Buying goods from overseas or selling to international buyers? Trade finance bridges the cash flow gap between placing an order and getting paid — so you can grow your international business without tying up your working capital.
Different trade scenarios require different financing tools. Here's what's available and when to use each one.
A bank guarantee that payment will be made to your supplier once agreed conditions are met. Reduces risk for both importer and exporter.
Government-backed working capital specifically for U.S. exporters. Fund production, inventory, and fulfillment of export orders.
Fund large purchase orders from overseas suppliers before you receive payment from your customers. No need to use your own cash.
Sell your export invoices to a factoring company for immediate cash. Stop waiting 30–90 days for international buyers to pay.
Revolving credit specifically structured for trade transactions. Draw as needed to fund imports, cover customs duties, or bridge payment gaps.
Long-term SBA financing for businesses that need to expand capacity to compete in international markets. Equipment, real estate, and working capital.
Domestic business is straightforward — you deliver goods or services, you invoice, you get paid. International trade is different. You're dealing with unfamiliar buyers or suppliers, long shipping timelines, currency risk, and payment terms that can stretch 30–120 days.
The core problem: You need to pay your supplier before you receive payment from your customer. That gap — sometimes months wide — is where businesses run out of cash.
Trade finance products are specifically designed to bridge that gap, reduce transaction risk, and give both sides of the trade confidence to move forward.
We connect you with lenders who specialize in trade finance — not general business lenders trying to make a regular loan work for an international deal.
You place an order with your overseas supplier. They need payment before shipping.
Your bank issues an LC guaranteeing payment to the supplier once shipping docs are presented.
Supplier ships goods and presents documents. LC funds are released to the supplier.
Goods arrive, you sell to your customers on net-30 or net-60 terms.
When customers pay, you repay the trade line. Cycle repeats for next order.
Your financing needs depend on which side of the transaction you're on. Here's how we help each.
You buy products from overseas suppliers and sell them in the U.S. Your challenge is paying suppliers upfront while waiting to collect from your customers.
You sell U.S. products to international buyers. Your challenge is funding production and waiting for overseas customers to pay — often on long terms.
Importers sourcing from Asia need LC and PO financing to place seasonal orders months before retail delivery.
Manufacturers importing components or exporting finished equipment use trade lines to manage payment timing.
Specialty food importers and U.S. agricultural exporters use trade finance to bridge harvest-to-payment cycles.
Consumer electronics importers use PO financing and LCs to place large orders with Asian manufacturers.
Amazon sellers and DTC brands importing inventory use trade lines to fund inventory without depleting cash reserves.
Contractors and distributors importing materials use LCs and trade lines to fund large material orders.
Requirements vary by product. Here's what most trade finance lenders look for.
Must be a U.S.-registered business (LLC, Corp, or Partnership) with a U.S. bank account and EIN.
Most programs require 1+ year in business. SBA export programs may consider startups with strong export contracts.
Personal credit of 650+ preferred. For invoice factoring, your customer's creditworthiness matters more than yours.
Purchase orders, supplier contracts, or export sales agreements showing real, confirmed transactions.
Most programs want $250K+ annual revenue. SBA export programs may have lower thresholds for qualifying exporters.
Demonstrated history with suppliers or buyers. New relationships are harder to finance — but not impossible.
Tell us whether you import or export, your transaction size, and what you need financed.
We match you with trade finance specialists from our 122+ lender network.
Get term sheets specific to your trade transaction. Rates, advance amounts, fees clearly laid out.
POs, invoices, supplier info, business financials. We guide you through what's needed.
Funds released. Your transaction moves forward. Repay when your customer pays.
A Letter of Credit is a payment guarantee from your bank to the supplier — it assures them they'll get paid when they ship. Purchase Order financing is actual cash advanced to you (or your supplier) to fulfill a specific purchase order. LCs are about risk reduction; PO financing is about cash. Many importers use both on the same transaction.
It depends on the product. Letters of credit and PO financing are more transaction-based, so lenders focus on the quality of the deal (the purchase order, the buyer, the supplier) more than your business history. SBA export programs may be available to newer exporters with confirmed export contracts. We'll tell you upfront what's realistic.
The SBA EWCP is a government-backed revolving line of credit up to $5M specifically for U.S. exporters. It carries a 90% SBA guarantee, which makes lenders more willing to extend credit to exporters who wouldn't qualify for conventional financing. It can fund labor, materials, inventory, and accounts receivable tied to export transactions.
Yes. E-commerce importers are one of the fastest-growing segments in trade finance. If you're sourcing from overseas suppliers and selling on Amazon, Shopify, or other platforms, we have lenders who understand your business model. PO financing and trade lines of credit work well for this use case.
A regular business loan gives you a lump sum based on your creditworthiness. Trade finance is transaction-based — it's tied to a specific purchase order, invoice, or shipment. This means lenders evaluate the quality of your trade deal as much as your credit. It's self-liquidating: the transaction itself generates the cash to repay the financing.
One application connects you to 122+ lenders specializing in trade finance. Free consultation, no obligation.