Is your trucking company in need of immediate cash despite having numerous customers? Then, perhaps it’s time to partner with a truck factoring company. Truck factoring allows you to receive quick cash from your outstanding invoices, and it is a great way to get finances for your operational expenses, such as fuel, wages, or to use in investment opportunities. You can learn more here. Let’s see how trucking factoring works in a step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Search for a Factoring Company
The first step in truck factoring is finding the appropriate company for your needs and budget. Search for a reliable company specializing in trucking or transportation industry factoring, and take note of their rates, experience, customer service, and contract terms. Most factoring companies charge a factoring fee calculated as a percentage of the invoice value, ranging between 1% and 5%.
Step 2: Apply For Factoring
Complete the application process once you have determined which factoring company meets your needs. You must provide information about your trucking company, including financial statements, customer invoices, and other details related to your clients.
Step 3: Verification and Approval
When the factoring company receives your application, they will evaluate it, conduct due diligence, and asses the creditworthiness of your customers and even the credit history of your company. Invoices will be checked, which might mean they will contact your customers directly.
Step 4: Agreement and Terms
If your factoring application is approved, you will enter into an agreement with the factoring company. This is the most essential part of the deal, as you will need to carefully read the agreement and check the terms and conditions, fee structure, advance rate, and the recourse or non-recourse nature of the arrangement.
Step 5: Submitting Invoices
Once the agreement is finished, you can submit your customer invoices to the factoring company.
Step 6: Verification and Funding
The factoring company will check each invoice, and if everything is in order, they will advance a percentage of the invoice value, which is usually between 80% and 95%, to your trucking company.
Step 7: Payment and Collection
When the factoring company purchases your invoices, they are now responsible for the collection process and will contact your customers to collect payment on the due date. Once the payment is made, the factoring company will deduct their fees and charges from the collected amount.
Step 8: Reserve and Final Payment
The factoring company will hold a portion of your invoice in reserve. When customers pay their invoice fully, the reserve amount will be released to you, minus the fees and charges applied. Some additional fees might apply if the customers delay payment.
Step 9: Ongoing Factoring
Contracts with factoring companies can last for a few months or years, depending on the contract. Once you finish an invoice, you can submit a new one, and the process repeats. This will provide your trucking company with consistent cash flow. If you want to terminate the contract, you might need to pay additional fees, so it is essential to read the agreement and terms carefully before signing anything.