Reverse Factoring
Also known as: Supplier finance, Approved payables finance
Reverse factoring is a supply-chain finance arrangement where a financier pays a supplier early against invoices the buyer has approved, at rates based on the buyer's credit.
In reverse factoring, the buyer approves supplier invoices and a financier offers to pay those invoices early, less a small discount. Because the funding is priced on the buyer's stronger credit rating, suppliers often access cheaper early payment than they could obtain alone. The buyer still pays the financier on the original due date, preserving its own working capital.
It is called reverse factoring because the buyer, not the supplier, initiates the programme. The approach improves supplier cash flow and strengthens the supply base while letting buyers keep or extend payment terms. It differs from traditional factoring, where a supplier sells its receivables independently of the buyer's involvement.
Frequently asked questions
- What is reverse factoring?
- Reverse factoring is a supply-chain finance arrangement in which a financier pays a supplier early against buyer-approved invoices, priced on the buyer's credit, while the buyer pays on the original due date.
- How does reverse factoring differ from factoring?
- Reverse factoring is initiated by the buyer and uses the buyer's credit rating, whereas traditional factoring is arranged by the supplier selling its own receivables independently.
Related terms
Supply 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 definitionInvoice Financing
Invoice financing is borrowing against unpaid customer invoices to release cash before those invoices are due to be paid.
Read definitionDynamic Discounting
Dynamic discounting is an arrangement where a supplier offers a sliding early-payment discount that shrinks the closer payment is made to the due date.
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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