Businesses need raw materials or goods to manufacture their products. The purchases from the suppliers can be paid for immediately with a deduction of discount. Or it can also be purchased through a net 30 account. A net 30 account is a type of credit account that allows for an additional thirty days for payment after the due date. This allows for more flexibility in financing and also helps in cash flow. You can find a reliable 2022 NET 30 Accounts List here for easy approval.
In order for the manufacturers to be able to use the discount deduction, they must have sufficient liquidity. However, the liquid funds are often lacking or are associated with high costs for over-drafting the business account. One solution is purchase financing, which is offered by banks as well as financial service providers and factoring companies.
What is purchase financing?
This form of corporate financing involves pre-financing the purchase of goods. Companies can finance both inventory and the materials used to manufacture their products. The financial market offers three different types of purchase financing.
What Types of Purchase Financing are There?
In order to find the right form of financing for each company, companies can apply for one of these purchase financing options from their bank or from a financial service provider:
- Classic purchase financing. Companies apply for the classic form of financing at their house bank or at another bank that offers cheap purchase financing. It is often a line of credit that the company can use up to a maximum amount. However, it is also possible to arrange a loan in a long term. The bank requires collateral such as pledging the stock for the classic form of purchase financing.
- Fine Trading. In fine trading, an intermediary, also known as a fine trader, buys the required goods on behalf of the manufacturer. The supplier issues the invoice to the fine trader and receives his money immediately. At the same time, the intermediary grants the buyer a longer payment period of 90-120 days by which the invoice must be settled. In the meantime, the company can manufacture the products and use the proceeds from the sale to pay the fine traders’ bill.
- Reverse factoring. Reverse factoring is the reverse form of the classic sale of receivables. In normal factoring, a company sells open invoices with payment terms to a factor. In reverse factoring, the buyer ensures that the factor buys the open supplier invoices. In contrast to fine trading, a company orders the required raw materials from the suppliers themselves. After receiving the ordered goods, the buyer forwards the invoice to the factoring provider. The supplier receives the invoice amount from the factor. When the payment deadline is reached, the buyer transfers the invoice amount to the factoring company.
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Purchase Financing Offers these Advantages
The advantages of purchase financing include increasing and stable liquidity as well as a quick and flexible reaction to changes in the market. You can take advantage of purchasing benefits and discounts and buy the goods you need for the season or your customer orders. Since most purchase financing is independent of the banks, you do not have to provide any collateral. The creditworthiness of your own company and the creditworthiness of your customers are usually sufficient. This is also reflected in the costs, which can be lower than with a bank loan. In addition, purchase financing has these positive effects on your company’s balance sheet:
- Shown as current liabilities, not debt like a bank loan
- the financed goods are part of the current assets and thus reduce the balance sheet
- a reduced balance sheet ensures a higher equity ratio and thus a better rating
Do I have to Consider the Disadvantages?
In contrast to conventional factoring, companies must note that purchase financing is not suitable for covering ongoing costs for salaries, rent, or insurance contributions. The costs of exceeding the payment deadline with classic purchase financing can be high and the lender requires collateral. With reverse factoring, two separate contracts must be concluded, while with conventional factoring, one contract between the factor and the vendor is sufficient.