Non-Recourse Factoring
is where the factor bears all the burden and responsibility of recovering
the unpaid invoice is it turns into a difficult amount of money to collect
or becomes a bad debt. In a sense, non-recourse factoring is
simply a terms which is more explicit than factoring (as factoring usually
implies that the factor collects the money in any case).
However, this does
create the concept of recourse factoring, which is where the factor
does not collect the money should it turn into a debt (they will collect
the money from you if an invoice remains unpaid). The reason for the
difference is that recourse factoring is at a lower cost (as you still
take the risk of the bad debt) and is also easier to obtain.
Non-recourse factoring
assumes that the factor will shoulder the burden for all bad debts.
So if a customer does not pay the invoice you don't have to pay back
the sum advanced by the factoring company.
For this reason it attracts higher fees.
If you know which
customers are likely to pay on time and which are not you will be much
better armed at deciding which type of factoring to make use of, as
well as saving your business some money at the same time.