Flexbase launches credit card for construction

Dive Temporary:

• Flexbase, an automated payment platform for contractors, has released a credit history card tailor-made to building companies.
• Concentrating on small- and mid-sized companies, the Flexbase Card is accessible nationwide, offering up to 60 days interest-free credit score, in accordance to a launch shared with Building Dive.
• The company aims to assist these smaller sized companies defeat hurdles associated with sluggish payments and cashflow challenges, said Zaid Rahman, CEO of Flexbase, in the release. “With our card featuring, we are going to democratize access to capital for building corporations of all sizes, and provide equal possibility to every person,” he claimed.

Dive Perception:

In Could, Flexbase been given $2.5 million in pre-seed fundraising in element from Suffolk Technologies, the venture funds arm of Boston-based mostly contractor Suffolk. Released in Oct 2020, the enterprise aims to enhance the velocity of dollars circulation in the development industry by enabling contractors to mail invoices and paperwork to customers promptly. On typical, Flexbase statements, its prospects get paid out 63% earlier.

Contractors that use the new credit history card in tandem with the Flexbase platform will be equipped to accomplish insight into their financial information and other things and will be likely suitable to borrow larger sized credit amounts, the release said. New workflow enhancements amongst the card and the platform will also decrease paperwork and enhance invoicing effectiveness. 

This is the industry’s very first card demanding no individual guarantee and no stability deposit, the enterprise mentioned.

“Tiny and medium construction businesses ought to not be failing in a booming sector. By supercharging their access to cash, we are fulfilling the demands of a seriously underbanked and credit rating invisible market place phase,” said Rahman. 

In linked news, application organization Briq lately launched a payment card for the construction industry. BriqCash gives typical and specialty contractors the potential to automate bill processing, onboard and handle sellers, management charges at the value-code stage and make immediate payments that receive money again and field-certain benefits on merchandise these types of as equipment, machines rentals and supplies.

Obtain to funding has taken on a essential purpose for contractors of all dimensions considering that the COVID-19 pandemic, which has slowed payments, according to a analyze by development application company Levelset.

Just 9% of firms often get paid on time, a decline of 60% from past 12 months, and some of the financial threat correlates immediately to the development payment chain, the examine uncovered. Normal contractors are 4 situations additional likely than subcontractors to get paid inside of 30 days, and 50% a lot more possible to get paid out in comprehensive. 1 in five subcontractors, suppliers and other sub-tier events often wait over and above 60 times to accumulate payment. 

“The pandemic drove money uncertainty through the roof and place an more kink in the stream of income on projects across the place, ” mentioned Scott Wolfe Jr., CEO of Levelset. “Payment delays throttle a company’s capacity to be aggressive, consider on new jobs, and increase their business.”