With factoring, the factor takes control of bill collection and assumes the credit risk for customer non-payment. In contrast, with the assignment of receivables, the business retains control of its customer relationships and the collection process, bearing all of the credit risk.
Accounts receivable (A/R) factoring, often referred to as invoice discounting, is a type of short-term debt financing used by some business borrowers. The transaction takes place between a business (the borrower) and a lender (often a factoring company as opposed to a traditional commercial bank).
Assignment of accounts receivable is a method of debt financing whereby the lender takes over the borrowing company's receivables. This form of alternative financing is often seen as less desirable, as it can be quite costly to the borrower, with APRs as high as 100% annualized.
Therefore, when a journal entry is made for an accounts receivable transaction, the value of the sale will be recorded as a credit to sales. The amount that is receivable will be recorded as a debit to the assets. These entries balance each other out.
A business can calculate its trade receivables by summing up the amount that all its customers owe them. It is generally divided into two parts called debtors and bill receivables.
The formula for net credit sales is = Sales on credit – Sales returns – Sales allowances. Average accounts receivable is the sum of starting and ending accounts receivable over a time period (such as monthly or quarterly), divided by 2.
To calculate net accounts receivable, you need: total accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts, and sales returns and allowances. Then, subtract the allowance for doubtful accounts, sales returns and allowances from the Total Account Receivables.
To forecast accounts receivable, divide DSO by 365 for a daily collection rate. Multiply this rate by your sales forecast to estimate future accounts receivable. This method helps predict the amount you can expect to receive over a specific period.
Average accounts receivables is calculated as the sum of the starting and ending receivables over a set period of time (usually a month, quarter, or year). That number is then divided by 2 to determine an accurate financial ratio.
Gross accounts receivable represents the total amount of outstanding invoices or the sum owed by customers. It's perhaps the easiest to calculate, too - you simply add up all the outstanding invoices at a given time!