Distributor finance funds a distributor's stock of a large manufacturer's goods until the distributor's own customers pay. The finance provider takes rights over the stock and invoices, and the manufacturer can back the program with a stop-supply letter or buy-back guarantee.

In dynamic discounting, the buyer pays its sellers' approved invoices early from its own cash, and takes a discount that shrinks as the due date gets closer. The seller chooses when to be paid, while the buyer has spare cash.

In payables finance, a buyer sets up a program so its suppliers can sell approved invoices to a finance provider and get paid early, at a cost based on the buyer's credit. The buyer still pays the full invoice on the original due date.