Invoice Factoring For Education Providers

Pay operating and growth expenses with quick access to cash

WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE

1. Who Can Benefit From Invoice Factoring?
2. What Is Invoice Factoring For Education Providers?
3. Is Invoice Factoring Worth It?
4. How Does Education Invoice Factoring Compare With Other Kinds of Business Financing?
5. How Do You Choose an Education-Based Factoring Partner?
6. Is Education Invoice Factoring Right For Your Business?

Education provider is a broad category that includes supplemental educational providers that assist with academic instruction to middle and high school students outside of the regular school day. It may also include other small businesses that provide services and support to school districts. 

Unfortunately, it can often take 30, 60, and even 90 days to be paid by school districts for services rendered. This can stifle cash flow and limit working capital, making it difficult to meet day-to-day expenses. 

Accounts receivable factoring for education providers can help sustain your business during these times. 

Who Can Benefit From Invoice Factoring?

To ensure all students, especially those from impoverished school districts, receive a quality education, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 was enacted in the U.S.. Its mission was to “improve the performance of America’s elementary and secondary schools while at the same time ensuring that no child is trapped in a failing school.”

Some businesses may offer substantial resources for tutoring and mentoring students, and those with technical capacities, such as providers in the technology or computer information field, may offer technical training.  

For these services, educational providers can often wait weeks or months to be paid by school districts. Providers notice a lag in cash flow, which makes it hard to buy supplies or pay expenses.  

What Is Invoice Factoring For Education Providers?

Invoice factoring allows businesses that provide services to schools and universities to unlock cash that’s tied up in unpaid accounts receivables. When you sell one or more invoices to a factoring company like FundThrough, you are advanced 100 percent of the invoice value, minus a fee.

In as little as 24 hours after approval, this amount can be deposited directly into a bank account. No more chasing down slow-paying customers. You get the cash-in-hand you need to get back to doing what you do best.

Factoring does not require collateral, and it is not a high-interest loan to be paid back in monthly installments. That means that even if you are a relatively new provider, you can still qualify. There’s no long, dragged out application process with factoring, and your credit doesn’t matter as the factoring company looks at the creditworthiness of your clients instead.

Is Invoice Factoring Worth It?

Like most types of financing, factoring has its pros and cons. That said, for most small businesses that have unpaid invoices and need a quick infusion of cash in a relatively short period of time, factoring cannot be beaten. 

  • Invoice factoring gives you fast access to money owed to your business, sometimes in as little as 24 hours.
  • Easy application process that does not take months to be approved or is subject to strict lending criteria. 
  • With an influx of working capital, you can take on new business and grow.
  • If you’re a relatively new education provider or struggle with a low credit score, or can’t qualify for a business loan, you may still be eligible for invoice factoring.

No matter what industry sector your business falls in, your factoring is only limited by your outstanding invoices. This may not be enough support to fill the gap between billing and getting paid, and you may need additional funding for larger purchases. 

How Does Education Invoice Factoring Compare With Other Kinds of Business Financing?

In the past, factoring was largely misunderstood. Business bank loans and lines of credit were the traditional and accepted forms of financing, along with credit cards. Each of these different funding options have pros and cons to consider.

Loans

Costs for a new or growing business can be significant. You may need to purchase equipment and inventory, pay employees, and keep up with rent, taxes, and marketing. You may consider taking  out a business loan. 

Pros

  • Many business loans have relatively low interest rates when compared to many other types of funding.
  • Interest can be deductible on your taxes. 
  • Depending on your requirements, you may have access to large sums of money to be used to grow your business. 
  • On-time repayments can help improve your credit rating. 

Cons

  • Many small, growing businesses don’t qualify for loans. They often need cash faster than the process would allow anyway. 
  • Most lenders have strict guidelines for loans and a lengthy review process.
  • You may need to have a good credit rating. Anything else and you may not qualify and if you do you’ll likely pay a higher interest rate.
  • Rates can fluctuate depending on the market. The more you borrow, the higher interest you may have to pay as the lender takes on more risk.
  • A business loan and the debt will show up on your balance sheet, which affect the valuation of your business. 
 

Lines of Credit

A line of credit (LOC) is a lot like a credit card. You can borrow/withdraw money up to a certain maximum amount determined by your financial institution. You can cover day-to-day expenses and pay back your debt, only to borrow again when needed.

Pros

  • You can borrow when you need it.
  • When you’re short of cash, you can borrow only what you need as long as you don’t exceed your limit.
  • Making on-time payments can help improve your credit score.
  • Lines of credit can have low interest rates.
  • The payments on the line of credit vary and vary depending on your outstanding balance. 
 

 Cons

    • As with loans, oftentimes banks won’t give small, growing businesses a line of credit. They often need cash faster than the process would allow anyway. 
    • There will be limits on the maximum amount you can borrow, which might not always be enough.
  • Although you pay-as-you-go, if you miss payments, are late, or move outside the terms of your agreement, you might face high fees.
  • It’s easy to misuse a line of credit (just like it’s easy to misuse a credit card). 
  • If your business fails, you are responsible for any payments and debt incurred from using your line of credit.
  • You need to have been in business at least two years, and will need to provide bank account information, financial statements, tax returns, and more to qualify. 
  • A line of credit is like a loan that needs to be repaid with interest.
 

Business Credit Cards

Like all forms of funding, business credit cards must be used wisely or things can go sideways very quickly. 

Pros

  • It’s easier to qualify for a business credit card than for a line of credit or business loan.
  • You have quick access to the cash you need when you need it.
  • Many business credit cards have reward programs or incentives, like cash back or airline miles. 
  • A business credit card can help build credit, which is helpful if you ever need to apply for a bank loan.

Cons

  • You may need to provide a personal guarantee to qualify.
  • High interest, annual fees and late charges can add up, especially if funding a large expense.
  • Many business credit cards do not offer purchase protection. 
  • Business credit cards come with security risks like fraudulent charges from unauthorized use and stolen credit card numbers. 
  • You risk overspending.
 

Receivables Factoring 

Invoice factoring is not a loan. The application process is quick, there is no repayment obligation, no high interest rates, and no debt to record on your wholesale company’s balance sheet. Plus, many more companies will qualify.  

Pros

  • You have access to fast cash when you need it based on the value of your invoice(s).
  • Cash advances can greatly improve shortfalls in cash flow due to slow-paying clients.
  • Does not require your business to have a long credit history, which is best for start-ups and fast-growing firms.
  • Factoring relies on the creditworthiness of your customers, not yours.
  • Invoice factoring is easier to obtain than most other forms of funding.
  • Funding can increase with the value of your invoices.
  • If your wholesale business is seasonal, factoring can infuse cash into your business to get you through the downtimes. 
  • Your accounts receivables are used as collateral, unlike many loans or lines of credit.
  • You give up no equity or control in your business in exchange for funding with factoring. 
  • No  matter the size of your business, you can use factoring. 
 

Cons

  • Invoices need to be verified (customer contact sometimes required)
  • Can be complicated to account for in bookkeeping

How Do You Choose an Education-Based Factoring Partner?

Choosing a wholesale factoring partner is a lot like choosing any lender. It pays to do your homework. There are also several questions to ask prior to starting the application process:

Does the factoring company work with wholesale providers?

Most factoring companies work with most industries, but not all. Some factors specialize in only a few industries. 

FundThrough works with education providers.

What advance rates does the factoring company offer?

Advance rates can range from 60% to 100%, depending on the factoring company and sometimes the industry. 

FundThrough advances 100% off the invoice amount, less a fee.

What factoring fees does the factoring company charge?  

A factoring company should be able to provide what factoring fees it charges upfront. But some companies may make it difficult to determine the total costs of using their service. FundThrough offers transparent pricing so you know prior to signing an agreement. 

FundThrough pricing – 100% advance rates minus a flat fee. One upfront price.

Does the factoring company have minimums?

A minimum is the amount you must factor every period (month, each quarter or every year). Some factoring companies offer plans that require minimums, while others do not. 

FundThrough doesn’t require minimums. Only fund when you need to.

Cash flow is the number one problem for most start-ups and small businesses, especially if they’re growing. This is also true for wholesale companies. Invoice factoring companies typically consider several situations before offering you an advance.

  • Nature of the business: you must be a registered business selling goods or services to other businesses.
  • Service completion: invoice factoring is only available for goods or services that your clients have marked as complete or delivered.
  • Encumbrance-free invoice: since invoices are the only collateral in a factoring arrangement, encumbrances such as tax liens can make it difficult to qualify for factoring. (But not impossible. FundThrough works with businesses on IRS and CRA tax payment plans all the time. We can even help you with getting an arrangement set up).

Factoring invoices is a sound financial strategy if you—

  • Spend time tracking down slow-paying customers and waiting 30, 60 or 90 days to be paid, which puts a tremendous burden on your business.
  • If you’ve delivered a product or provided a service to another business.
  • If you have slow times, downtimes, or your business is cyclical.
  • You experience times of cash flow crunch.
  • You need access to working capital to grow as a wholesale company.
  • You can’t qualify for a loan.
  • Your customers or clients are creditworthy.
 

FundThrough takes the legwork out of accounts receivables financing. It’s fully automated platform is easy to navigate, it’s fee structure is transparent and a customer service rep is there when you have questions. Find out what FundThrough’s clients have to say, and start factoring your invoices today. 

Simple. Intuitive. Education Invoice Factoring.

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