Consumer financing is the gateway to better customer service, more sales, optimized business operations, and more. Quality financing solutions empower shoppers with affordable, accessible payment plan options.
How businesses choose to implement financing is as important as offering financing in the first place. Juggling multiple consumer financing companies for your business contributes to less revenue, worse customer experiences, and frustration for your teams. Committing to a partnership with the right financing firm does the opposite; it positions your business for success across the board.
This article from UCFS highlights the disadvantages of having multiple consumer financing companies for your business and how partnering with the right firm is best for your business and your customers.
Competing Firms and Lower Approval Rates
When two or more financing firms compete for your customers, approval rates –– and, as a result, customer satisfaction, sales, and revenue –– can be negatively affected. The first financing company will buy your quality customers –– those most likely to make payments. The second company is then left to evaluate and provide services to higher-risk customers. Often, this customer group sees fewer approvals Lower approval rates equate to poor customer experiences and fewer sales, negatively affecting your business.
Partnering with JUST ONE consumer financing firm helps all customers receive the same attention and care. Businesses don’t have to manage competing firms. Instead, they can focus on providing affordable financing solutions that empower consumers –– even those with less-than-ideal credit.
Increased Costs and Lower Profit Margins
When time, energy, and financial resources are dedicated to managing multiple financing companies, businesses lose. Balancing the many details associated with each financing firm costs more and can yield lower profits than a partnership with a single firm.
In addition, if a business wants approvals of customers with not-so-great credit, the business’ fees to the finance company can be higher because of the risk associated with these consumers, who might not repay their loan.
Contracting with one firm to provide consumer financing solutions allows businesses to streamline their financing process and dedicate focus, time, and talent where needed most.
Management Challenges and Complexities
Balancing multiple consumer financing companies can require more resources. Managing multiple contracts, reports, and billing processes drains administrative teams and puts businesses at higher risk for errors or delays in handling finances.
Working with two or more financing companies is time-consuming for a business. If the first company declines a consumer, the business must submit a new credit application to the second company, adding more time and work to the process. If using a waterfall financing service, the second, or perhaps third financing company may approve the consumer, but to complete the financing contract may take more time, because staff need to know how to use multiple systems. All the while, the customer experiences time delays or friction in the buying process, which can lead them to back out of the sale.
When businesses commit to one financing partner, the financing process is streamlined and straightforward. Admin teams can focus on one relationship with one firm, learning their services and processes and implementing those across the company. Having one financing partner saves resources across the board.
Customer Confusion and Inconsistent Experiences
Businesses must provide a simple, quick, and straightforward path to financing. Balancing multiple partners requires companies to explain various financing options to customers, leading to decision fatigue and overwhelm due to the many terms and choices they must then organize in their minds.
Managing two or three (or more!) financing partners can be confusing for your staff and even more so for your customers. Approval processes and requirements vary across financing companies. Discrepancies in interest rates, fees, and terms cause frustration and impact brand perception for your business.
If financing options appear inconsistent, you’ll lose customer trust and sales. When you work with one consumer financing firm, you deliver straightforward, consistent solutions that put customers at ease.
Data Collection, Organization, and Analysis Challenges
When financing data is spread across multiple firms and their platforms, managing that data effectively becomes difficult and time consuming. Consolidating data from various financing partners is essential to gain insights into your financing strategy, but doing so can increase the chance of inconsistencies and errors in financial reporting. Inaccurate data can lead to serious issues regarding strategic decision-making that can derail business KPIs and profits.
With two or more financing companies, even payments made to your business can take more time to reconcile and be challenging to balance funded amounts against consumers who financed with you.
Working with a single financing partner ensures that all data is in one location, allowing you to conduct data analysis that propels your business forward.
Brand Perception and Consistency Issues
Many elements build brand identity and affect customer perception and affinity for your business and products. Your financing partner plays a major role in the buyer’s journey and, therefore, your brand perception. Contracting with multiple consumer financing companies can dilute your brand identity and diminish your branding.
Every financing company has its own messaging, promotional offers, and customer support approaches. Inevitable inconsistencies across these companies can negatively impact brand loyalty if customers feel your options aren’t consistent, cohesive, or transparent.
Offering consumer financing from a single, seasoned firm ensures your customers have consistent experiences throughout the purchase process and loan repayment, strengthening their relationship with your business.
Legal and Compliance Risks
Providing consumer financing requires businesses to follow particular regulatory requirements. Maintaining compliance is essential but often challenging when juggling multiple financing providers. The potential for liability increases if any financing partner deviates from protocols or engages in practices that might be unfavorable to the consumer. Increased risk for disputes or customer complaints directly affects your business reputation and can create serious issues for long-term business health.
Choosing one financing firm –– one with compliance oversight and risk management built in –– helps ensure your business adheres to regulatory guidelines so you stay compliant and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Choosing the Right Consumer Financing Company for Your Business
Offering consumer financing is foundational for successful businesses, especially those selling big-ticket items or high-value services. You need a proven, seasoned consumer financing partner with services built to serve you and your customers. United Consumer Financial Services provides full-service solutions, eliminating the need for our clients to seek additional financing partners.
United Consumer Financial Services is proud to bring more than four decades of financing expertise to you and your customers. UCFS offers a straightforward application with prompt notice of approval. From there, you can commence with the sale and provide clear instructions for loan repayment. Here are the steps:
- Enter the customer’s online credit application, or have them enter it themselves
- Receive near-immediate communication of credit application status
- For approved credit applications, the customer eSigns the contract right from their email
- Move forward with the sale
- Get paid by UCFS within 1-2 days after the sale or project is complete
- Consumer makes payments to UCFS through autopay for the life of the loan, starting 30 days after the contract is executed
With UCFS, there are no surprise fees for your business. We ensure consistent rates and reasonable APR for your customers and offer high approval rates that translate to more sales and greater revenue.
Getting started is easy. Contact us today to learn how consumer financing with UCFS helps you avoid the risks of having multiple financing partners while reaping the benefits of affordable, accessible consumer financing.