Factoring Terminology
Accounts Receivable
A commercial debt due for repayment usually in 30 - 90 days. In the factoring industry
the accounts receivable is what a company sells to a factor.
Advance Rate
The amount of money provided immediately to the company factoring its Accounts Receivable,
expressed as a percentage of the total invoice amount. Advance Rates usually range
from 75% to 95%.
Broker
An individual who pairs clients in need of cash with appropriate financial entities
including factors.
Concentration
The amount of one client's accounts receivable due from a single customer.
Creditor
The party to whom money is owed.
Debtor
The business or organization that owes money on an invoice purchased by the factor;
i.e. the client's customers, also known as account debtors.
Discount Rate
The percentage of the face value of an invoice that a factor holds as its fee.
Due Diligence
The verification of information and its documentation given to a factor in order
to facilitate a decision as to whether or not a particular invoice should be purchased.
Factor
A company that provides businesses with operating capital by purchasing their Accounts
Receivable.
Factoring
Factoring is the process of purchasing commercial accounts receivable (invoices)
from a business at a discount.
Funding
Advancing money (based on the advance rate) to a client.
Invoice
A legal debt instrument which indicates the amount due from a customer to pay for
delivered goods or services.
Reserve
The amount of money that is not immediately provided to the company factoring its
Accounts Receivable, expressed as a percentage of the total invoice amount (Advance
Rate + Reserve = 100% or Total Invoice Amount). This money is transferred to the
client once payment is received by the factor.
Schedule of Accounts
Report given by the client to the factor. The report lists information about the
account of each of the client's customers.
Verification
A step during the due diligence process in which a factor confirms the validity
of an invoice with the customer.