INNOVATORS VS COVID 19

A 42-year-old Factoring Company Leads the Way

Published

3 years ago

09/30/2020

Kokou Adzo

Brad Gurney American Receivable Corporation

We talked to Brad Gurney of American Receivable Corporation about account receivable factoring.

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times?

Brad Gurney: I think we have found more patience and love for each other.

Tell us about you, your career, how you founded American Receivable Corporation.

Brad Gurney: I started this company in 1981 with my business partner, Jack Stieber. We saw that the banks were not meeting funding needs for small businesses.

How does American Receivable Corporation innovate?

Brad Gurney: We have seen a lifetime of innovation over the last 42 years! We were an earlier adapter being the second factoring company to have a website! We use the latest technology to make our service simple and efficient.

How the coronavirus pandemic affects your business, and how are you coping?

Brad Gurney: We ended up competing against the PPP. That stimulus package has worked its way out of the economy, so we see more demand. Some of our clients had to close their business because of the shutdown, but other clients saw their revenue take off.

Did you have to make difficult choices, and what are the lessons learned?

Brad Gurney: Learning not to throw good money after bad.

How do you deal with stress and anxiety, how do you project yourself and American Receivable Corporation in the future?

Brad Gurney: We encourage unplugging from the office when you go home. Exercise and walks with my family bring down the stress level.

The demand for factoring grows in a bad economy. The banks severely pull back from lending, creating a larger pool of customers.

Who are your competitors? And how do you plan to stay in the game?

Brad Gurney: We have fintech competitors backed with Wall Street Money and mom & pop factors. Not losing your shirt when the economy sours take careful adherence to policy. Some of the fintech companies have been caught without their Swim trunks now that the tide has gone out!