With new data from Santander Corporate & Commercial predicting UK SME aggregated growth

rates of 134% in the five years from 2014, businesses are in a stronger position than ever to

strengthen their financial position in readiness for the time ahead. From cashflow needs to

support forecast fluctuations and late payments, to working capital for marketing, invoice finance

can offer an invaluable, fast and flexible financial solution. In this infographic, we look at the

reasons behind the SME network's need to arrange cashflow and working capital facilities from

beyond the banks - and why invoice finance should be high on the list of business owners'

considerations for the New Year and beyond.

www.platformblack.com

SOURCES:

You need a working capital source to support growth plans

You are turned off by more traditional forms of invoice finance, such as factoring and discounting, and their more restrictive/longer-term agreements

You struggle with late payments from clients

You worry about securing future business

You are an active cashflow forecaster, who likes to plan for every business eventuality in advance

An overdraft may not be the right option for you as a business

You want a flexible, fast source of working capital

You want regular access to short-term cash for long-term stability & growth

You want cash in the bank more quickly to meet essential payments

You have large businesses as clients, have to wait for long periods to receive payment, and are challenged with

covering the cost of high-value goods and services in advance of

receiving payment

yes?

abfa.org.uk • abnamrocomfin.com • accountancylive.co.uk • bankofengland.co.uk • exact.comgrowthbusiness.co.uk • ibtimes.co.uk • ingeniousbritain.biz • santander.co.uksyscap.com • cybusinessonline.co.uk • yourwealth.co.uk

Two thirds of SMEs plan to grow in next

1-2 years

‘Invoice finance' is the most popular business finance search engine term for 2013 - surpassing invoice

discounting and factoring

UK SMEs are collectively owed

23% of SMEs plan to increase sales &

marketing spend in 2014

46% of SMEs have recently suffered at least one cashflow disruption

Total value outstanding in UK SME overdrafts

Invoice trading agreements can be on 30, 60 or 90 day terms

20% of SMEs plan to increase capital

expenditure in 2014

50% of SMEs say financial 'survival' is priority right now

44% of SMEs say large clients are the worst for paying late

22%

£37billion

Only 2% of UK SMEs have cash to invest back into their business

SMEs wait on average 38 days for payment

in late payments

Only 1 in 5 SMEs plans to take on more staff in 2014

31% of SMEs are worried about securing

future business

26% of SMEs say access to capital is a challenge

Invoice Finance via Invoice Trading provides funds within hours of auctions closing

Overdraft facilities to SMEs are down by 22% since 2011

77% of accountants would recommend

Invoice Finance over bank loans

44% of SMEs defer payments due to delayed accounts receivables

12% of businesses who defer payments, do not pay staff wages on time

82% of accountants said the biggest challenge their clients face is cashflow

10 Reasons to Consider Invoice Finance in 2014

1

BUT

SMEs plan to invest an average of 13% of turnover

into growth

yes?

2Invoice Finance

3 yes?

38days £

yes?4

5 yes? 6yes?

26%

46%

7 yes?

30DAY

60DAY

90DAY

8 yes?

77%

22%

9 yes?

50%

44%

12%

82%

yes?

58% of SMEs say they are at the mercy of large clients’

payment terms

£