In my previous article, we discussed whether brokers should start their own factoring companies. In this article, we discuss how to finance a factoring company, should you decide to start one. While owning a factoring company can be very rewarding, it’s also very risky. And most owners make their riskiest decision before funding their first deal – the decision on how to finance their own company. The wrong decision could wipe you out financially and have long-lasting repercussions. Make this decision very carefully. There Are Many Ways To Fund A Factoring Company. Each way has varying degrees of risk. How you proceed depends on your risk tolerance. For example, when I first financed my factoring company, I made two upfront decisions. … [Read more...]
Should Brokers Start Their Own Factoring Companies?
Most brokers who join the factoring industry expect to eventually own a factoring company. They plan to start as brokers due to the lower cost. This approach allows them to get some revenues and experience, with the hope of eventually becoming a full-fledged factoring company. This strategy is fine, as long as you realize that running a factoring company is completely different from running a brokerage. The costs, needed skill set, risks, rewards, and challenges are very different. Do you have the capital? The first question to ask yourself is if you have sufficient capital to start factoring accounts. This attainment is not as easy as it sounds. Obviously, you need enough capital to service your clients. This simple table gives you … [Read more...]
Six Tips For A Beginning Factoring Consultant or Broker
If you are new to the factoring industry or are considering becoming a factoring professional, this article is for you. I have been involved in the industry for a decade and through the years have seen a number of consultants do well. However, I have also seen a large number of consultants leave the business – unable to make ends meet. Many of those consultants made critical mistakes that could have been easily corrected. These tips are intended to help you avoid making those mistakes. Tips For Starting as a Factoring Consultant or Broker Tip #1: Know your product This is the cardinal rule for success in any industry. You have to know your product, and know it well. However, most beginning consultants don’t spend enough time … [Read more...]
Best of How To Start A Factoring Business
Over the past few years I’ve written several articles about starting your own factoring business. Much of the information referred to resources, capital, due diligence and general topics related to the asset based lending industry. To this day I am still amazed over the response we have received on this topic. Today alone I’ve received calls from Europe, Asia and the U.S. about factoring. Since the interest level on this topic has remained so high I felt that it would be a good idea to do a "Best of How To Start A Factoring Business” compiled from previous articles and questions we have received over the last few years. 1. Should I begin as a factoring agent or broker rather than starting a direct funding company? First, understand … [Read more...]
Challenging Changes in the Factoring Business
A tough economy, increased competition, and new technology are some of the challenges (and opportunities) being faced in the factoring business. We recently talked with Jeff Callender, President of Dash Point Financial, to get his insights on significant changes experienced by factoring brokers and companies. Jeff answered two important questions and you'll enjoy his straight forward answers! … [Read more...]
How the Election Affects Your Factoring Business
A look a how the business of factoring will be impacted by the election results and economic issues. The election is over and no matter what side of the political fence you reside, the people have spoken. President Obama returns for four more years with a divided congress consisting of Republicans controlling the House of Representatives while the Democrats retain their majority in the Senate. No matter who was victorious in these races, tough issues lie before our elected officials. The latest unemployment data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics remains close to 8% as of November 7, 2012. The fiscal cliff is looming which includes the expiration of specific tax cuts while at the same time spending cuts of over 1,000 … [Read more...]
Tips For Starting a Small Business Factoring Company
Wondering how to start or grow a small business factoring company? Based on two decades of experience, Jeff Callender shares his tips for factors and brokers including why he prefers small invoices, how to avoid his biggest mistakes, and what he would do differently if he started all over again. … [Read more...]
Understanding the Factoring Business
With so much information readily available at our fingertips it is really easy to take shortcuts when trying to learn about the factoring industry. Although the factoring business model is very straightforward, you still need to understand basics before you venture out into the world and meet with prospects. One of the downsides to the factoring industry is that much of it is … [Read more...]
Listen and Learn – Insights To The Factoring Industry
After reading the title to this piece one would think that I have some great pearls of wisdom to dispense on one of the many facets about the factoring industry. Sorry, this isn’t going to be a tutorial on marketing your business or collecting the proper documents to close a deal. We’ll save those for another time or article. This time I’m going to try and keep it plain and simple and focus on something so many fail to do when working with a prospect – listen. … [Read more...]
A Call to Factoring Brokers – What’s Up?
What makes some factoring brokers successful and others fade away? Get three important steps from Don D'Ambrosio in his Call to Factoring Brokers! In the past I’ve written about the pivotal role a factoring broker can play in the cash flow industry. In my November 2011 piece titled, “A How To Guide For Factoring Brokers”, we received an overwhelming response from interested people from all parts of the globe looking to get involved in the factoring industry. That’s the good news. Unfortunately, I have also found that a large percentage of these “new brokers” had … [Read more...]