The expression of a house divided goes back to the beginning of the Common Era and further, if a linguist was to trace it. Sam Houston spoke it most famously in 1850 when he claimed “A nation divided against itself cannot stand” during a debate on the Compromise of 1850. Eight months into full Affordable Care Act coverage, it appears that we are once again a nation divided – this time, into the states that chose to expand Medicaid and the states that did not (including the four that have not decided either way). When factoring healthcare receivables, it is important to be familiar with each state’s policy and what the implications may be for your business. Medicaid Expansion Expansion of Medicaid ties in to the tax credits available to … [Read more...]
Are There Too Many Factoring Companies?
Over the last several years it seems that competition among factoring companies has increased dramatically. The supply and demand between invoice factoring companies and qualified prospects has tipped to the point where too many funders are chasing too few deals. Just look around at some of the social media boards where a broker posts a potential lead and ten different factoring companies respond to it. Economics 101 teaches us that a perfectly competitive market structure is one where there are many buyers and sellers, homogeneous products and relatively free entry and exit in the marketplace. I will be the first to go on record to say that I believe that competition is the cornerstone of our economy which makes us the great … [Read more...]
Factoring Leads: Shifting from Marketing to Sales
Marketing is the key to generate leads, identify future prospects and convince others of the value of working with you. It follows that most articles on marketing focus firmly on getting the most benefit from your marketing methods – should you purchase pay-per-click ads? How should you incorporate social media? Do email blasts really work? However, once your marketing is successful – as measured by a prospect reaching out by phone or contact form – how do you transition from marketing to sales? Sales strategies vary greatly between different companies, between prospects working with the same company, and even at times in working with a single prospect. With that in mind, below are several questions (and a few suggestions) to consider … [Read more...]
10 Ways To Start Marketing A Factoring Business Online
You know you need to start marketing your factoring business online but where do you start? The time, cost, and sheer volume of information can be overwhelming – paralyzing even! Don’t despair, here’s your... Ten Step Online Marketing Plan for Factoring Companies Step 1 - Build A Factoring Business Website In the U.S. alone there are over 250 million people or 80% of the population using the Internet (Source: Internet Live Stats) and the first place they go to check something out is an online search. In 2014, websites are the new storefronts! The good news is a website is much cheaper than retail or office space, with great web design options available for under $500. And let's not forget mobile users! A website should be … [Read more...]
Fighting An Uphill Battle In The Factoring Industry
Have you ever heard the saying that perception is reality? Although I’ve written tons of articles, spoken at numerous SBA and financing workshops while preaching the benefits of invoice factoring, I’m still amazed about how our industry is perceived in the finance industry. Those of you in the factoring industry know what I’m talking about. It’s the negative stigma associated with invoice factoring. So often I’ll be attending a networking event where a CPA will tell me that he consistently advises his clients to stay away from factoring and that they should only use it as a last resort if they need cash. Then there are the small business owners who don’t even know what invoice factoring is or how it can benefit their cash flow. Invoice … [Read more...]
“Show Me the Money”: How Do Your Factoring Partners Pay Commissions?
You’ve begun working with a factoring company that handles your leads well. They keep you updated, follow up on a regular basis, and they have successfully closed a deal. Now, you say, it’s time to show me the money…but just how much money will you get? We are not lawyers, and we don’t play them on TV, but we can’t stress enough the importance of thoroughly reading your broker agreement. The agreement should clearly define every question you might have about if, when, and how you are to be paid for your referred leads. Below are just some of the commission questions that you should have answered before you send any leads. Do you get paid for your leads? What are the circumstances under which you get paid? More importantly, are there … [Read more...]
Invoice Factors and Banks
One of the most common slogans you’ll see on any factoring company’s website is how they are better than most banks in getting businesses working capital. Conventional thinking is that banks qualify prospective clients based on the financial stability of the company whereas invoice factoring companies focus more on the credit worthiness of client’s customers. Therefore a prospect with little or no credit or one that has been in business for a short period of time can qualify for a factoring line assuming they have strong customers. For example, many banks will ask for several years of tax returns, financial statements and sufficient collateral to offset the loan. When dealing with the SBA, new companies will have to submit a business … [Read more...]
Are Factoring Companies Prepared to Handle Your Leads?
The factoring world is changing – can your funding sources keep up? Your success as a broker hinges on your ability to place prospects with factoring companies that will close the deal. It is critical, then, that you focus you energy on working with funders that are prepared on every level to accept leads from brokers. So, are factoring companies prepared to effectively handle your leads? Below are some important things to consider before sending leads to any factoring company. Have a conversation with each funder before referring deals in which you learn their expectations of you, establish your expectations of them and make sure you are comfortable with their ability to meet your requirements. If their system doesn’t measure up, you … [Read more...]
The Balancing Act of Factoring Invoices
In past articles I have addressed the need for understanding your client’s business as well as having a consistent set of policies and procedures to ensure you effectively manage the risk of factoring invoices. However, what happens when you run across those out of the box deals that do not fit nicely into your company’s comfort zone? Instead of immediately throwing these deals away you might want to consider some adjustments you can make to mitigate the risk. Although we all like to fund deals that are in our sweet spot in terms of size and industry, I have found that some of our best success stories were with clients in industries that we never would have imagined funding. Some past examples include speech therapists, a startup … [Read more...]
Factoring Business on the Go: 10 Essential Apps for Factoring Professionals
Savvy factoring professionals understand the shifting landscape of business. Customers use mobile technology to engage with your company at all hours of the day and night, from all over the world. Since these tools are readily available, it’s important to use them to your advantage. Below are ten essential mobile applications for staying connected to the most important parts of your business. Add them to your arsenal to take your factoring company to the next level. Stay in touch with clients and contacts. Communication is the key to building a factoring business and serving your clients, so use these apps to follow up even when your desk is 1,000 miles away. • Salesforce1: Salesforce’s comprehensive app puts your lead and customer … [Read more...]