Funding Basics

Invoice Factoring vs. Invoice Financing: What's the Difference?

Both products unlock cash from your outstanding invoices — but they work very differently. Here's a clear breakdown to help you choose the right solution for your B2B business.

Updated: March 20258 min readBy Premier Access Capital

The Core Difference

Invoice Factoring

You sell your invoices to a factoring company at a discount. The factor takes ownership of the receivables and collects payment directly from your clients. You receive 80–90% upfront, with the remainder (minus fees) paid when your client pays.

No debt on your balance sheet
No credit check on your business
! Your clients are notified

Invoice Financing

You use your invoices as collateral for a loan or line of credit. You retain ownership of the invoices and continue collecting from your clients. You repay the advance plus fees when your clients pay.

Clients are not notified
You maintain client relationships
! Appears as debt on balance sheet

Side-by-Side Comparison

FactorInvoice FactoringInvoice Financing
StructureSale of receivablesLoan secured by invoices
Advance Rate80–90% of invoice value80–90% of invoice value
Cost1–5% per 30 days1–3% per 30 days
CollectionsFactor collects from clientsYou collect from clients
Client NotificationYes — clients pay factor directlyNo — confidential
Credit CheckBased on client creditBased on your credit
Balance SheetOff-balance sheetAppears as liability
Best ForBusinesses that want to outsource ARBusinesses that want to maintain client relationships

How Invoice Factoring Works: Step by Step

1

Submit Invoices

You submit outstanding invoices (typically net-30 to net-90) to the factoring company for review.

2

Verification

The factor verifies the invoices with your clients and assesses their creditworthiness.

3

Advance

You receive 80–90% of the invoice value, typically within 24–48 hours.

4

Collection

The factor collects payment directly from your clients when invoices come due.

5

Reserve Release

Once your client pays, the factor releases the remaining 10–20% minus their fee.

Who Should Use Invoice Factoring?

Invoice factoring is ideal for B2B businesses that have strong clients but face cash flow gaps due to slow payment terms. It works best when:

You invoice on net-30, net-60, or net-90 terms
Your clients are creditworthy businesses or government agencies
You want to outsource accounts receivable management
Your business credit is limited but your clients are strong
You're growing faster than your cash flow can support
You want to offer longer payment terms to win more clients

Unlock Cash from Your Outstanding Invoices

Our brokers will match you with the right invoice factoring or financing solution for your business — at no cost to you.