In order to expedite the factoring process you may be asked to submit the following documents in addition to your application.
Accounts Receivable Aging Report
The aging report shows a list of the client's customers and their payment
history. If the client has one customer that is habitually making late payments,
the factor may decide that this customer's accounts are not factorable. The
aging also shows if there are any charge-offs or set-offs the factor should know
about. If a percentage of a customer's accounts are not paid on a regular basis,
the factor will want to know why.
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
These documents tell the factor if the company is a legitimate corporation
in its state of incorporation. This helps the factor protect itself against
individuals that would try to defraud the factor by submitting invoices for a
company that does not exit or for work that was never performed. The Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws also tell the factor who in the company is authorized
to make the decision to factor (and who will sign the factoring agreements) and
if there are any by-laws prohibiting the company from factoring its receivables.
If the company is not incorporated, a Partnership Agreement will take the place
of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws.
Fictitious Name Filing
The Fictitious Name Filing discloses whether or not the client is
operating under any names other than the one it is submitting in its
application. Again, this is a measure that helps the factor protect itself
against fraud. If a business is operating under different names, the factor will
perform due diligence on those business also.
Business Financial Statements
The financial statements will show how stable the client is and how well
the business is being run. For instance, if the client has a good sales volume
every month, but continues to lose money, this would indicate a problem that
should be addressed before the company factors any of its accounts. The
financial statements the factor may want to see include the balance sheet,
income statement, and profit-and-loss statement (P&L).
Personal Financial Statements
Personal financial statements on the key people in the company may be
required if the factor requires personal guarantees of payment from the
corporate officers or partners. Also, if the principals of the company are in
poor financial standing, this may indicate a tendency to run their business
poorly as well.
Copies of Insurance Documents
The factor may also request copies of insurance documents to make sure
that the business is properly insured. If the business does not have proper
insurance, one mishap or disaster could drive the company out of business very
quickly.
Copies of Invoices
The client will be asked to submit copies of past invoices so the factor
can examine them for any problems in the way that they are written or worded.
Any problems will need to be cleared up before the factoring transaction can
proceed.