Factoring as a Special Means of Financing SMEs’ Activities – the Case of Enterprises in the Lodz Area

Abstract

The article considers the usefulness of factoring as a short-term instrument allowing enterprises to finance their activities. Suppliers choosing factoring can offer buyers extended debt payment periods, improve their liquidity, as well as gaining access to additional services offered by factors. This analysis focuses on the benefits, usefulness and weaknesses of factoring, including the business effects of this facility and the prospects of its development. An attempt is made to demonstrate that factoring has a great potential for growth as a source of short-term funding for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Two methods are used to this end: a review of the pertinent Polish and foreign literature including research articles, and a questionnaire survey of 20 SMEs with relevant experience in using this facility. The analysis of the usefulness and cost-effectiveness of factoring shows that in the period 2010–2014 in which market instabilities were observed factoring was a useful and frequently employed means of short-term funding.