Fieldhill Loans arranges inventory financing for retailers, parts counters and manufacturers in Columbus, IN and Bartholomew County, IN. The funding pays for stock or materials bought ahead of demand and is repaid as the goods sell. Partners review turnover, supplier invoices and sales history, and decide on the amount and terms.
| Pays for | Stock, parts and materials bought ahead of sales |
|---|---|
| Anchored by | The goods themselves, plus past sell-through |
| Partners review | Turnover and supplier invoices |
How inventory financing works
A partner funds a purchase of goods you plan to sell, or materials you will turn into products. The inventory itself can serve as part of the security. Repayment follows the sales: as stock moves, the balance comes down. Some partners pay the supplier directly; others advance the money to you against the invoice.
Inventory financing for small business is narrower than general working capital. It fits goods with a clear resale value, sold by an owner who can show how quickly similar stock has sold before.
Buying stock early: a loan to purchase inventory before customers ask
One reason to borrow for inventory is timing. A supplier offers a discount for a larger order, a season is coming, or a manufacturer needs raw material months before the finished goods ship. The money goes out long before it comes back.
A labeled example, not an offer
Hypothetical figures only: a boutique places a $22,400 order in August for goods that historically sell over October through December. Its card deposits in those months have run well above its June-to-August deposits for two years. Inventory financing sized to the order, repaid from the fall sales, fits that shape. Only a partner can name the real amount, cost and schedule.
Boutique stock: a loan to buy inventory for the next season
Small apparel shops can use it. County Business Patterns counted 60 clothing and accessories employer establishments in Bartholomew County, IN in 2023; Nonemployer Statistics, a separate program, counted 47 in the matching category in 2024. Bring last year's sell-through by category; partners read it closely.
Bartholomew County, IN trades that finance their stock
Retail stores and boutiques, covered on the retail funding page.
Machine shops and manufacturers buying steel, aluminum or components ahead of a contract: the county had 37 fabricated metal product employer establishments in 2023 with 1,708 employees between them. The manufacturing page covers the material cycle.
Auto repair shops stocking tires, filters and common parts: 43 employer establishments in 2023 (County Business Patterns); Nonemployer Statistics, a separate program, counted 52 shops in 2024. See the repair-bay funding notes.
What partners commonly review
- The supplier quote or invoice for the order.
- Inventory turnover: how long similar stock has taken to sell.
- Sales or deposit history across at least one full year.
- Existing liens on inventory, if any.
- How the goods are stored and tracked.
Five checks before you place a financed order
- Match the order to last year's sell-through, category by category, not to a hoped-for jump in sales.
- Confirm the supplier's delivery date; payments may start before the goods are on the shelf.
- Ask whether returns or unsold stock can go back to the supplier, and on what terms.
- Check that the order will not crowd out the cash you need for wages and rent in the same months.
- Write down how many weeks of sales the order represents; partners may ask exactly that.
An order that takes twice as long to sell as last year's still has to be paid for on schedule, which is why partners ask about turnover before anything else.
Goods partners hesitate to lend against
Perishable goods, highly seasonal fashion, custom parts made for a single customer and items with no clear resale market are harder to finance on the inventory alone, because a partner could not easily sell them if payments stopped. For that kind of stock, partners lean more heavily on the business's deposits, and general working capital or a line of credit may be the more realistic request.
Parts counters at repair shops can sit in between: stocked items such as filters, belts and tires are bought ahead of need, while special-order parts are bought against a specific repair.
Goods-backed money or a credit line: which suits your stock?
If you buy stock several times a year in varying amounts, a line of credit may fit, because you draw only what each order needs. If one large order dominates the year, inventory financing tied to that order may suit better. The six-way comparison sets both out, and the request steps explain what to send.
County business counts for the retail and manufacturing sectors are on the Columbus, IN page.
By Fieldhill Loans · Updated
