The events of 2020 have impacted accountants and their SME/SMB clients in many different ways, particularly around how they conduct business and how they interact with their clients. The pandemic has fast-tracked digital transformation, encouraging companies to rethink their business models to safeguard their future. This transformation has, for an example, manifested in trends such as remote working and the adoption of cloud technology. Technological trends such as these have accelerated rapidly in terms of the number of people and businesses experiencing them for the first time.

One side effect of this change is that in many ways it has become easier for SMEs to do business anywhere and technology advances are giving business owners the confidence to expand globally into new markets.

Barriers to entry for SMEs to make this move are falling. Technology is driving that trend. A UK based company can sell products procured in China to Australian consumers as easily as an Australian business can target buyers in Europe or the North America with inventory sourced from elsewhere.

These exciting global opportunities are opening businesses up to potential risks, in terms of currency exposure. If properly managed, however, they can help improve efficiency and reduce time spent worrying about fluctuating profit margins. This allows business owners to concentrate on what they do best - running their business.

If you have clients or suppliers abroad, hedging your exposure to movements in exchange rates can have many benefits.  WorldFirst offer currency hedging strategies for businesses, a service typically associated with the big banks. With over 16 years of experience, they have been working with SME clients since 2004, helping them better manage currency exposure, saving them money and time.

Very simply, WorldFirst allows a client to fix an exchange rate at a given time in the future, up to 24 months in advance. By purchasing foreign currency via a forward contract, the SME is able to lock in the exchange rate they receive allowing them to plan and budget.

There are a number of forward contract options which I have outlined briefly below;

• Fixed forward - Allows you to agree on an exchange rate today, for a fixed amount, to be used on an agreed date in the future (which is the maturity date).
• Flexible forward - Gives businesses flexibility on when they take delivery or drawdown from a fixed rate of exchange throughout the contract up until the maturity date.
• Window forward - Allows buyers to purchase a specific amount of foreign currency within a range of settlement dates, known as windows. The windows are utilised to achieve a better exchange rate than that of outright forward contracts
  

WorldFirst’s customer first approach is highlighted by our ability to combine a highly personalised service with fantastic technology to help our clients and partners achieve their goals. As a result, our relationship managers work with our clients to fully understand their aims and goals to support the development of hedging strategies aimed to deliver FX stability, and risk mitigation for the business.

Our team will be able to talk through the options outlined above so that you can properly understand the opportunities and risks they present for your business.

The benefits of forward contracts include:

• To hedge (lock in a rate) a rate to cover an invoice that is dated in the future
• To hedge a rate to cover a percentage of a company’s forecasted currency requirements for future supplier payments
• To hedge a rate for project work that is paid in stages for up to 24-months
• To protect forecasted exporting revenue from currency volatility
• When profit margins are tight and the ability to adjust the product and pricing is not an option

When a business publishes their prices on a website/brochure, and cannot reprice their product if the currency moves negatively against the business, thus eating into their profit margin

Example scenario

A UK based designer of electrical components has their products manufactured by a partner in China. The components are shipped on a quarterly basis and the SME knows their 31st March 2021 delivery, worth US $ 500,000 needs to be paid in advance of shipment by mid-February 2021.

By using a forward contract, booked today, the SME is able to fix the exchange rate they will receive in mid-February. Depending on how much of their exposure they wish to cover they could set up a forward contract to purchase the full amount of $ 500,000, or 50%, allowing them to benefit from any preferential movements in the exchange rate on the un-hedged balance between the time of booking and the delivery date.

At the time a forward contract is booked a deposit of between 5 – 10% of the contract amount will need to be paid, with the balance being due for payment in advance of the delivery date. During the term of the forward contract should the exchange rate move against you, you may be required to top up the initial deposit – a process that is known as a margin call. An important point to highlight, however, is that you will never need to pay more than the contract amount confirmed at the time of booking to purchase your currency.

Free local currency accounts with World Account

WorldFirst provides Accountants and their clients, who are trading internationally with additional solutions to help them manage their exposure to foreign currencies.

Our World Account provides clients with local currency accounts in 10 major currencies that can be opened in minutes. This allows businesses to collect funds from clients or pay out funds to suppliers without having to convert those funds back into their home currency. This reduces the time frames associated with making international payments, saves money by reducing or eliminating transfer fees, and significantly improves the account opening process.

The World Account, while popular with ecommerce businesses selling on global marketplaces such as Amazon, is also hugely popular for subsidiaries of overseas businesses who have trouble opening local bank accounts with traditional banking providers.

The World Account can be opened remotely, typically within 48 hours of providing the required details; it is not mandatory for directors to be based in the local market.

How can World Account benefit you?

WorldFirst are pleased to have been able to help many new UK businesses that are subsidiaries of an overseas parent (and vice versa) with their World Account solution.

• Delivering the majority of the functionality provided by a typical high street bank account, at a fraction of the cost
• Simplify the management of international currency exposure
• Once your World Account is set up and approved, you can open new, local currency accounts in seconds in 10 major global currencies. Set up a live feed directly into Xero to reduce data entry, improve reconciliation and speed up accounts preparation

So, if you’re a SME looking to expand internationally or you have clients that are in a similar situation, then reach out to the Accounting partnerships team here at WorldFirst and we will be able to talk through how we can help.

Alternatively, you can apply online here.

Your easy alternative to a bank account abroad

WorldFirst are an international payments company that help businesses and individuals collect and send money around the world by making global payments in local markets simple. Since 2004, more than 250,000 customers have utilised our services to send more than $70bn around the world. We are dedicated to making easy to use solutions, at the best possible price, for businesses big and small. It’s all part of our mission to make it easy to do business anywhere.