Bay View Funding Blog

How can I fulfill my large orders when cash flow is tight?

The dilemma for many manufacturers is the lack of available cash flow to buy raw materials in order to complete large orders. It is also an issue for distributors or wholesalers lacking funds to pay manufacturers to produce goods.

Lack of available funds can mean losing valuable business you know you are capable of completing. It could also seriously jeopardize future orders with existing customers. Purchase order funding and invoice factoring can both be alternative financing options worth considering.

So what is the difference?

Federal spending is healthy which means excellent opportunities for government contractors.

So is the United States Government one of your best customers? If not, it may be time to consider the benefits.

Getting your foot in the door may seem daunting, but once you have made the decision to go after contracts with the U.S. Government, the procedure is well documented, and relatively simple to follow. Check out our earlier blog covering tips on the bid process, and useful links to help explain the process. 

The simple answer is yes!

Efficiency is the driving force behind success. Our society has come to expect ‘instant’ results. We order products from the Internet, and companies like Zappo’s have set the bar high, and lead us to expect delivery of items we order the very next day. We feel disappointed if we have to wait too long to receive items we sometimes didn’t even know we wanted!

Helping Manufacturing Companies Grow

As a manufacturer, poor cash flow management can really become an issue at two critical times: 

• As you start out

• As you start to grow

In both scenarios, you are more than likely going to take on long, and short-term debt, to finance your fixed and working capital requirements. Financing for manufacturing companies comes in many forms, let’s look at the reasons manufacturing financing is necessary. 

Back to Basics  

The benefits of factoring are readily available to all who are interested. The process is easy to understand and many companies both large and small, as well as start-ups, are taking advantage of factoring their invoices, not just to survive, but also to grow.  

Let’s take a moment to highlight the benefits of factoring and why it is such a valuable tool.  

• Factoring takes your accounts receivable, and turns it into available cash

• Factoring reduces your potential liabilities and therefore increases the amount of equity held in your business

You are in the business of distribution, which makes you the master of time management! Not only that, you are more than likely able to juggle the many unpredictable elements that go into making your company a success. 

What is involved, in simple terms?  

• It’s all about consumer demand

• Holding the right amount of inventory

• Anticipating of the needs of your customers

Time must be carefully managed to make sure inventory arrives exactly when it is needed, in the correct amounts! But your customers are not necessarily so precise when it comes to paying their invoices, many government and commercial customers asking for 30 to 60 days to make payment on an invoice.