Ekonomická podstata a právní aspekty faktoringu

Abstract

This diploma thesis deals with the issue of factoring as one of the various forms of financing business activities. The aim of the thesis is to analyze the economic nature and legal aspects of factoring, to compare it with other options for financing international business activities, to assess the conditions offered by factoring companies, and to evaluate a questionnaire in order to determine how entrepreneurs in the Moravian-Silesian Region are familiar with and utilize factoring. The theoretical part of the thesis defines key concepts, outlines the classification of factoring types, and provides a legal definition of the term. The practical part includes a descriptive and comparative analysis of selected Czech and European factoring companies. This analysis is based on data available on the websites of individual companies or factoring associations and focuses on the characteristics of individual factors, their products, and subsequent comparisons. The results indicate that the services offered by domestic factoring companies are largely uniform, with the exception of member companies of the FCI association. Similarly, European factoring companies offer nearly identical services, aside from those specific to the countries in which they operate. The choice of a particular factoring company is therefore likely to depend on the commercial bank with which the entrepreneur holds accounts, the need for specific services, or trade activity in a specific region. The results of the questionnaire survey revealed that half of the respondents from the Moravian-Silesian Region has knowledge of the term "factoring," but only a small proportion had actually used it. These findings suggest that factoring can be an effective tool for financing business operations, but only under certain conditions. It is particularly suitable for entrepreneurs with a high volume of short-term receivables, where delayed payments significantly hinder their business activities. The choice of the appropriate factoring company should be based on the required services and the geographic area in which the entrepreneur wishes to operate. Furthermore, the findings highlight the potential for commercial banks to better inform their clients about alternative forms of business financing, such as factoring.