Monday, 15 April 2013

'Settlement fees' for early payment

Given that some retailers are offering suppliers earlier payment for a discount, it might be helpful to run the numbers and explore the financial impact on a supplier.
Assumptions
-  sales of £1.5m per annum to the retailer
-  current payment period                                 75 days, net
-  Discount for 21 days settlement                    5%

Customer now pays in 75 days
We want him to pay in 21 days
i.e. a  54-day reduction in payment period

Customer now pays 4.87 times per year i.e. 365/75          

We want him to pay 17.38 times per year i.e. 365/21              
Amount he owes us when paying in 75 days
= £1.5m/4.87 = £308,000
 
Amount he owes us when paying in 21 days
= £1.5m/17.38 = £86,306

 Cashflow saving = £308,000 -£86,306
    = £221,694
Settlement discount for 21 day payment
                                                                 = 5%   i.e.              (5% of £1.5m = £75k)
Cost of the 5% settlement            =  33.8%                (£75,000/221,694) x 100  
i.e. the supplier is paying 33.8% 'interest' on the cashflow saving

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