Some companies that offer various goods and services often encounter challenging situations when they confront the risk of having outstanding accounts receivable, which can result in a loss of liquidity and time for administrative tasks. Hence, factoring companies have emerged as their primary choice to tackle these issues.
A factoring company is a financial institution that focuses on providing financing services to businesses by buying their accounts receivable or unpaid invoices. Such firms offer instant liquidity to their clients by purchasing these documents at a discounted rate, taking on the collection risk and administrative duties.
Legal Solutions Panama helps you to create a company in this country in a fast and efficient way.
How does factoring operate?
The factoring process generally works as follows: a company sells goods or services to its customers and issues an invoice with a specified payment term, which may be 30, 60, or 90 days.
Instead of waiting for the customer to pay, the company sells that invoice to a factoring company, immediately receiving a portion of the total value of the account, typically 70-90%. Once the customer pays the invoice, the factoring company gives the remaining balance to the company, deducting a fee for the service rendered.
Advantages of factoring for companies
Some of the benefits of factoring are:
Improved liquidity: they gain quick access to funds without having to wait for their clients to pay their invoices.
Risk mitigation: they shift the risk of non-payment to the financing company, with the factoring company assuming responsibility if the client fails to pay, as per the agreement between the Factor and the Assignor.
Decreased administrative workload: the factoring company handles invoice management and collection, enabling businesses to concentrate on their primary operations.
Help for small and medium-sized companies: factoring companies are especially useful for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that need to improve their cash flow and do not have easy access to other types of financing, such as bank loans. In addition, this service can be an effective tool for improving a company’s financial management and planning, ensuring a steady flow of income.
To open a factoring company in Panama
Panama’s legislation provides numerous advantages that streamline the founding and functioning of factoring companies within the country. Here are some of the key laws:
Corporation Law: Panama has flexible and modern legislation for the incorporation of corporations (Law 32 of 1927). This law allows for the quick and efficient creation of companies, with minimum capital requirements and an adaptable corporate structure, which is ideal for establishing a factoring company.
Regulation: While there isn’t a dedicated law governing factoring in Panama, private companies engaging in this practice adhere to the basic requirements for commercial licensing in the country. Furthermore, there exists regulation concerning credit assignments, which underpins factoring, ensuring that it is a regulated and protected activity. This regulatory framework provides flexibility regarding rates and the involvement of various parties in the business.
Protection of foreign investments: Panamanian laws ensure parity in treatment between domestic and foreign investors. This safeguard encompasses protection against expropriation and the unrestricted transfer of capital and profits, fostering a secure setting for the investment and functioning of factoring companies.
Sound financial system and prudential regulations: The Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá (SBP) and the Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores de Panamá (SMV) oversee Panama’s financial system, guaranteeing a secure and closely monitored financial landscape. These regulations are vital for factoring companies, which rely on a dependable financial system for their activities.
Legal Solutions, the ideal support to open a factoring company in Panama if you are from Colombia
As can be seen, Panama is a country that helps foreign investors undertake different financial initiatives thanks to the legal advantages it provides. However, it is necessary to know the legislation meticulously to achieve a successful business, taking advantage of all the benefits of the Central American country.
In this context, Legal Solutions is a Panamanian law firm that provides information and assistance for investors from Colombia. They provide a complimentary 30-minute consultation with their team of experts to address queries and assess potential business opportunities and establish a company in Panama.
