Start with the invoice and collection journey
Invoice finance brings forward cash against unpaid invoices. A funding discussion needs to distinguish the invoices outstanding, the amount included in a funding base, the advance calculation and the cash currently available under the facility. The provider determines invoice eligibility, collection arrangements and charges.
Prepare a consistent invoice list
Use genuine invoices issued by your assessment date, with amounts still unpaid. Reconcile payments, credit notes and adjustments first. Keep amounts in AUD and customer references consistent. The Atlas simulator rejects duplicate invoice IDs.
The simulator assumes that starting list is correct; it does not verify invoices or model credit adjustments. Invoice finance brings forward cash against outstanding invoices. Providers determine eligibility, collection arrangements and fees.
Worked example: $100,000 of invoices becomes a $62,000 base
Assume A owes $30,000, B owes $50,000, C has a disputed $12,000 invoice and D has $8,000 beyond the selected overdue limit. Excluding C and D leaves an initial pool of $80,000. The Atlas model’s 40% customer cap is therefore $32,000 for each customer, calculated once from that initial pool.
| Customer | Unpaid amount | Amount after exclusions | Contribution after $32,000 cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | $30,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| B | $50,000 | $50,000 | $32,000 |
| C — disputed | $12,000 | $0 | $0 |
| D — beyond overdue limit | $8,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $100,000 | $80,000 | $62,000 |
Swipe or scroll the table sideways to see every column.
An 80% advance on $62,000 is $49,600 before fees and existing drawings. B contributes $32,000 of the final $62,000 base, or about 51.6%. That is possible because the 40% cap was applied to the initial $80,000 pool, not iterated against the final base. This is the Atlas scenario method, not a provider’s concentration policy.
Apply the stated exclusions first
The Atlas model excludes disputed invoices and invoices beyond your selected overdue limit. Overdue days run from the due date to the assessment date, with invoices not yet due shown as zero days overdue. An invoice exactly at the limit remains included; one beyond it is excluded.
These scenario rules do not establish a provider's eligible borrowing base. A provider may measure age from issue date, apply other conditions or require information outside this simulator.
Understand the simple customer cap
After age and dispute exclusions, the remaining invoices form the initial eligible pool. The selected concentration percentage multiplied by that pool gives a dollar cap for each customer. Each customer's contribution is the smaller of its remaining invoice total and that dollar cap.
The model adds capped contributions, then applies the advance percentage. It does not recalculate the cap as the pool shrinks. A customer's final share can therefore exceed the selected percentage. This planning method does not reproduce a lender's concentration policy.
Keep the advance separate from cash available
The result is before fees and does not subtract existing advances. It is neither an approved limit nor the cash you can draw today. Compare it with a provider's actual availability statement and terms, including reserves, offsets, collection arrangements and charges.
| Stage | What changes |
|---|---|
| Unpaid invoice total | Starting amounts entered |
| Initial eligible pool | Remove age and dispute exclusions |
| Capped funding base | Apply the simple customer caps |
| Scenario advance | Multiply the capped base by the advance percentage |
Swipe or scroll the table sideways to see every column.
A separate illustration: advance is not undrawn cash
Suppose a provider’s availability statement started with a $49,600 advance amount and then showed $20,000 already drawn, a $1,000 reserve and $600 of charges to deduct. On those hypothetical figures the remaining amount would be $28,000. These hypothetical figures explain the distinction; actual deductions depend on the facility terms.
| Illustrative availability bridge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Starting advance amount | $49,600 |
| Less existing drawings | −$20,000 |
| Less assumed reserve | −$1,000 |
| Less assumed charges | −$600 |
| Remaining amount in this illustration | $28,000 |
Swipe or scroll the table sideways to see every column.
The portfolio simulator stops at the scenario advance. It does not calculate those later deductions. Reconcile each adjustment with the provider’s current statement rather than treating $49,600 or $28,000 as an amount you can draw.
Compare the amount with the cost and collection date
A funding amount only helps if it is available before the business payment falls due. Compare the expected release date with your cash need, and check the cost over the expected collection period. Keep the customer payment date and any facility repayment or adjustment visible.
What to prepare
- Reconcile unpaid amounts to the current receivables ledger.
- Check due dates, disputes and duplicate invoice references.
- Use one consistent reference for each customer.
- Record the cap basis and advance percentage used.
- Compare results with actual fees, reserves and existing advances.
Common questions
Does an invoice within the overdue limit qualify for funding?
Only within this simplified scenario. Passing its age and dispute checks does not verify the invoice or satisfy a provider's full conditions.
Why can a customer exceed 40% of the final pool?
The cap is 40% of the initial eligible pool, calculated before deductions. It is not an iterative limit on each customer's final share.
Can I draw the whole displayed advance?
The result omits existing drawings, fees and other facility adjustments. Your provider's current availability calculation determines what can actually be drawn.
General information only. Product terms and availability vary. Check the actual proposal and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances.