Crefo Factoring

What Crefo Factoring does

Crefo Factoring is a German factoring provider founded circa 1999 and operating as part of the Creditreform Group, an organization with origins dating to 1879. The company operates 15 regional offices across Germany with approximately 180 employees, serving German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs/KMU). Its core offerings comprise Full Service Factoring and selective factoring (Ausschnittsfactoring), supplemented by specialized products such as Handwerker Factoring VOB tailored for trades businesses operating under the German VOB procurement standard. The technical platform centers on integration with DATEV, the dominant German accounting software, and a proprietary factoring API that allows clients to embed receivable management into their accounting and ERP systems.

The company's core value proposition is 100% default protection on factored receivables backed by credit insurance partnerships, with Atradius serving as the core credit insurer and a long-term relationship with R+V Versicherung providing secondary capacity. Standard disbursement occurs within 24 hours of receivable purchase. Pricing is transaction/quote-based on factored receivables rather than subscription-based, and revenue mechanics combine factoring fees with service charges for debtor management and credit protection underwriting. Distribution is geographically decentralized through 15 regional offices, supported by long-standing banking referral relationships including Bankhaus Max Flessa (20+ years). Crefo Factoring is a member of the Deutscher Factoring-Verband, the German factoring industry association, with membership exceeding 17 years.

The business targets a fragmented SME customer base across multiple verticals — including trades/construction (Handwerker VOB) and machine building (with a stated base of 150+ companies) — as well as other SME segments. Geographic coverage is nationwide within Germany; there is no indication of cross-border expansion. The institutional position within the Creditreform Group provides access to Creditreform's proprietary credit database (162,000 members, 128 branches), which underpins the company's debtor risk assessment and credit protection offering.

Name

Crefo Factoring

Legal name

CF Homepageverwaltungs GbR

Website

https://crefo-factoring.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Crefo Factoring is a German SME factoring provider operating through 15 regional offices as part of the Creditreform Group, offering Full Service and selective factoring with 100% default protection, 24-hour payouts, and DATEV/API integration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Factoring Services (Invoice Receivables Financing)

NAICS

Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222), Sales Financing (522220), Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (522390)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies (7320)

akta.pro primary industry

Invoice Financing, Factoring & Receivables Management (FSAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Receivables Finance (Factoring, Invoice Discounting, Forfaiting) (FSABAHAD), B2B Trade Credit at POS (SME Installment/Invoice-at-Checkout) (FSAKAFAO), Accounts Receivable (Invoicing, Cash Application, Deductions) (BPAAAGAB)

Keywords

• Invoice factoring services
• Accounts receivable financing
• SME working capital
• Delcredere credit protection
• Debtor management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Aalen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Factoring Transaction Fees: CrefoFactoring purchases invoices from customers at their gross value (including VAT). Revenue is generated through a two-component fee: (1) a factoring fee based on annual turnover, number of debtors, and industry, and (2) interest charged on the pre-financed amount paid out within 24 hours. The remainder (typically 10%) is held as security and paid out when the debtor settles the invoice.
2. Delcredere / Credit Protection Service: Full takeover of default risk on factored invoices is included as part of the Full Service Factoring package. CrefoFactoring assumes 100% of the credit risk (e.g., insolvency of debtor), with no regress claims.
3. Debtor Management and Collections: Full debtor management including creditworthiness monitoring, open-item administration, structured dunning, and debt collection are provided as part of Full Service Factoring. DATEV interface integration enables automated transfer of booking data.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CrefoFactoring purchases B2B receivables from German small and medium-sized enterprises, paying out up to 90% of the gross invoice amount within 24 hours and assuming 100% of debtor default risk (Delkredere). The offering combines Full Service Factoring (complete package including debtor management, dunning, collection, and DATEV integration) and Ausschnittsfactoring (selective factoring where customers choose which receivables to sell), supported by bank-independent financing infrastructure and Creditreform's credit risk database for real-time debtor assessments.

Product overview

CrefoFactoring is a bank-independent factoring provider for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMU/KMU) in Germany, offering a two-tier core product architecture comprising Full Service Factoring and Ausschnittsfactoring (selective/piecewise factoring), supplemented by a specialized Handwerker Factoring VOB product for trades and construction. The product portfolio includes 10 industry-specific solutions covering Metallbau & Metallverarbeitung, Maschinenbau, Logistik & Spedition, Zeitarbeit, Marketing- & Werbeagenturen, IT-Unternehmen, Holzverarbeitung, Druckereien, Großhandel, B2B-Internetshops, and Containerdienste. Integration add-ons include a DATEV-Schnittstelle (DATEV interface) for automatic accounting data sync and a Factoring API for ERP system integration. The company operates from 15 regional locations and is part of the Creditreform Group, leveraging Creditreform's credit rating database for debtor creditworthiness assessments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Full Service Factoring: Complete factoring package including invoice purchase, 100% default protection, and individual debtor management
• Ausschnittsfactoring
• Handwerker Factoring VOB

Products and services

• Full Service Factoring

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 90% of invoice amount paid within 24 hours of submission
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments15 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Creditreform Group (Verband der Vereine Creditreform e.V.)coreOthersCrefoFactoring is an integral part of the Creditreform Group, founded in 1879 and serving 162,000 member companies through 128 independent offices. CrefoFactoring leverages Creditreform's credit risk database for real-time debtor creditworthiness checks and monitoring. This exclusive data partnership provides CrefoFactoring with a fundamental competitive advantage unavailable to independent factoring providers.
• Atradius KreditversicherungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtradius provides credit insurance (Warenkreditversicherung) that underlies the delcredere protection on factored receivables. This partnership enables CrefoFactoring to offer 100% default protection on purchased invoices, with Atradius assuming the insurance risk. The collaboration is described as combining Atradius's top-tier credit protection with CrefoFactoring's factoring infrastructure.
• R+V Allgemeine Versicherung AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerR+V and CrefoFactoring have maintained a partnership for over 15 years, providing medium-sized enterprises with a safety net that extends beyond pure financing. The combined expertise in risk management enables customers to reliably plan their future. The partnership focuses on comprehensive risk management for SMEs.
• Bankhaus Max Flessa KGmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBankhaus Max Flessa KG, based in Schweinfurt, has been a financing partner for CrefoFactoring companies in Bavaria, Thuringia, and Saxony for 20 years. The bank confidently refers its customers to CrefoFactoring for fair and trustworthy consulting, representing a mutual referral relationship built on shared regional commitment.
• DATEV eGcoreTechnology or IntegrationDATEV is Germany's leading accounting software cooperative. CrefoFactoring offers a dedicated DATEV-Schnittstelle (DATEV interface) that enables automatic transfer of debtor master data, open items, payment receipts, and discounts directly into customers' bookkeeping systems. This integration eliminates manual data entry and ensures seamless accounting workflow for SME customers using DATEV.
• Deutscher Factoring-Verband e.V.majorOthersThe CrefoFactoring Group has been a member of the German Factoring Association for more than 17 years, committing to its strict performance and quality standards. The association promotes fair economic conditions and a binding code of conduct. Membership provides industry credibility and adherence to established industry benchmarks.
• Sparkasse (regional)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional Sparkasse (savings banks) refer SME customers to CrefoFactoring as a complementary financing solution beyond traditional bank credit. Frank Dölle, Head of Corporate Clients at a regional Sparkasse, explicitly recommended CrefoFactoring as a consultant and partner for SME working capital optimization.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Deutsche Factoring Bank: German bank-owned factor providing full-service and selective factoring to SMEs and mid-market across Germany. Direct head-to-head competitor to CrefoFactoring with similar product scope, differentiated by parent-bank balance-sheet funding and corporate-banking cross-sell.
• CommerzFactoring (Commerzbank): Commerzbank subsidiary offering factoring to SMEs and corporate clients in Germany. Daniel Heck, current CrefoFactoring Düsseldorf-Neuss managing director, was previously Regionalleiter Vertrieb NRW at CommerzFactoring — confirming direct competitive overlap in product and customer segment.
• abcfinance (abcfinance GmbH): German factoring and receivables financing provider serving SME and mid-market clients with full-service and selective factoring. Closely comparable in customer target (KMU) and product breadth.
• H.S.O. Factoring: Independent German factoring company serving SMEs with full-service and selective factoring products. Closely comparable in scale, target market, and product scope, operating in the same bank-independent Mittelstand segment.
• Akta Factoring: German factoring provider specializing in SME receivables financing with similar customer target and product offering to CrefoFactoring. Direct competitor in the bank-independent SME factoring segment.

Broad incumbents

• TARGOBANK Factoring: Factoring arm of TARGOBANK/Crédit Mutuel group serving German SMEs. Bank-affiliated competitor with broader product portfolio including deposits and lending, positioning factoring as part of wider SME banking relationship.
• Riverty (formerly Arvato Financial Solutions): Bertelsmann-owned fintech offering B2B invoicing, payment, and factoring solutions across Europe. Broader scope than CrefoFactoring with technology-led platform, competing for the same Mittelstand and enterprise clients with digital-first delivery.
• EOS Group (Otto Krahn Group): International financial services group offering receivables management, factoring, and collections across Europe. Competes with CrefoFactoring in debtor management and collections-adjacent services with a broader geographic footprint.
• Coface (Germany): Global credit insurance and trade credit management provider with factoring and receivables financing offerings in Germany. Overlaps with CrefoFactoring on credit risk monitoring and B2B receivables services, with broader international reach.

Regional players

• Helaba Factoring (Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen): Factoring subsidiary of Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen, primarily serving clients in Hesse, Thuringia, and adjacent German regions with full-service factoring. Comparable in product to CrefoFactoring's regional entities (e.g., Crefo Factoring Fulda-Erfurt-Magdeburg) but with narrower geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Crefo Factoring