If your profit margins are 5% and a customer defaults on a debt worth $200,000, then you would have to create $4,000,000 in sales to make up this loss. This can put any company out of business quite rapidly. Trade credit insurance can help to mitigate these losses, so the company can continue its operations. It is important not only to get the losses covered, but to work with an efficient provider who can get losses covered quickly. Access to liquidity is imperative for the smooth functioning of any company.

When dealing with large international trades, trade credit insurance becomes very important. Companies go out of business all the time for a myriad of different reasons. And they never advertise the fact that they are having financial difficulties. For this reason, taking out a policy with an insurance company that monitors their creditworthiness is something of a necessity.

There are a number of advantages to trade credit insurance. The main is that companies are indemnified in the event of unpaid debts, which occurs can occur to many businesses both large and small. Generally, the larger and more frequent the trade occurs, the more important it is to have some type of safety net or buffer. Some 25% of bankruptcies are attributed to unpaid invoices. If a customer does not pay the invoice, then it will have a negative impact on vital cash flow which is necessary for general day to day operations. Lack of finance will also result in opportunity cost, where companies are unable to capitalise on opportunities as they arise. Companies can also gain access to credit experts through the purchase of trade credit insurance, and the financial services provider supplying the insurance will in many instances collect the debt for the policy holder. Costs incurred to reclaim the debts are also frequently covered.

There are few disadvantages associated with trade credit insurance, aside from the cost of purchasing a particular policy. However, there are often a number of restrictions on making a claim, including a maximum limit on claims. Credit insurance providers will not pay out on the policy if the balance is in dispute by the debtor, which can frequently occur. Periodic reports are often necessary from the company purchasing the policy which can be an administrative burden. Additionally, policies often come with annual deductibles, so trade credit insurance is not a dollar first policy.

How to Get Trade Credit Insurance

Obtaining credit insurance first involves contact with a trade credit insurance broker or provider. They will ask for certain information about your company, the trade, and your customer (the end debtor). After all the information has been provided, you would be issued with a quote for the policy and once the payment is made, the policy will become active.

The documentation you need to provide for credit insurance can be extensive, and you will need to supply accounting figures as well as other information. There are many trade insurance providers that can easily be found and contacted online.

Providers of Credit Insurance

Three groups now account for nearly 85% of the world’s credit insurance market, based mainly in Western Europe. The world’s largest credit trade finance company is Euler Hermes. Other large providers include AIG, Coface, Atradius and FCIA. Different credit providers will have distinct features.

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