risk of dealing with customers with slow payment histories. Since the lender is the one collecting payment from the customer, businesses are relieved of this responsibility, freeing them to focus on other areas of the business.
Accounts receivable financing can be extremely costly for businesses that require long-term financing, as the interest and fees accumulate over time. Additionally, the small businesses must apply for financing and are subject to credit checks and other requirements. Also, this type of financing typically requires frequent collateral inspections and audits, which represent another cost to the borrower.
For these reasons, accounts receivable financing is not necessarily the right choice for businesses that need access to capital. Businesses should consider all available financing options, including accounts receivable financing, and take the time to analyze the pros and cons of each before making a decision.