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FinToolSuite
Updated April 20, 2026 · Business & Startup · Educational use only ·

Invoice Factoring Calculator

True cost of selling invoices.

Calculate invoice factoring cost and effective APR from advance rate, factoring fee, days to payment, and ongoing interest charges.

What this tool does

This calculator models the true cost of invoice factoring by combining multiple charges into a single annualised rate. It takes your invoice amount, the percentage of that invoice advanced upfront, the factoring fee applied to the full invoice, the number of days until your customer pays, and an annual interest rate on the advance. The tool then calculates the total cost (factoring fee plus interest accrued during the advance period) and converts this into an effective annual percentage rate, showing what the charges represent when expressed as an annualised figure. The factoring fee and advance period typically drive the result most significantly. This is useful for comparing the cost of factoring against other short-term financing options or understanding how quickly charges accumulate. The calculation assumes the customer pays on the stated day and doesn't account for non-recourse protections, credit risk, or additional fees that some factoring arrangements may include.


Enter Values

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Formula Used
Invoice amount
Advance
Factoring fee
Interest rate (entered as a percentage value)
Days

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Disclaimer

Results are estimates for educational purposes only. They do not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

Invoice factoring converts unpaid customer invoices into immediate cash at a cost. The factor advances 70-90% of invoice value now, charges a factoring fee (1-5% per invoice), and may charge interest on the advance until the customer pays. Effective APRs typically run 15-40% annualised - expensive, but often cheaper than alternative short-term debt or stockouts.

100k invoice at 80% advance = 80k cash now. At 2% factoring fee (2k) and 12% interest over 45 days to customer payment (1,183), total cost is 3,183. Effective APR on the advance: 32.3%. Costly, but unlocks cash immediately instead of waiting 45 days.

Factoring applies when alternatives are worse: missing payroll, losing a growth opportunity, or stockout while waiting on receivables. It's a poor permanent financing choice - 25-40% APR compounds fast. Businesses using factoring consistently need to fix root cause: slow-paying customers, under-capitalisation, or working capital cycle issues. Treat it as tactical bridge, not strategic funding.

Quick example

With invoice amount of 100,000 and advance rate of 80% (plus factoring fee of 2% and days to customer pay of 45), the result is 3,183.56. Change any figure and watch the output shift — it's often more useful to see the pattern than to memorise the formula.

Which inputs matter most

You enter Invoice Amount, Advance Rate %, Factoring Fee %, Days to Customer Pay, and Interest Rate % (annual). Not every input has equal weight. Adjusting one input at a time toward extreme values shows which ones move the result most.

What's happening under the hood

Advance = invoice × advance %. Factoring fee = invoice × fee %. Interest = advance × rate × days/365. Total = fee + interest. APR = total / advance × 365 / days × 100. The formula is listed in full below. If the number looks off, you can retrace the calculation by hand — that's the point of showing the working.

What to do with a low result

A disappointing result is information, not a judgement. Pick the single input that dragged the figure down most and focus the next quarter on that one factor. Breadth-first improvement rarely works; depth-first on the worst input usually does.

What this doesn't capture

The score is a composite of the inputs you provide. Life context — job security, family obligations, health, housing — doesn't appear in the math but shapes the real picture. Use the number as a prompt, not a verdict.

Example Scenario

££100,000 invoice, 80% advance × 2% fee + 12% interest over 45 days = 3,183.56.

Inputs

Invoice Amount:£100,000
Advance Rate %:80
Factoring Fee %:2
Days to Customer Pay:45
Interest Rate % (annual):12
Expected Result3,183.56

This example uses typical values for illustration. Adjust the inputs above to match a specific situation and see how the result changes.

Sources & Methodology

Methodology

The calculator computes the total cost of factoring by combining two primary charges. The factoring fee is calculated as a percentage of the invoice amount. Interest is charged on the advanced funds at an annual rate, applied for the number of days until customer payment, using a 365-day year. The total cost equals the factoring fee plus the interest charge. The model assumes a constant annual interest rate applied linearly over the specified period, and treats the advance rate and fee rate as fixed percentages. It does not account for additional fees, rebates, changes in interest rates, payment delays beyond the stated timeline, or variations in advance rates based on invoice characteristics.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is factoring worth it?
Tactical use: bridging cash flow gaps, funding growth opportunity you'd otherwise miss, covering urgent obligations. Not strategic: if you factor routinely, fix the root cause (slow-paying customers, under-capitalisation). 25-40% effective APR eats profit fast.
Recourse vs non-recourse factoring?
Recourse: you're liable if customer doesn't pay (cheaper, typically 1-3% fee). Non-recourse: factor takes customer credit risk (more expensive, 3-5% fee, customer credit check required). Most small business factoring is recourse unless customer is blue-chip.
Does the customer know?
Most factoring arrangements are 'notified' - the factor contacts your customer for payment. This can signal financial distress. 'Confidential' or 'CHOCCS' (client handles own collections) arrangements cost more but keep the factoring relationship hidden.
Factoring vs invoice discounting?
Factoring: factor collects the invoice. Invoice discounting: you collect, factor provides financing. Discounting is typically cheaper and preserves customer relationship but requires stronger credit and better collection systems.

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