TL;DR: Invoice finance lets businesses access cash tied up in unpaid invoices without waiting for customers to pay. This guide explains how it works, what it costs, and whether it's right for your business.
Speed is one of the most important considerations when choosing a funding solution. If you need cash to pay wages on Friday, a solution that takes three weeks is not useful. Here is an honest breakdown of funding timelines.
Traditional invoice finance, particularly from banks and established factors, typically involves a multi-step process:
Total time from initial approach to first funds: 1-3 weeks in many cases. Ongoing funding after setup is typically 1-2 business days per invoice.
FundTap is designed for a different timeline:
From initial setup to first funds: typically the same day. Ongoing use once connected: hours per invoice.
Several factors influence how quickly funds arrive:
If you have an urgent cash need, payroll, a supplier payment, a deposit on a new contract, FundTap's timeline makes it a practical solution. Traditional invoice finance's timeline does not serve urgent needs.
For non-urgent situations, both can work. But if speed matters, and for most working capital needs, it does, the difference between hours and weeks is significant.
Select an outstanding invoice and receive funds the same day. Repayment is automatic on that invoice’s due date by direct debit. You choose which invoices to fund.
Is invoice finance a loan?Not a traditional loan. You are accessing money you have already earned, on an invoice you have already raised, for one flat fee. Repayment is automatic on that invoice’s due date by direct debit, so there is no fixed weekly or monthly schedule to carry.
What does invoice finance cost?FundTap fees start from 4%. No monthly fees, setup fees, or minimum volumes.