All you need to learn about switching your invoice factoring service.

Looking for a different invoice factoring service? Not happy with your current one? Thinking about saying goodbye to your current factoring service? What should you know before you switch invoice factoring services?

Here's what you need to know and more:

What's a UCC and why does it matter if I want to change factoring services?

Usually, an invoice factoring service will file a Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) to ensure their claim on the invoices they fund is priority. This is standard. The UCC helps invoice factoring services, banks, and commercial lenders keep track of who has a claim on which assets. Because the invoices you collect and pay change every day, factoring services need to file a 'blanket' UCC to claim all your receivables. The UCC simply warns other lenders that a Security Agreement exists between your business and the invoice factoring service. Your factoring deal details, such as the rates and which accounts are factored, are explained in the Security Agreement, which isn't public. A UCC is kind of like a first mortgage on your business.

The Process of Buyout

The lender with the earliest dated UCC filing is said to have first dibs on the pledged assets. To switch factoring services, the new service must pay off the old one. A 'buyout' is when the new factoring service pays off the old one with the money from your first funding with them. The Buyout Agreement outlines the transition process and is a three-party agreement signed by the old factoring service, the new factoring service, and your business.

How the Buyout Amount is Calculated:

Generally, the buyout amount is calculated by taking the total outstanding Gross Receivables, subtracting any reserves, and then adding in fees due to the old factoring service. Understanding the buyout amount is important because once you authorize that amount and the old service is paid off, you are only dealing with the new service.

What is the cost of the buyout?

If you can provide brand new invoices to the new factoring service, which they can use to pay off the outstanding invoices at your old service, then there would be no extra cost for you to make the change. But in most cases, companies need to resubmit at least a portion of invoices already factored with the old service to the new service. Depending on the size of the transaction, some factoring services offer reduced fees on invoices part of a buyout.

How long does a buyout take?

When you're changing factoring services, expect the first funding to take a two to three more days than the normal setup process. By aligning yourself with a factoring service familiar with the buyout process they can guide you through timing to minimize any delays in your funding as a result of the transition.

What if my situation is more complicated?

Although it is not common practice, it's possible that the old and the new factoring services can work together via an Intercreditor or Subordination Agreement until the old service is paid off.

Questions You Should Have Asked Your Current Factoring Company

• How many factoring companies can I use at one time? (You can only use one)
• What's the process and penalty for leaving without giving notice?
• Do you use a bank lockbox to process my customer payments?
• How long do you keep my original invoices before sending them to my customers?
• Who will be my contact at your company? Is it one person or multiple?
• Do I need to pay for postage for mailing my invoices?
• Do you charge me for credit checks on new customers?
• Do you hold my invoices in batches and charge fees on all invoices in a batch until the last one is collected?
• Do you start holding reserves once a customer's invoice is 60 days old, even though I have a 90-day recourse period?

Understanding these factors will help you make a better decision when choosing a new factoring company and avoiding unnecessary costs or complications in the future.