What Information Do Factoring Companies Need from Me?
Knowing what to gather ahead of time takes the stress out of the application and gets you funded faster. The list is shorter than that of a bank, but being organized still pays off.
Here’s what a factor will typically ask for about your business:
- Basic formation documents — proof your business is legally established (articles of incorporation or organization, your EIN).
- The business’ bank account information where advances will be deposited.
- Basic ownership information for the principals.
- Your business’ address and contact details.
About your customers (this is the important part):
- A list of the customers whose invoices you want to factor, with their contact and billing information. Because your customers’ credit drives approval, this matters more than almost anything else.
- Information about your typical payment terms with them.
About your receivables:
- A current accounts receivable aging report. This report details what’s owed to you, by whom, and how old or overdue it is. This gives the factor a snapshot of your receivables.
- Sample invoices so they can see how you bill.
- Supporting documentation examples (delivery receipts, timesheets, purchase orders — whatever proves the work was done in your industry).
Possible additional items, depending on the factor and your situation:
- Verification that you don’t have existing liens on your receivables (or information about any that exist, so they can be addressed).
- A check for existing UCC filings, which the factor will usually handle.
For some arrangements, basic financial statements — though factoring requires far less financial documentation than a loan.
The reason the list is lighter than a bank’s is the same reason factoring is fast and accessible: the factor is underwriting your customers and your invoices, not running a deep examination of your company’s finances and your personal credit history.
A practical tip: assemble a simple folder before you apply — formation docs, a sample invoice, your AR aging report, and a clean list of customers. Having those ready can be the difference between funding this week and next. And don’t hesitate to ask the factor exactly what they need; a good one will give you a clear, short checklist rather than a mountain of paperwork.
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