How should Factoring Service be Launched?

Abstract

Factoring is basically the purchase of book debts of client companies. Apart from financing investments in book debts, the factoring company offers individualized service packages covering credit screening, ledger keeping and collection, and provision for doubtful debts and write offs.

In the context of the government policy of strengthening money and capital markets, a study group of the Reserve Bank of India is considering how to launch factoring service in India. S P Singh considers two approaches to launching factoring service. One is the conventional approach of letting banks, which are providing cash credit for book debts, promote factoring as an extension of their activities. The other the market approach of enabling independent companies compete on improving upon the current average collection period and percentage of write offs.

Singh recommends the market approach to launching factoring service. Efficient factoring, requires a culture of price banking, aggressive selling and low unit cost operations�a culture unfamiliar to public sector banks and financial institutions.