Behalf, Comdata and MasterCard Help Small Businesses Improve Cash Flow

Small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) now have a more flexible and convenient way to pay their vendors through a collaboration announced today by Behalf, Comdata and MasterCard. The initiative helps improve cash flow for SMBs by providing alternative payment terms for their payments to merchants that accept MasterCard and are approved for participation by Behalf.

Behalf provides simple working capital lines to small businesses to help bridge the cash flow gap between when they have to pay a vendor for a purchase—typically within 30 days—and the time it takes to generate revenue from that purchase. To cover this gap, Behalf will pay an SMB’s vendor invoice of up to $10,000 per purchase, and the SMB then pays Behalf back over up to 120 days. SMBs receive favorable rates and terms while their vendors benefit from more rapid cash flow, lower risk of fraud, fewer credit losses and increased sales.

The offering extends Behalf’s product benefit by adding the ability to use a unique, secure virtual card for both point of sale and online purchases while receiving convenient payment terms.

“The growing demand for Behalf among SMBs is a clear indication of the critical need that it meets in the marketplace—simple, fast, flexible and secure purchase financing,” said Benjy Feinberg, founder and CEO of Behalf. “Our partnership with Comdata, coupled with MasterCard’s reach, will dramatically improve the usability, scale and security of what is already a great product. We can’t wait to bring MasterCard-accepting merchants onto our vendor platform, making it easier for small businesses to purchase the goods, services and supplies they need.”

“Our unique virtual credit card technology makes Comdata the perfect payment processing partner for Behalf’s expansion,” said Bob Sneed, SVP, Strategist and Corporate Payment Specialist who leads the partnership for Comdata. “Comdata, Behalf and MasterCard share a common vision that innovation in payment technology can dramatically increase the rate of growth of small businesses.”

“MasterCard is committed to the growth of small businesses in the United States,” said Rob Snyder, Vice President, US Commercial Products, at MasterCard. “Behalf is using our Virtual Card platform to provide the affordable funding to small businesses that will help them grow. At the same time, by enabling small businesses to buy more, Behalf drives additional revenue to our merchants that sell to SMBs.”

ABOUT BEHALF

An innovative payments platform targeted to small and mid-sized businesses, Behalf fills a significant market gap by offering short-term financing for inventory, services and other immediate business needs.

Funded by Sequoia and Spark Capital, Behalf has reduced the credit application process to four simple questions: based on that information Behalf can instantly extend businesses as much as $10,000 in credit, at fair, affordable rates.

ABOUT COMDATA

Comdata is a proven leader in corporate payments for a wide range of industries and some of the nation’s most-recognized brand names. Our solutions touch financial transactions of all kinds and are changing the way companies manage data, pay employees, process transactions and control spending on key business purchases. Comdata solutions help you save money, grow your revenue, streamline operations and minimize financial risks.

ABOUT MASTERCARD

MasterCard (NYSE: MA), http://www.mastercard.com/, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Cashless Pioneers Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.