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Unlock Liquidity With
The Power Of Invoice Discounting

Unlock Your Working Capital

Get Funds As Soon As You Receive The Invoice. Accelerate Your Cash Inflow By Converting The Company’s Account Receivable Into Liquid Cash.

Invoice 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 invoice 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 invoices through Invoice Discounting. Invoice Discounting service offered by KredX can help you access collateral-free, working capital to fuel your business requirements.

What Is Invoice Discounting?

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

In Invoice Discounting, the business trades the company's unpaid invoices 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 “Invoice Discounting”. This process is governed by the negotiable instrument act, 1881.

Invoice Discounting Process:

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

Invoice Discounting

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

  1. Business generates an invoice (usually payable within 30 to 90 days) from the date of sale.
  2. Business visits the KredX website and uploads the unpaid invoice digitally.
  3. Investors in the KredX platform purchase the invoice at a discounted rate.
  4. The invoice 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 Invoice Discounting:

Invoice 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: Invoice 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 invoice is considered as the collateral itself.
  • No debt incurred: Invoice 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: Invoice Discounting service offered by KredX does not impact the balance sheet of the business as it is an off-the-book process.

Disadvantages of Invoice Discounting:

  • Invoice discounting reduces the investor’s gross profit margin as the bank deducts a huge amount as a fee while discounting invoices.
  • Most of the financial institutes discount only commercial invoices.
  • 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. 

Invoice 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. Invoice discounting interest rates are declining from the last two years and more MSMEs are availing aid rather than approaching for a loan.

Invoice Discounting Versus Business Loan:

Invoice 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

Difference Between Invoice Discounting and Invoice Discounting:

The major difference between Invoice Discounting and invoice discounting is the loan tenure. Business can avail financial assistance for shorter tenure usually up to 90 days against unpaid invoices with invoice discounting. Whereas in Invoice Discounting, the tenure ranges from 30 to 120 days.

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 Invoice Discounting in India:

Pre-assent 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 Invoice Discounting?

In a broader sense, small and medium-sized companies may find Invoice Discounting as an ideal way to boost liquidity. Businesses that are low on liquidity and lack immediate funding, often resort to Invoice 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 Invoice Discounting?:

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

To Boost Cash Flow

Invoice 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 invoices discounted. With the funds availed, they can pay their suppliers and other immediate liabilities.

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

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FAQs

In Invoice purchasing the whole amount is credited to the individual’s account by the finance institute after the purchase, the seller receives the whole amount of the Invoice as opposed to invoice/Invoice Discounting, and the bank gets the commission.

Electronic Invoice Discounting is a concept by the Financial Sector Reform (FSR) Committee, SIDBI, and NSE to support the financing of MSME receivables. There are several Invoice Discounting platforms online. KredX is one of the leading invoice discounting platforms in India.

Invoices discounted but not matured are in most cases considered as a contingent liabilities as the drawer may not be sure whether the invoice will be honored at maturity. If the invoice is not honored at maturity, it becomes a liability. In this case, the drawer becomes liable to repay the amount to the lender.

A Yes, it is eligible for tax benefits as it does not deduct tax at source.

Invoices discounted are considered to be a liability.

Although they are both financing options leveraged by an asset, there is an important distinction worthy of mentioning. With regard to invoice factoring, the investor or the finance company owns the sales ledger. In this case, the investor holds the responsibility of collecting the due invoices from the customer. However, in Invoice Discounting, the company itself bears the right to make the collection.

Yes, factoring includes Invoice Discounting, but the customer knows that the invoices have been factored. The provider assumes the responsibility of handling sales ledger