Bill Discounting

Most businesses provide credit facilities to their customers to boost sales and build brand loyalty. However, the issue arises when a significant amount of money is stuck in bill receivables - impacting the working capital required to pay operating expenses. If credit is not given wisely, there will be a huge discrepancy between the cash inflow and outflow of the business.

Therefore, it is imperative for any business to make sure their working capital remains unaffected— even if it requires leveraging unpaid bills through bill Discounting. Bill Discounting service offered by KredX can help you access collateral-free, working capital to fuel your business requirements.

What Is Bill Discounting?

It is a trade-related activity in which a company’s unpaid bills which are due to be paid at a future date are sold to a financier (a bank or another financial institution).

In Bill Discounting, the business trades the company's unpaid bills to gain access to short-term financial assistance and maintain the working capital. It is mostly pertinent in cases when a buyer purchases goods from the seller, and the payment is made through a letter of credit. This process is also called “Bill Discounting”. This process is governed by the negotiable instrument act, 1881.

Bill Discounting Process:

KredX is a leading Bill Discounting platform that allows businesses to trade their bills digitally for quick access to short-term funds.

The Bill Discounting process is transparent and simple. It includes the following steps:-

1. Business generates an bill (usually payable within 30 to 90 days) from the date of sale.

2. Business visits the KredX website and uploads the unpaid bill digitally.

3. Investors in the KredX platform purchase the bill at a discounted rate.

4. The bill value offered by the investor will be transferred to the business account within 24 to 72* hours upon approval.

5. The business receives the funds and facilitates the working capital.

Advantages of Bill Discounting:

Bill Discounting is advantageous to businesses, banks, finance companies, and investors. Businesses benefit by rejuvenating their cash-flow in-turn helping them stabilise growth and fund business expenditure.

  • Cash flow:Businesses being dependent on the cash flow to sustain their business can easily rely on this quick financial aid to access speedy funds and continue to flourish. This process quickens money inflow— profiting the organisation in expanding deals, seeking after development, securing hardware, etc.
  • Instant access to cash:Bill Discounting is a more efficient, faster way of assessing working capital as it is hassle-free and does not involve lengthy documentation procedure. With KredX, businesses can secure financial assistance in just 24 to 72* hours.
  • No collateral involved:There is no requirement to keep any asset as security as the unpaid bill is considered as the collateral itself.
  • No debt incurred:Bill Discounting helps in saving tax liability. The chances of a company suffering any loss or damage are almost nonexistent when compared to conventional financing frameworks.
  • No impact on business sheet:Bill Discounting service offered by KredX does not impact the balance sheet of the business as it is an off-the-book process.

Disadvantages of Bill Discounting:

  • Bill discounting reduces the investor’s gross profit margin as the bank deducts a huge amount as a fee while discounting bills.
  • Most of the financial institutes discount only commercial bills.
  • It cannot be thought to be a long term solution for finance as is only a source of short-term fund arrangement.
  • New businesses might not be eligible.

Bill Discounting Interest Rates:

The interest rates are decided based on many factors such as the risk factor, the financial institute. The business will get a better rate if they choose a reputable platform. Bill discounting interest rates are declining from the last two years and more MSMEs are availing aid rather than approaching for a loan.

Bill Discounting Versus Business Loan:

Bill Discounting Business loan
Collateral-free finance Collateral required
Quick processing (Usually in a couple of days) Long processing period
Availed for short-term financial aid Availed for long-term financial assistance
Digital process Generally not a digital process
Hassle-free documentation process Lengthy documentation process
Simple eligibility criteria Stringent eligibility requirements
No impact on business balance sheet Impacts the business balance sheet and is considered as a debt

Eligibility Criteria:

  • The business should be a minimum of 10 months old
  • Should have dealt with at least 2 large-scale corporates
  • Credit score should be 650 or more
  • The business ought to have a base turnover of 25 lakhs

Documents Required:

The following documents mentioned are required to apply for Bill Discounting in India:

Pre-asset Phase:

  • KYC of applicant/co-applicant
  • CIBIL record of directors
  • Address proof and PAN Card copy
  • GST registration certificate and returns
  • Bank statement records 6/12 months
  • Books of audited financials
  • Loan Declaration

Post-asset Phase:

  • Board Resolution
  • Post-dated cheque
  • Letter and Memorandum of Association
  • A Guarantee letter
  • Articles of association

Who Can Go For Bill Discounting?

In a broader sense, small and medium-sized companies may find Bill Discounting as an ideal way to boost liquidity. Businesses that are low on liquidity and lack immediate funding, often resort to Bill Discounting to finance their purchase of raw materials and clearing off pending orders.

Other than these, businesses that intend to provide a more extended credit period to customers to sustain market competition can choose this funding option to keep operating activities continuous.

When Should We Go For Bill Discounting?

If at any time a business has to meet any of these following needs, they can fulfil the same by opting for Bill Discounting –

To Boost Cash Flow

Bill Discounting is a viable option to inject cash into the operational stream of a business. It helps entrepreneurs to replenish their cash flow and increase immediate liquidity quickly.

For Freeing Tied-Up Working Capital

This funding option allows businesses to free tied-up capital and in turn, eliminate the need of applying for a loan. Moreover, it also proves useful in shortening the working capital cycle.

To Settle Debts

If at any time businesses have to pay their suppliers, but their working capital is significantly low, they can get their bills discounted. With the funds availed, they can pay their suppliers and other immediate liabilities.

Other than these, businesses can also get Bill Discounting services if they need immediate funding but do not wish to provide any security to avail it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bill discounting is the practice of using company's unpaid bills to raise working capital & fulfil its financial needs.

KredX provides a marketplace/platform for business owners to sell and investors to purchase bills raised on blue chip companies. It combines the best in class technology experience with credit underwriting & data analytics capabilities to create a brand new investment asset class.

Business-owners looking for advance on their bills, raised on blue chip/creditworthy institutions, can use our platform to sell these unpaid bills at attractive rates.

Any business that supplies goods/services to large blue-chip companies can avail the bill discounting services provided by KredX. Eligibility and amount of discounting is governed by the creditworthiness of the business and therefore they should be willing to share their financial information and other related documents.

Bill discounting with KredX is an off-the-book financial solution. That’s because it is availed by leveraging the unsettled bills. Hence, it does not have any effect on the balance sheet.

We have no upper limit for sanctioned amounts for your bills and it is solely dependent on the business’s requirements. The upper limit depends on the business requirement and the eligibility as per KredX’s criteria.

The financing option works like a revolving funding facility. The discounting service provider forwards funds against unpaid bills based on their worth.

The time to avail funds through bill discounting depends on your financier. With KredX, you can avail funds within 24-72 hours*.

Through bill discounting, you can avail credits up to a certain percentage of your unpaid bills total value, allowing you to ensure a steady inflow of capital to your business at all times.