Financial Guides and Articles
Plain-English guides on business banking, insurance and more.
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What Is Invoice Finance?
Invoice finance lets you release cash tied up in unpaid invoices without waiting for customers to pay. It comes in two main forms, factoring and discounting, each suited to different business types and situations. Here is how to work out which one fits yours.
How to Structure Payment Terms (and avoid disputes before they start)
The best invoice disputes to avoid are the ones you prevent. Two disputes from earlier in my career, and what they taught me about structuring payment terms properly from the start.
How to Resolve an Invoice Dispute
An invoice dispute is different from a late payment. The client is contesting what you are owed, not just delaying it. Here is how to assess the dispute, negotiate a resolution, and know when to escalate.
Invoice Finance for Manufacturing
Manufacturers buy materials before they produce, and produce before they are paid. Invoice finance releases the cash tied up in unpaid sales invoices, so the working capital gap does not constrain the next production run.
How Much Does Invoice Discounting Cost?
Invoice discounting is typically cheaper than invoice factoring because the lender does less work. Here is how the fees are structured, what a facility typically costs, and how to compare quotes properly.
Invoice Finance for Construction Companies
Construction businesses spend money long before clients pay. Materials, labour, and plant costs run from day one; invoices sit on 60 or 90-day terms. Here is how invoice finance closes that gap.
Invoice Finance for Healthcare Agencies
Healthcare staffing agencies pay nurses and care workers weekly while NHS trusts and care homes settle invoices on 30 to 60-day terms. Here is how invoice finance closes that gap.
How Much Does Invoice Factoring Cost?
Invoice factoring costs more than a single headline rate suggests. The total is built from two main components, plus ancillary charges that vary significantly between providers. Here is what a facility typically costs and how to compare quotes properly.
Invoice Finance for Wholesale Businesses
Wholesale businesses buy before they sell and sell before they are paid. Invoice finance releases cash from unpaid sales invoices, so you are not waiting 30 to 60 days for money you have already earned.
Invoice Finance for Startups
Most invoice finance providers assess your customers' creditworthiness more heavily than your own trading history. That makes factoring more accessible for startups than most founders expect. Here is how it works and what you need to qualify.
What Is Invoice Discounting?
Invoice discounting lets you release cash from unpaid invoices while keeping your credit control in-house and the arrangement confidential. Here is how it works, what it costs, and whether it suits your business.
What Is Invoice Factoring?
Invoice factoring advances you cash from unpaid invoices and hands your credit control to the lender. Here is how it works, what it costs, and whether it is the right fit for your stage of business.
Do Sole Traders Need a Business Bank Account?
There is no legal requirement for sole traders to have a business bank account. But in practice, most will benefit from one, and with Making Tax Digital now in effect, the case has never been stronger.
Is My Car Insured? How to Check Your Car Insurance
Not sure if your car is insured? You can check in seconds using the Motor Insurance Database. Here is what to do with the result.
What is Cash Flow in Business?
Understanding cash flow is the most important financial skill for any SME owner. Here is what it means, why it matters, and how to manage it.