Invoice Factoring vs. Bank Loan: Which Type of Financing is Best for Your Business?

If you’ve found yourself wondering what the difference is between invoice factoring and bank lending, you’re not alone. When researching the best way to finance your business, the number of options can be overwhelming.

While every business’s needs are different, invoice factoring does have some unique advantages over traditional bank loans. Let’s take a close look at these two popular financing options, how they operate and which of the two could be the better option for your company.

Bank Loans

Bank loans are a well-known way of financing a business. Once you’ve applied for the loan and gone through the approval process (which typically takes a few weeks), you’ll have access to a finite amount of capital that you agree to pay back in addition to interest compounded on top. 

One drawback is that loans don’t evolve with your business — they’re typically a one-time deal, the terms of which are difficult to adjust should your business needs change. 

While conventional bank loans are popular due to their reasonably straightforward terms, they add more debt to your business. With interest, those loans can grow into a much more significant financial burden over time, especially if your business goes through a slow period.

Bank loans may not be the best choice for younger businesses. Even after you’ve been approved for the loan, you may not end up being approved for the amount of money you actually need, depending on your business collateral and credit, making it challenging for new businesses to get the funding they need.

Invoice Factoring

Invoice factoring is the sale of your company’s invoices to a factoring company (or “factor”), which advances up to 80–90% of the invoice’s value. The factor then handles collections from your customers, paying you the remaining invoice value once the balance is settled. For this service, the factor charges a small percentage of each invoice’s value in fees, costing only pennies on the dollar.

One significant advantage of invoice factoring is its flexibility, giving you a short-term financing solution designed to provide the working capital your company needs today. Invoice factoring can grow alongside your company, and you can pick and choose which accounts to sell invoices from. Factoring applications are typically approved within days rather than weeks, making them a much faster way to boost cash flow.

Additionally, invoice factoring doesn’t entail the same interest rates, monthly payments and years-long payback terms as traditional loans. The money the factor advances you is your money, with each cash advance paid off by your customer when they pay your factor. Because of this, invoice factoring is not considered debt, making it a good option for businesses looking to avoid opening new lines of credit.

Invoice factoring can be an excellent choice for newly established businesses. Banks will often deny small business owners loans due to their limited credit history, but factoring companies are much more flexible. While your company’s finances are still considered during the approval process, your credit is much less important as you are not the one repaying the advance: your customers are.

Invoice Factoring vs. Bank Loans: The Bottom Line

When it comes to invoice factoring vs. bank loans, both can be viable ways to fund your business operations. However, invoice factoring is a much quicker and easier method to secure funds and grow your company’s cash flow. And with your factor handling collections, you can spend more time doing what matters most — running and growing your business.

Ready to learn more? Discover if invoice factoring is the right fit for your business!