Alright, if you’ve come this far, you’re likely already at the step where we need some trade references from you. Or maybe you’re just starting out with Integra, and you asked someone what the next steps look like. Either way, your submission is on the horizon, and you want to know more about what that means and what you can expect.
Should you warn your references that we might reach out? Do you need a certain number or for each one to be from a business of a specific size?
Whatever your questions may be, we’re here to answer them — and probably raise and answer a few you haven’t thought of yet! At Integra, we’ve been working with small, medium and large companies since 2005, and many of those businesses have requested payment terms from us. As a result, we’ve worked through hundreds of applications and trade references for companies of just about every size.
We’re happy to answer your questions so that you know exactly what to expect from the trade reference check process and can move forward with your application feeling confident and well-informed.
10 FAQs About Integra’s Trade Reference Collection Policy
Below, you’ll find 10 of the most frequently asked questions about trade reference checks through Integra Graphics Synergy.
1. Does Integra Always Collect Trade Reference Information?
No. If you plan to pay upfront for your project via cash on delivery (COD), you do not need to provide trade references. We collect this information only when customers request payment terms.
Bear in mind that you will still need to provide these references if you decide to request terms for future projects. Even if you’re paying up front now, your references could be useful for a longer-term relationship with Integra, helping larger projects move faster down the line.
2. What Do My Trade References Have to Do With Integra Extending Payment Terms?
When we check into your business references to explore whether we can extend payment terms and if so, what they’ll look like, we’ll also be checking your business credit. Both must come back showing that you’ve consistently paid your bills on time for us to extend payment terms.
Our team will evaluate your references, credit and any red flags that come back to determine whether we’re comfortable extending terms to you.
The amount you request will need to be in line with what you’ve proven creditworthy of. If your project through Integra is quoted at $25,000, but your credit history and trade references show that you’ve never borrowed and paid back more than $5,000, you’ll likely need to pay cash on delivery for the remainder.
3. How Many References Do I Need to Provide?
The ideal number of references for this process is three, but we’re always willing to work with customers and prospective customers to find an adequate solution where possible.
If you feel you have special circumstances and need accommodation on this paperwork, explain the situation to us. Especially if your business credit is high, we’d be happy to at least learn the reason for the lower number.
That said, we prefer a minimum of three references who gave you extended terms similar to those you’re requesting from our company. The reality is that giving us two or fewer trade references will lower your chances of a favorable outcome.
4. Will More References Mean Better Chances of Getting Good Terms?
If you feel that trade references in excess of three could help prove your reliability or paint a more comprehensive picture of how reliable you are as a client and payer, Integra will be more than happy to reach out to them. The more information, the better.
5. If My Credit Score Is Low, Will Good Business References Help Me Acquire Terms?
Great trade references help paint a fuller picture of your reliability. That being said, we check each factor to ensure a good fit. Unfortunately, the best trade references in the world won’t overwrite low business credit.
However, if your business credit score is somewhere in the average range — not great but not terrible — the trade references will show us more about your company that hopefully shows a more complete picture.
6. What Are the Best Trade References?
Some of the biggest factors that affect the quality of your trade references include:
- Size of the company (Ideally, a well-established company that has been in business for a while)
- Length of your working history with them (Ideally, 5 or more years with payment terms and on-time payment)
- Similarity to the terms you would request from Integra (Ideally, the same amount or more borrowed from your trade references and successfully paid back on time)
We absolutely understand that not every business has been around long enough or needed payment terms enough times to meet all of the above preferences, and we’re happy to have a conversation with you about your situation. We’d be remiss if we didn’t share exactly what we’re looking for with each reference, but just like with your number of references, the more you can explain about any shortcomings here, the better.
In fact, some of the best references are other printers or print brokers you may have worked with in the past who have done jobs of a similar size. We’re looking for compatible clients we can trust to pay us back in a timely manner for services well-rendered, and knowing you’ve valued the work from and squared up with previous printers will show us we can trust your business to do the same with us.
7. What If My Current Printer Is My Only Print-Related Reference?
We love to see a prior print company as a reference to show that you valued their work and honored your terms with them. That said, we fully understand the strain this process could put on your relationship with your current printer.
If you’re considering a move from one printer who either isn’t meeting your needs or simply doesn’t offer the broader scope of services that Integra can provide, you may not wish to use them as one of your trade references. And while we prefer to hear from the printer you’re currently working with if you don’t foresee it causing problems, we’ll understand if you choose to leave them out in the reference process.
We work with lots of customers whose businesses outgrew the capabilities of their first printer, and we understand that sometimes, a move is in no way a mark against that previous printer. Because of our brokerage model, we’re able to offer competitive pricing, timing and selection on signage, ink on paper prints, mailing, apparel and promotional items. If you’re thinking about a full move for one of those reasons, you may not want to sound the alarm just yet with your current printer.
8. Should I Warn My References That Integra Will Be Reaching Out?
The short answer: It can’t hurt.
Once you fill out and submit our trade references form, we’ll send our form for those references directly to them. It’s by no means a requirement for you to contact them first, but in our experience, it helps to speed up the process and ensure a response. When they know to expect our correspondence, they’ll be less likely to put the file into their spam folder or skip over it entirely.
9. What If My Trade References Don’t Respond to You?
If we haven’t heard back from one or more of your references within a week, we’ll let you know. From there, you can either contact them yourself to try to speed the process along, or you can give us a new reference in place of any who aren’t responding.
10. How Does This Reference Process Affect My Project’s Timeline?
Our policy is to request payment up front for any company’s first project with us. Doing so is a way to establish a good faith relationship, but more importantly, it’ll help your project move along more swiftly. We can work on it and get it to you before the pieces of your application come back, ultimately determining your payment terms. Then, you’ll be ready to go with terms for your next project.
If you aren’t worried about your timeline and there’s no pressure to complete your project more quickly than your payment terms can be established, you’re free to wait.
We aren’t hardline about paying up front, but you may want to check out our timeline estimator before deciding, to make sure the added time for references won’t interfere with your plans.
Go Forth With Confidence in Selecting Trade References You Trust
When you came to this article, you may not have known what to expect from the trade references process with Integra Graphics Synergy. It can be tough to know a company’s angle when they ask for lots of paperwork, and it’s easy to get discouraged.
We hope we’ve put some of those concerns to rest and answered your most pressing questions. Whether you’re in the middle of the process, still considering your options or just getting started with Integra, our team will be happy to answer any other inquiries that come up along the way.
In the meantime, you may want to explore some related topics while you’re waiting to hear back from us, including information on our credit check, what you can expect working with Integra and what happens after you sign your quote.
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