Factoring in QuickBooks (Selling your Receivables)

Accounts Receivable is a Current Asset. One definition of an asset is something that has value and can be sold. So some companies, to be paid faster, sell their receivables. Sometimes this is referred to as “factoring.” Why? I don’t know. Be aware that “factoring” has another meaning that has nothing to do with Accounts Receivables.

Selling your receivables is a form of financing: we receive a percentage of our accounts receivable from the factoring company and we pay interest in the form of “factoring service fees.” We benefit by receiving cash sooner than we would otherwise. The factoring company benefits by investing in our receivables and receiving a return on that investment.

Be aware that this is just one way to set up your vendors and accounts for factoring. There are other ways to do it.

Set Up

Set up the buyer of your receivables (your bank, a factoring company, an investor) as a Vendor in the Vendor Center. You will need this vendor to record interest paid and additional expenses.

Set up an account of type Bank, as a contra account to A/R. You will use this account to receive payments from the Factoring Company. (See example below)

Set up an account, either Expense or Other Expense called “Factoring Service Fees.”

Example:

1.     You are the bookkeeper for Larry’s Landscaping. Your company did $1,000 of landscaping services for John Smith. Because Larry’s Landscaping needs cash immediately, you will invoice John Smith for $1,000 and then sell the receivable to the ABC Finance Company for $950. John Smith will write his check to the ABC Finance Company for $1,000.

2.     Enter an invoice to John Smith for $1,000.00 in landscaping services. In the memo, include instructions that the check is to be written to the ABC Finance Company.

3. Larry’s Landscaping receives a check for $950 from ABC Finance. Enter a Journal Entry:

1. a. Debit Cash for $950.00
2. b. Debit Factoring Service Fees for $50.00
3. c. Credit the A/R Contra Account for $1,000:
3. 4.  Enter a Receive Payment:
1. a. Bank account is the A/R Contra Account.
2. b. Customer Name is John Smith.
3. c. Payment amount is $1,000
4. d. Apply the $1,000 payment to the $1,000 Invoice.
5. e. In the memo, include that the check is from ABC Finance Company.
6. f. Click Save & Close.

4. Notes

   1.   In some cases, your customer will send the payment to your company, in which case, you must send the payment to the factoring company immediately.
   2.   You may be able to direct your customer to create a two payee check, i.e., both your company name and the factoring company name are included in “Pay to the order of” and either company may cash the check.
   3.   Use a Bill/Bill Payment to record any additional expenses from the factoring company.