Import Finance enables a business to theoretically import goods and sell them to an end user without having to use any of their own cash. Providing there is a reasonable margin within the deal and the goods have been presold then an import finance facility will dove tail nicely with a factoring or invoice discounting facility.
This type of trade finance facility isn’t readily available from high street banks. A bank will provide a trade facility for a business to import goods however any facility provided will be done so against the strength of the business and profitability . In many circumstances a bank will also want additional security such as a charge over property. A bank type trade facility will only enable the strongest of businesses to obtain funding.
However a specialist trade finance company will proive a seamless facility for most types of businesses to new starts to businesses which maybe have had some trading difficulties. On providing evidence that the goods have been presold funding can be obtained to import these goods. Obviously the finance company will take title during the process. On delivery an invoice will raised to the end user. Either the invoice is paid in full and the trade facility is repaid or the invoice is discounted via a factoring or invoice discounting facility enabling the end user to sell the goods before having to pay for them. Assuming there is more than 20% profit in the transaction the factoring facility or invoice discounting facility will pay 80% of the invoice and hence again pay the trade facility in full.
