Invoice Financing
Also known as: Factoring, Receivables financing
Invoice financing is borrowing against unpaid customer invoices to release cash before those invoices are due to be paid.
Instead of waiting the full payment term for customers to settle, a supplier can raise finance against its outstanding invoices, receiving most of the value up front from a financier and the balance, less a fee, once the customer pays. Factoring, where the financier also manages collections, is a common form.
Invoice financing improves cash flow and frees working capital tied up in receivables, which is useful for growing businesses or those carrying long payment terms. It differs from supply chain finance in that it is arranged by the supplier against its own receivables rather than initiated by the buyer.
Frequently asked questions
- What is invoice financing?
- Invoice financing is borrowing against unpaid customer invoices to get cash early — the financier advances most of the value up front and pays the balance, less a fee, once the customer settles.
- How is invoice financing different from supply chain finance?
- Invoice financing is arranged by the supplier against its own receivables, while supply chain finance is initiated by the buyer against approved invoices using the buyer's credit.
Related terms
Accounts Receivable (AR)
Accounts receivable (AR) is the money a business is owed by its customers for goods or services that have been delivered but not yet paid for.
Read definitionSupply Chain Finance (SCF)
Supply chain finance (SCF) is a set of financing arrangements that let suppliers get paid early while buyers keep or extend their payment terms.
Read definitionTrade Financing
Trade financing is the range of financial products that help businesses fund the gap between buying goods and getting paid, easing cash flow across the supply chain.
Read definitionGo deeper
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