Bill Discounting |Meaning, Advantages | Process

bill discounting
 
The bill discounting/ invoice discounting is one of the sources of working capital funds. As we know, the working capital is one of the most significant requirements to operate small or medium business enterprises smoothly.
 
However, it is difficult to arrange in nowadays’ scenario as the trading of goods or services in domestic as well as international market are done mostly on a credit basis. The intention of the buyer is always to extend the credit period while the seller’s intention is not to provide long credit.
 
Thus maintaining a cash inflow for a company/ supplier or exporter is the biggest challenge. Therefore, Bill Discounting facilitates business organisations in maintaining and retaining healthy cash inflow to avoid a cash crunch.

So, let us understand the concept of Bill Discounting/ Invoice Discounting.

Table of Contents

Bill Discounting/ Invoice Discounting:

“The Bill Discounting/ Invoice Discounting refers to the process through which the seller/ exporter arrange funds from financial institutions such as bank, NBFCs, finance companies etc against the bill of exchange or invoice raised to the buyer/ importer.”
 
In other words, Bill Discounting is the process of trading/ selling the bill of exchange/ invoice to the financial intermediary to avail funds prior to its maturity date against a fees/ interest paid to the finance company. In simple words, we can say the bill discounting is a source of working capital financing for micro, small and medium type enterprises.
 
The supplier or exporter has to approach the banks or other institutions (providing such facilities) to discount the bill/ invoice and bank rectify the credentials of Bill of exchange and disburse the amount after deducting the interest/ fees charged.
 

The interest or fee charged to avail the funds depends upon the previous payment history, creditworthiness of the buyer, risk involved and how long the maturity date is etc factors.

Advantages of Bill Discounting:

Bill Discounting offers the following benefits:
  • Bill discounting reduces the chances of bad debt as the risk of defaults or non-payment by the buyer/ importer is bored by the intermediary institutions.
  • It facilitates the seller to improve the cash inflow and hence avoid cash crunch during a trade.
  • Typically bill discounting services are provided on a low rate of interest/ fees as compared to other advanced facilities, therefore, beneficial for sellers.
  • Since the bill of exchange is a negotiable/ tradable instrument and can be further rediscounted by the central banks or can be sold to other financial institutions hence processed quickly. Thus seller will be able to instant backup of funds.
  • The seller/ beneficiary has to interest on used amount only unlike other business loans.

Bill Discounting Process:

 
bill discounting process
Process of Bill Discounting
 
  • The seller/ exporter sell the goods or services and raise the bill/ invoice to the buyer/ importer.
  • The buyer receives the goods and sign/ accept the invoice raised. This means buyer obligate to pay the entire amount as per invoice to the seller on the due date.
  • The seller approaches his bank or concerned financial institutions with the accepted bill of exchange by the buyer to discount it.
  • The banks examine the bill of exchange and evaluate the risk involved as per their norms.
  • Finally, the banks will transfer the money to the seller’s account after deducting their charges/ interest.
  • Further on the due date, the seller’s bank receives the entire amount from the buyer/ buyer’s bank.

Example:

Let us understand the concept from an example.
 
Suppose a Mr A wants to buy some computer equipment worth $10,000 from a company XYZ but he does not have immediate funds and hence Mr A wants to purchase the goods on credit for 6 months.
 
The company has to sell the product but the major issue is the credit period is too long. Here bill discounting plays a vital role and company supply the goods and raised the invoice of $10,000 to Mr A.
 
The company approaches its bank to discount the bill/ invoice and bank check the Mr A credential. The bank deducts its charges say $200 and pay the rest $9800 to the company XYZ. Further on the maturity date of bill of exchange (after 6 months) the bank will receive the full payment ($10,000) from Mr A.
 
Thus in the whole process, Mr A (buyer) purchased the goods on credit (6 months), company XYZ (seller) sold the goods, earned profit and also received the payment without waiting for 6 months, the bank (intermediary) also earned a profit of $200.
 

Conclusion:

 
Hope you would have understood the concept of Bill Discounting. Thus it facilitates both buyer and seller to meet their objectives.
 
Related Terms:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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