Basics of In-House Financing: Types, Requirements, Example

What Is In-House Financing?

The term in-house financing refers to financing that is provided directly to consumers by retailers or other firms. It allows people to purchase and finance goods and services directly from the seller. In-house financing eliminates the firm's reliance on third-party lenders in the financial sector for providing the customer with funds to complete a transaction. It is commonly used in the automotive industry and for large purchases in the retail sector.

Understanding In-House Financing

While some people are able to, most don't have enough money to pay for large purchases outright in cash. That's where financing comes into play. This is a process that involves borrowing money from another party to complete the purchase. In most cases, this involves a bank or other lender. In other instances, the seller may offer financing itself. This is referred to as in-house financing.

In-house financing is provided by many retailers to facilitate the purchasing process for customers. This type of lending benefits consumers in that they are typically able to obtain a loan through the company where they may not have been able to through traditional financing means, such as via a bank.

In order to offer this kind of service, retailers must have an established lending business within their firm or partner with a single third-party credit provider to service a loan for their customers. As noted above, it is common in certain parts of the retail sector, such as large department stores and within the automotive industry.

Special Considerations

With the emergence of new financial technology (fintech) companies, many borrowers now have greater in-house financing options through faster and more convenient point-of-sale (POS) credit platforms. Point-of-sale credit technology can be built around a company’s in-house credit department or generally facilitated when a company partners with a single credit provider to service its customer’s lending needs.

Point-of-sale financing simplifies the lending process for customers by allowing them to apply for credit when they are ready to buy. The better the credit score, the more likely that the customer will be approved—and often for higher credit limits. It makes credit convenient for customers since they can receive a credit decision from the retailer in minutes. It also makes it easier for retailers to close a deal.

Credit-backed sales are increasingly popular among consumers with more merchants taking on this option. This was especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, fintech firms captured as much as $8 billion to $10 billion in revenue from traditional lenders. It's estimated that 13% to 15% of purchases will use credit-backed POS technology by 2023.

Types of In-House Financing

Automotive Industry

The automobile sales industry is a prominent user of in-house financing since its business relies on buyers taking auto loans to close the purchase of a vehicle. Offering a car buyer in-house financing helps a firm to complete more deals by accepting more customers.

Car dealers also have the benefit of setting their own standards for underwriting, which sometimes encompasses a greater number of borrowers by accepting those with a lower credit score. In many cases, these lending platforms will accept borrowers that banks or other financial intermediaries might turn down for a loan. Other industries offering in-house financing may include equipment manufacturers, appliance stores, or e-commerce retail stores.

Medical and Dental

Some medical and dental expenses may not be covered by insurance companies because of the types of procedures involved. These are usually elective procedures, such as plastic surgery and cosmetic dentistry. If the consumer isn't able to pay for them upfront, the provider may offer in-house financing. Like auto dealers, these service providers are able to set up their own financing terms for their clients who may be more likely to return for other services if they need them in the future.

Retailers

In-house financing is also very common for large retailers, especially big-box stores that offer more expensive products, such as appliances, furniture, major electronics, and building supplies. Financing options may come in the form of in-store credit cards (that can only be used at that retailer) or loans. Some of the biggest names in retail that offer this type of financing include Home Depot, Lowe's, Apple, and Ashley Furniture HomeStore. Providing the option to finance purchases in-house helps retailers retain customer loyalty.

Example of In-House Financing

As noted above, in-house financing is a common option for consumers who wish to purchase a vehicle. Ford Credit is one of the most well-known in-house auto financing groups. In January 2017, Ford Credit partnered with AutoFi to make car buying and financing even easier through technology that allows the buyer to shop online for their car and auto loan.

Ford customers can shop online through Ford dealer websites with this new point-of-sale platform. It allows them to buy and finance their cars. This type of customer experience allows car buyers to spend less time at the dealership while also offering a faster sales process for Ford.