The growth trap
A confirmed order you cannot fund is worse than no order — it burns the supplier relationship. Trade finance exists to bridge the gap between paying the factory and getting paid by your customer.
The five options, ranked by cost
Option Typical cost Speed Best for
--- --- --- ---
Supplier credit (deferred payment) 0–2% Negotiation only Trusted relationships
Bank overdraft / working capital 6–12% APR Days Repeat importers with history
Invoice factoring 1–3% per month Days Sellers waiting on receivables
Letter of credit financing 1–3% + fees 1–2 weeks Large single orders
Revenue-based / platform finance 2–5% per cycle Days Marketplace sellers
What SMEs actually use
:::chart Primary funding source for import orders (SME survey)
Own cash flow | 46
Supplier credit terms | 22
Bank facilities | 18
Factoring/platforms | 9
Investor/partner capital | 5
:::
How to qualify for more
- A documented deal history is your credit score — keep contracts, invoices, and payment records in one place.
- Start small, repay fast — the first financed order sets your limit for the next one.
- Match the tool to the gap — financing 30 days with a 12-month loan is burning margin.
> Lenders fund patterns, not promises. Your transaction history is the application.
Your history is already here
Every completed Prebro deal builds a verifiable trade record — contracts, invoices, and payments — the exact documentation trade finance providers ask for.