Differences Between Factoring and Bill Discounting
Factoring and bill discounting are two essential short-term invoice financing options that cater to the fund needs of a business against unpaid bills. However, these concepts work differently, and it is pivotal to understand their effectiveness.
Factoring and bill discounting are two distinct financial solutions used by businesses to optimize cash flow and manage working capital.
While both factoring and bill discounting provide immediate access to funds tied up in unpaid invoices, there are a few aspects that distinguish between factoring and bill discounting. These differences lie in the ownership of the invoices, the responsibility for collecting payments, and the degree of involvement of the financial institution. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for businesses to select the most suitable financing option based on their unique needs and circumstances.
What Is Factoring?
Factoring, other than discounting bills of exchange, involves a process where a business sells unpaid invoices to a factoring agency. Upon selling the outstanding book of ledgers, a factor holds the entire credit control process and receives payments directly from the customers.
Businesses often generate a lump sum of up to 80% on choosing to factor as their invoice financing options. This not only helps in meeting an organization’s financial liabilities but supports finances from bad debts.
What Is Bill Or Invoice Discounting?
Bill discounting, also known as invoice discounting, is a process where businesses approach a trade financing company to generate funds against invoices that need to be paid. This approach of invoice discounting serves as an objective to accelerate working capital of a company by improving cash flow management.
This process of invoice discounting maintains complete confidentiality from a business’s customers. Moreover, invoice discounting involves an effortless withdrawal of funds with the facility of a short repayment period. Furthermore, the quick and hassle-free processing of import and export invoice discounting makes it one of the most opted provisions for exporters and importers.
What Are The Differences Between Factoring And Bill Discounting?
The difference between factoring and bill discounting can be better explained with the help of a table as shown below:
Basis of Difference | Invoice or Bill Discounting | Factoring |
Nature | Businesses trade the unpaid bill to trade financing companies and generate payment against those. | A process where a business sells its book debts or outstanding invoices to a financial company. |
Credit control | The bill discounting providers are not vested with any credit control. | In this process, factors gain complete credit control. |
Funds Received | The amount that businesses receive from trade financing companies depend on the creditworthiness and accounts receivable of a business. | In this case of factoring, a business can receive up to the amount of the book debts. |
Parties Involved | The parties involved in bill discounting are drawer, drawee and payee. | The parties involved in factoring are factor, debtor and client. |
Confidentiality | Invoice discounting service providers maintain complete confidentiality of the agreement, which means customers of a business are not aware of the involvement of any bill discounting company. | There is no level of confidentiality involved in this factoring process, as customers pay directly to the factors. |
Type | Recourse | Recourse and Non-recourse |
Governing body | The Negotiable Instrument Act of 1881 | Not specified under any Act |
Suitability | Bill discounting is ideal for medium-sized and big organisations. | Factoring is ideal for small and medium-sized businesses |
The table highlighting invoice discounting vs factoring provides knowledge to assist businesses in deciding their selection based on any of the factors. In addition to this, some of the other significant elements that play a crucial role in understanding the suitability of both concepts are:
- Nature and size of the business
- Current status showcasing financial requirements
- Ability to control credit
- The process to be followed to manage the sales ledger
- Optimisation of resources
Generally, many industries dealing in transport, logistics, wholesale, construction, and printing opt for invoice discounting services to raise funds. However, depending on the credit limit of the outstanding bills, businesses choose to factor as their primary invoice financing options.
Bottom Line
Factoring and bill discounting are two quintessential financial instruments that not only assist in generating funds from unpaid bills but also accelerate the working capital and cash flow management in a business. In addition, invoice financing platforms like KredX offer end-to-end management by initiating hassle-free and paperless transactions requiring less time.
