Industries

Import & Export Factoring & Financing

Fund the gap between paying overseas suppliers and collecting on domestic sales.

Let's fund your import & export business.

Two questions to start. No obligation, no credit pull.

What is import export factoring?

Import and export financing turns the invoices you send to business customers into cash, so you can pay the next supplier order without waiting out customer payment terms. It closes the last stretch of the import cycle, from invoice to payment, even though it cannot shorten shipping or customs.

The cash flow challenge for import and export businesses.

Import and export businesses often pay suppliers well before goods arrive and are sold, then wait again on customer payment terms once they are. Financing against your invoices closes the last stretch, from invoice to payment, and frees cash for the next order.

Import and export businesses carry cash flow pressure on both ends of a single transaction. Overseas suppliers often want payment before or at shipment, and customs, freight, and duties add cost on top of that before a single unit has reached a customer, let alone been sold. Once goods do arrive and sell, a domestic customer’s 30 to 60 day payment term stacks yet another wait on top of a supply chain delay that can already run weeks or months.

Financing against your invoices shortens the final stretch, between invoicing a customer and collecting, and the cash it frees can go toward the next supplier payment, freight, and duties. It does not shorten ocean transit or customs, but for a business importing on tight supplier terms while selling on standard domestic terms, getting paid sooner is often what keeps growth from outrunning cash.

Ideal for: Import and export businesses with established domestic customers but tight overseas supplier payment terms before goods are sold.

How receivables financing works for import and export businesses.

You order from an overseas supplier, usually paying a deposit up front and the balance at or before shipment.
The goods ship and clear customs, with freight, duties, and fees paid along the way.
You sell to business customers and invoice on net terms. You submit the invoice and receive an advance on most of its value.
You put that cash toward the next supplier order. When the customer pays, the rest of the invoice is released to you, minus our fee.

Who pays you, and when.

Importers sell to retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and contractors that buy on terms. The customer's credit is the strongest part of the story, but the timeline stacks: production abroad, ocean or air freight, customs clearance, delivery, and then a payment term on top. It is common for months to pass between the first supplier payment and the final customer payment.

Exporters face the mirror image, selling to buyers abroad or to domestic buyers who ship overseas. Receivables owed by customers outside the United States can be treated differently from domestic ones, so it helps to raise where your customers are early in the conversation.

What we hear

Common pressure points.

Overseas suppliers frequently want payment before or at shipment.

Customs, freight, and duties add cost before a single unit is sold.

Domestic customer payment terms stack another 30-60 day wait on top of the supply chain delay.

Talk to a specialist

What the funding pays for.

Supplier deposits and balance payments
Ocean or air freight, customs brokerage, duties, and tariffs
Inland transportation and warehousing once goods arrive
Inventory for the next order cycle, ordered before the current one has been paid for
Product testing, labeling, and compliance costs

Choosing between factoring, a line of credit, and payroll funding.

For importers with repeat orders, an A/R line of credit is often the best fit. Supplier payments come due in large, irregular amounts, and a line you can draw on as needed tracks that better than advances on individual invoices.

Invoice factoring suits businesses that sell to a few large domestic customers, since each invoice converts to cash and you can choose which ones to submit.

Payroll funding is rarely relevant for a business that invoices when goods are delivered.

What to have ready.

A current accounts receivable aging report
Invoices, with the purchase orders or delivery records behind them
A list of your customers, where they are located, and their payment terms
A summary of open supplier orders and expected arrival dates
Basic business and ownership information

Import export factoring questions, answered.

Can this fund purchases from overseas suppliers directly?

An A/R line of credit can cover inventory and purchase costs, not just domestic receivables, depending on the structure of your supply chain.

Does this help with customs, freight, or duty costs specifically?

Yes. Cash from your facility can go toward freight, duties, and customs costs as well as the supplier invoice, within your available funds. Availability comes from the receivables you hold, not from the shipment itself.

Can I finance an import order before the goods arrive?

Financing follows receivables you already hold, so the cash comes from invoices you have issued. Importers commonly use an A/R line of credit to draw against existing receivables for the next supplier payment.

Are invoices to customers outside the United States eligible?

Domestic business customers are the most straightforward. Customers abroad can be treated differently, so tell us where your customers are and we can walk through what applies.

How much of the import cycle does financing actually shorten?

It closes the final stretch, the time between invoicing your customer and being paid, which is often a month or more. It does not shorten ocean transit or customs, but it frees cash for the next order sooner.

Can I finance only my largest customers?

Most arrangements let you choose which invoices to finance, so you can use it for specific customers instead of all.

How quickly can import and export businesses get funded?

Setup can often be done in days. After that, invoices to your customers can be funded as fast as the same day, which frees cash for the next supplier payment.

Financing options

Structures that fit import and export businesses.

Related industries

Businesses with similar cash flow patterns.