Invoice finance or ‘factoring’ is a popular alternative finance option that allows small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access cashflow early while they wait on outstanding invoices.
Key points about invoice finance
- Invoice funding has simple eligibility requirements and is available to most Australian businesses
- 26% of construction and trades businesses use invoice finance, according to Lend proprietary data
- Recourse factoring is the most common type of factoring agreement
- Factoring fees range from 3% to 8% of the invoice value (much cheaper than a bank loan)
What is invoice finance?
Invoice finance is a cash advance or line of credit secured against
outstanding invoices. Businesses can sell their unpaid invoices to a
third-party company (or factor) and get up to 80% of their value in advance.
The lender will then collect the payment(s) from clients and pay the business
the remainder of the invoices, keeping a percentage as their fee.
This
alternative financing option allows businesses to unlock cash tied up in
unpaid invoices instead of taking on a
business loan that
will accrue interest. It's also typically much easier to qualify for invoice
factoring as it doesn’t require collateral, a perfect
business credit score, or a long trading history.
Pro tip: Invoice factoring is
not confidential by default, so choose your provider carefully if you don’t
want customers notified of the financing arrangement. Invoice factoring is
sometimes referred to as invoice discounting or debtor finance.
Compare invoice finance options
| Lender | Advance on invoice | Facility limit | Factor fee | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 70-80% | $10K - $300K | Determined on application | 30-90 days |
| TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
 | Up to 90% | $3K - $1m | Flat or split rate | 14-90 days |
 | 80-90% | $50K - $15m | Determined on application | 30-90 days |
 | Up to 85% | From $5K | Fixed fee | 30-90 days |
 | Up to 100% | $0 - $20m | Flat fee or split rate | 30-120 days |
 | Up to 90% | $150K - $20m | PAYG fee structure | 30-120 days |
| Up to 85% | $0 - $20m | Determined on application | Determined on application |
Who’s eligible for invoice finance?
Invoice finance is available to Australian businesses who have:
- An active ABN or ACN
- A minimum of $1,000 in outstanding invoices per month
- Customers must be invoiced after the goods or services are provided
- At least six months of trading history
How much can you borrow with invoice finance?
- Invoice financing facilities range from $1,000 and up to $1million
- The amount you can borrow can’t exceed the value of your invoices (minus the factor’s fee)
Invoice finance rates (factor fees)
Invoice factor fees are calculated as a percentage of the invoice amount —
usually between 3% and 8%. There may be other costs such as admin charges,
invoice processing fees, money transfer fees, etc.
Fees will vary
between lenders and conditions specific to your business and customers,
including:
- The volume of invoices you’re factoring
- The value of those invoices
- The creditworthiness of your customers
- Your industry and business model
-
The payment terms – you’ll obviously pay more for an invoice due in 90 days
than one payable within 30 days.
How invoice finance works
Here's a simple example of how invoice finance works:
|
1
 You send an invoice to a client for $20,000 & submit the invoice to the factor (usually via an online portal) |
|
2
 The factor company checks the invoice and verifies you supplied the goods or services listed |
|
3
 They charge you a fee of 3% of the invoice amount |
|
4
 The factor pays you a majority of the invoice amount in advance (80%) |
|
5
The factor collects the payment from the customer on your behalf |
|
6
 The factor pays you the remaining invoice amount (17%) minus their fee |
Here is a factoring example in real dollars for a $20,000 invoice.
| Invoice value | $20,000 |
| Fee (3%) | $600 |
| Initial advance (80% of invoice value after fee) |
$15,520 |
| Remaining amount (17%) | $3,880 |
| Total finance | $19,400 |
Let's get started! Get a business loan quote
See if you qualifyTypes of invoice factoring in Australia
The two main types of invoice factoring are recourse and non-recourse, available through a whole ledger factoring or spot factoring agreement.
Recourse vs non-recourse factoring
Recourse factoring is the most common type of invoice factoring whereby
your business remains responsible for any invoices your customers fail to pay.
In this case, you would buy back the outstanding receivables and chase up the
debt(s) yourself. Recourse factoring is usually cheaper and easier to access
than non-recourse factoring because your business carries the debt risk. The
factor does not take on the risk of bad debts.
Non-recourse factoring
is when you sell the debt and risk to the factor, so the factoring company
becomes responsible for pursuing customers who still need to make their
payments. In exchange, they charge you a higher fee and may impose stricter
criteria for your invoices and customers. Only some factors will offer this
option, and it’s likely that it will only be offered for invoices where
customers have a solid credit record.
Whole ledger factoring vs spot factoring
Whole ledger factoring, also known as whole turnover factoring, allows
your business to draw down funds against your entire accounts receivable
(often with a discount).
Spot factoring allows you to pick
and choose which invoices you want to sell or sell individual invoices, giving
you much more flexibility (often at a higher cost).
Invoice factoring vs invoice discounting
Invoice factoring is when you sell your unpaid invoices to a factoring company outright, while invoice discounting works similarly to a loan secured against your outstanding invoices. This is an important distinction because invoice discounting allows for confidentiality (since you retain ownership of your invoices), while factoring is harder to hide from your customers.
Pros & cons of invoice finance
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Invoice finance companies in Australia
Here is a list of popular invoice finance companies in Australia:
- ABR Finance
- ScotPac
- Invoice Money
- Earlypay
- Butn
- APositive
- Moneytech
- Octet Finance
How to apply for invoice finance
When applying for invoice finance, you’ll need to complete a simple application form and supply supporting documents, including:
- Identification documents
- Business registration information
- Copies of the invoices you want to factor
- A report for your accounts receivable, showing how frequently customers pay their invoices
- Access to your accounting system
- Business bank statements
Factoring is generally quick and easy to set up since your business is not taking on debt. You won’t have to go through the rigorous application and appraisal process you’d expect with other types of business finance or bank loans. The turnaround time for invoice finance approval is usually 24 hours or more. Once you’ve been approved, you can start factoring your invoices right away. Use our business loan calculator to see how invoice finance can help your business.
Is invoice factoring right for your business?
Invoice factoring is the best option for businesses who need quick cashflow or
have upfront costs piling up and need a cash advance while waiting for
customer payments. For example, if you have to pay for your raw materials,
transport costs and wages before receiving payment from your customers,
factoring can give you the cash to cover those costs as they fall due.
It
can also benefit businesses in industries where customers expect long payment
terms (e.g. construction, etc.) or where offering extended payment terms for
certain suppliers can give your business a competitive advantage.
Top industries for invoice finance in 2023
According to Lend proprietary data, the industries applying for invoice
finance in 2023, include:
- Constructions & trades: 26%
- Professional services: 13%
- Retail: 8%
- Manufacturing: 8%
- Wholesale: 7%
Small business invoice finance
Invoice factoring is often the financing option of choice for small businesses who experience cashflow fluctuations or who don’t have any cash reserves to stretch until invoices are paid. It can also help small businesses who scale too quickly when expenses exceed working capital. It's sometimes the only option for businesses struggling to access other financing types, such as startups. Take the time to understand how to apply for a business loan and what to watch out for.
FAQs about invoice finance
What does factoring mean?
Factoring is a type of debtor finance. A factor is a third party that finances outstanding invoices. The factor will buy your invoices at a discount, and then collect the full invoice amount from your customer(s). Factors can be banks or independent finance companies.
Who offers invoice factoring?
Both banks and an ever-growing number of small business online lenders offer invoice factoring. Some online lenders specialise in invoice factoring and offer more flexibility with single invoice finance. Other finance providers will offer a full suite of business finance options alongside invoice factoring, including a business line of credit or unsecured business loans.
Is there a difference between invoice financing and invoice factoring?
The difference between invoice financing and factoring comes down to flexibility and confidentiality. With invoice financing, your business can borrow against outstanding invoices and you get to choose which invoice(s) you finance and when. You deal directly with your customers for repayments which means the financing arrangement remains confidential. On the other hand, invoice factoring involves selling your invoices to a factoring company at a discount. The factoring company will employ a debt collection service to chase up unpaid invoices on your behalf. This allows for less confidentiality since customers will be contacted by a third party to make payment(s).
Will my customers know I’m using an invoice factor company?
Invoice factoring is not confidential by default, so be sure to speak to your provider if you’re concerned about it. Generally, standard factoring will indicate to customers their invoices have been sold. However, there are plenty of companies that offer confidential invoice discounting facilities.
Who is responsible for collecting payment from the customer?
The factor will be responsible for collecting payment from your customers. However, if you’re using recourse factoring, you’ll have to buy back any unpaid invoices from the factor and chase up any outstanding debts from your customers yourself.
What happens if a customer pays the business instead of the factor?
Mistakes happen, but you must notify the factoring company you’ve sold your invoices to if a customer accidentally pays you instead of them, or you may be in breach of your contract agreement.
What happens if a customer doesn’t pay an invoice to a factor?
Your factoring company should make every effort to collect invoice payments on your behalf, but your type of factoring agreement will dictate what happens if your customers fail to pay their invoice(s).
With recourse factoring, you’ll be required to buy back unpaid invoices and collect outstanding debts yourself. With non-recourse factoring, the company remains responsible for seeking payments and will have to accept the loss if customers don't pay. This is why this option typically incurs higher fees to offset the risk.
1. Proprietary data of small businesses who applied for invoice finance through Lend.com.au and have been operating for at least five years (2023).
