ERPYour customer pays in 60 days. Your supplier needs payment now. What can you do?
First calculate how much money is missing and when. Then compare options that move a customer receipt earlier, move a supplier payment later or provide separate working capital. These solve different parts of the problem and come with different terms.
Calculate the gap, not just the invoice total
Illustrative example: you have €4,000 available. A supplier needs €8,000 this week and other unavoidable payments total €2,000. A €12,000 customer receipt is expected in 60 days. This week’s gap is €6,000: €4,000 − €8,000 − €2,000. The customer invoice’s face value is not the amount you need today.
Put all expected receipts and payments on a weekly plan. Include a second scenario in which the customer pays later. An expected receipt is not cash already available.
Compare three different levers
In Croatia, factoring is one term used for receivables finance; supplier factoring addresses the supplier-payment side. Product names do not settle eligibility or risk allocation. Read the specific offer and agreement rather than assuming that all providers use the same structure.
| Option | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Agree different commercial terms | Will the customer pay a deposit or a stage earlier? Will the supplier agree a later due date, and at what cost? |
| Explore earlier payment of a receivable | Is the transaction eligible? What net amount arrives, on what date, and who bears non-payment risk? |
| Explore supplier payment deferral or working capital | Who pays the supplier, when must you repay, and what fees, security and obligations apply? |
Prepare a small, reliable evidence pack
Share sensitive business documents only through the provider’s approved application process. A first enquiry should describe the situation; it does not need identity documents or confidential financial records.
- The quote, order or invoice and the current unpaid amount.
- The agreed dates and evidence of delivery or acceptance.
- Any partial payments, credits, disputes or changes to the agreement.
- A cash plan showing when the money is needed and the planned source of repayment.
Check the plan after the financing ends
A later supplier payment is still a payment to make. Add repayment and all applicable costs to the cash plan, then check the week after they fall due. If the plan remains short every month, timing finance alone may not address the underlying problem.
Through Spona, explore earlier payment or more time to pay for eligible transactions. Spona coordinates the service with a financing partner. Supporting documents, assessment and an agreement are required; a calculator estimate or enquiry is not approval.
Further reading
Sources describe individual providers’ products. Check the current offer and agreement for your own decision.