CFACommercial Funding Advisory

Ecommerce & Digital

Business Funding for Wholesale Distributors

Wholesale distributors are caught between manufacturers who want to be paid on delivery and retailers who want to pay on net-30 or net-60 terms. Your entire business model depends on bridging that gap with working capital. Margins are thin, typically 10 to 25 percent gross, so the business only works at volume. Adding new product lines or territories requires inventory investment that may take months to pay back.

Common Uses

What Wholesale Distributors Use Funding For

  • Fund large purchase orders from manufacturers to maintain adequate stock levels
  • Extend net-30 or net-60 credit terms to retail customers without straining cash flow
  • Lease warehouse space and invest in racking, forklifts, and inventory management systems
  • Add delivery trucks and route drivers to expand your distribution territory

Funding Options

Best Funding Types for Wholesale Distributors

Invoice Factoring

Factor your retail customer invoices to close the gap between paying your suppliers and collecting from your buyers. Distribution factoring companies understand the thin-margin, high-volume nature of the business and price accordingly.

Inventory Financing

Borrow against your warehouse inventory to fund new purchase orders. Distributors carry large inventory positions that make excellent collateral as long as the products are not perishable or highly specialized.

Asset-Based Lending

Combine your receivables and inventory into a single revolving credit facility. ABL gives distributors higher advance rates than traditional lines of credit because the lender takes a security interest in both asset categories.

What Lenders Look For

Qualification Notes for Wholesale Distributors

Lenders evaluate your inventory turnover, gross margin, and days sales outstanding as the key health metrics for distributors
Exclusive or semi-exclusive distribution agreements with manufacturers strengthen your application because they protect revenue
A diversified customer base with no single buyer exceeding 20 percent of revenue reduces concentration risk

Ready to Explore Funding for Your Wholesale Distributor Business?

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